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Old 06-08-2008, 01:43 PM
 
45 posts, read 211,951 times
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Are hybrids becoming popular in Alaska? Are they more or less difficult to maintain in the Alaska cold and/or rain? What vehicle do you most appreciate (or wish you owned) given the climate and gas prices?
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Old 06-08-2008, 07:13 PM
 
Location: Not far from Fairbanks, AK
20,292 posts, read 37,174,791 times
Reputation: 16397
Quote:
Originally Posted by My2cats1 View Post
Are hybrids becoming popular in Alaska? Are they more or less difficult to maintain in the Alaska cold and/or rain? What vehicle do you most appreciate (or wish you owned) given the climate and gas prices?
There are a few around, but not enough to make a difference. They cost too much. However, there are lots of small gasoline-powered Honda, Toyota, and Subaru cars around here. Trucks are very popular, but lots of people are driving smaller cars and parking their trucks during the week. A see lots of used trucks at the car-sale lots in town.

There is a little car made by Toyota that is becoming quite popular around Fairbanks. I have no idea what the model is, but it reminds me of the tiny 2-seater Honda made back in the '70s.
This one:
2008 Toyota Yaris
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Old 06-08-2008, 07:24 PM
 
Location: Not far from Fairbanks, AK
20,292 posts, read 37,174,791 times
Reputation: 16397
Quote:
Originally Posted by My2cats1 View Post
Are hybrids becoming popular in Alaska? Are they more or less difficult to maintain in the Alaska cold and/or rain? What vehicle do you most appreciate (or wish you owned) given the climate and gas prices?
There are a few around, but not enough to make a difference. They cost too much. However, there are lots of small gasoline-powered Honda, Toyota, and Subaru cars around here. Trucks are very popular, but lots of people are driving smaller cars and parking their trucks during the week. A see lots of used trucks at the car-sale lots in town.

There is a little car made by Toyota that is becoming quite popular around Fairbanks. I have no idea what the model is, but it reminds me of the tiny 2-seater Honda made back in the '70s.
This one:
2008 Toyota Yaris
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Old 06-09-2008, 06:52 AM
 
Location: Dangling from a mooses antlers
7,308 posts, read 14,688,413 times
Reputation: 6238
Subarus are King in Southeast. The Outback is the poor man's Escalade.
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Old 06-09-2008, 09:35 AM
 
Location: Charlotte, NC
11,839 posts, read 28,951,581 times
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I wonder how a Prius's battery pack would fare if it was left outside in the winter?
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Old 06-09-2008, 12:05 PM
 
Location: Seward, Alaska
2,741 posts, read 8,883,941 times
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I have a Subaru Outback and just LOVE it! It has never been stuck....even in foot-deep snow in our 1/4 mile long driveway....
And, the mpg is fairly decent for an AWD: about 28 highway....I can live with that...
I haven't owned a hybrid, but I have a couple unanswered questions about them: how well does the battery fare in -50 temperatures? And....when it comes time to replace that battery, how much does it cost? Considering the higher up-front initial cost, and the cost of eventual battery replacement, I have to wonder if a hybrid would really provide cheaper transportation. I mean, what good is it to save at the fuel pump, then lose all the savings to higher car payments, and down at the local garage? Maybe it makes better sense to just get a regular economy car?...


Bud
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Old 06-09-2008, 12:40 PM
 
763 posts, read 2,260,521 times
Reputation: 238
I'm fond of buying cars that are driven up, then sold when the people fly back. When the cars get 15 years old, they still have less than 100,000 on them, but because of the dents, rust, and cracked windshields, we can usually pick them up for $1,000 or so and drive them for a few more years.

But, if I were to buy a new car, I would have to go with a Toyota for dependability and gas mileage, and several of their smaller cars are 4WD, such as the Matrix. Here in Homer, we can usually get by with FWD, so the Yaris would a great car, or a Corolla. Their trucks are the best. My 4Runner never got stuck.
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Old 06-09-2008, 07:40 PM
 
Location: Wyo
45 posts, read 170,484 times
Reputation: 29
When I've been up to Alaska, I had an AWD Dodge Caliber. Not to sound like I'm pitching a sale, buuuut:

Fuel economy (that's what the selling point is nowadays, huh?) was good, mid-upper 20s per gallon, and that is through the mountains, and up north of Fairbanks, on some fairly rough roads. Granted, I never dealt with more than 7-8" of snow at once, but it handled it well. It was sure footed even on icey mountain roads.

It's good sized... I'm 6'3", and was comfortable despite entire days of driving. I can even sleep in the back, but I do have to lay at an angle Seats four comfortably, with the room in the back. It's not as big as an SUV, but in my opinion it looks way cooler than a minivan. Anyway, that's my vote. Good luck.
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Old 06-09-2008, 07:50 PM
 
Location: Bethel, Alaska
21,368 posts, read 38,123,667 times
Reputation: 13901
Here is a blog on a Prius going down the Alaska Highway.

Hybrid Highway: from Alaska to Missouri in 50 mpg
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Old 06-09-2008, 08:12 PM
 
Location: Charlotte, NC
11,839 posts, read 28,951,581 times
Reputation: 2809
Interesting blog warpt.
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