I'm only half white. The other half? Irish. In addition to some odd shocks of red hair and freakish dentition, this manifests itself in other strange ways, not the least of which is an inability to back down from a challenge, even if it's blitheringly obtuse. I'm also an auto writer, which means that freebies are the hamster that drives the wheel of my enterprise. So when General Motors flew a group of us journalists out to La Jolla, California, for a chance to win a free iPod by recording the best mileage in a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, it couldn't have been a better fit for me had it been turned on the lathe of the gods....
The Tahoe hybrid seems like a great product for anyone in the market for a full size SUV.
Some of those hypermiling tips are the major SUCK. Infact, they're downright dangerous. If I sense that a Prius is pulling a Draft Assisted Forced Autostop, I'm going to slam on my brakes. Pulse and glide is equally stupid and no way to drive a car.
Did you see the motorweek review on this? they said something like knowing that hybrid owners want the world to know what they are driving, GM didn't hold back in plastering the tahoe with Hyrbrid badges.... bahahahaha
The above is an excerpt from the best selling book Band of Boozers, a heroic tale of ordinary alcoholics thrown together in an extraordinary time. Experience this harrowing Wino War II tale as only those that drank it can slurr.
From this article, I see two very important things that GM did right. First, that it's tuned for American "driving behavior" out of the box so that new hybrid drivers will see gains in efficiency without having to re-learn driving. Second, they still can, over time, figure out how to stop driving like a total inefficient ass with that nice real-time display.
Just curious...wonder how the Tahoe would do with the low-resistance tires and the lighter-weight body panels and other aerodynamic add-ons.
That was my question as well - since the lightweight seats, aluminum hood, aero bumpers, etc. will all bolt onto a standard Tahoe, why not use those parts on the base model and shave a hundred or so pounds off its weight, while making it more aerodynamic?
I never could get a straight answer on that. I'm going to assume that the regular models are more price-sensitive than the hybrid, and specialty parts like that would drive the cost up too much.
Just curious...wonder how the Tahoe would do with the low-resistance tires and the lighter-weight body panels and other aerodynamic add-ons.
THat would be pointless. The point of the Tahoe Hybrid is to provide meaningful fuel economy increases for daily driving, and even towing, while still providing the benefits of a full size SUV. THough the light weight body panels might be an interesting excercise, as would putting the whole thing on a diet.
There is no way that I, as an owner (and someone who is genuinely interested in something like this) would ever put low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic add ons.
From what I gather, thats the engineering marvel in this machine. It will start off in electric mode even when towing??
Coming soon: A tow vehicle with some real firepower. 1986 Bayliner 2450 Ciera Sportcruiser / Volvo Penta AQ260A/275SP
This was great! I've been wanting to read about the Tahoe and understand more fully how its new Hybrid system works, and I got to have that AND read a story that brought me to guffaw several times, smile a lot and feel like I got to know the writer just a bit.
Bravo!
Here's my question - why can't I have this experience more often? This guy only gets to write for Motive approximately every 3.27 Blue Moons - what's with the editorial vote for lame writing when they could have this? Is he on strike? Charge a million dollars? Someone explain to me why an editor who's focused on content quality wouldn't load this guy up and tell the lame-o writers to go pack.
How about this Wes writing about the Kruse auction I attended in December? That would have been HILARIOUS and a trip down memory lane!
Yo - Motive men - when you test drive the new Cadillac CTS coupe - could you please drop that assignment into Wes' in box? I want to pre-order one, and I want to know whether that's a good idea or not.
And I want to smile while I'm being told I'm smart or an idiot.
Thanks!
Respectfully yours,
The Divo 2005 Bonneville GXP "Scarlett"
"Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle." Ken Hakuta
Here's my question - why can't I have this experience more often? This guy only gets to write for Motive approximately every 3.27 Blue Moons - what's with the editorial vote for lame writing when they could have this? Is he on strike? Charge a million dollars? Someone explain to me why an editor who's focused on content quality wouldn't load this guy up and tell the lame-o writers to go pack.
How about this Wes writing about the Kruse auction I attended in December? That would have been HILARIOUS and a trip down memory lane!
Yo - Motive men - when you test drive the new Cadillac CTS coupe - could you please drop that assignment into Wes' in box? I want to pre-order one, and I want to know whether that's a good idea or not.
And I want to smile while I'm being told I'm smart or an idiot.
Thanks!
Wes is a gifted writer (though there's no use telling him that... ) and I wish he was used more in Motive in a writing capacity.
However, he does a lot of work with the site that you see, but don't necessarily realize.
Coming soon: A tow vehicle with some real firepower. 1986 Bayliner 2450 Ciera Sportcruiser / Volvo Penta AQ260A/275SP
That would be pointless. The point of the Tahoe Hybrid is to provide meaningful fuel economy increases for daily driving, and even towing, while still providing the benefits of a full size SUV.
...
There is no way that I, as an owner (and someone who is genuinely interested in something like this) would ever put low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic add ons.
Um, the Tahoe Hybrid has low-rolling resistance tires.
From what I gather, thats the engineering marvel in this machine. It will start off in electric mode even when towing??
Yep; it does. I apologize for the crappy 320x240 camera phone pic, but this is the Sea Ray that I was towing around behind the Tahoe. Even though the combined weight of the boat and trailer was right at the threshold of the Tahoe's tow rating, the truck moves off in full electric. It's eerie, because all you hear are the clanks and thuds and judders of the slack being taken out of the trailer and hitch.
You can tell a lot about what the brakes are doing (and how well they do it) by the pressure and vibrations they make. A failing master cyclinder, vacume leak, air bubles et. al. can make for a soft pedal. Worn pads and warped rotors make their presence felt in other ways too.
As an educated driver, I can tell a lot about the health of my car by the changes in the way the car behaves. On paper, I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with a system like that.
As an educated driver, I can tell a lot about the health of my car by the changes in the way the car behaves. On paper, I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with a system like that.
There is a manual override to the BBW (that acronym... eew) in that if you whomp on the pedal with all your might, the last eighth of its travel will contact the pushrod the for the manual hydraulic brakes. But you really need to be standing on them, giving them the old what-for and bit of how's your father? in order to operate the hydraulic part. Most people will never get into that part of the system during the lifespan of the truck.
I was thinking the same thing. Of course, I'm not really even a fan of power brakes! I like my steering and braking to be direct. Of course, in a vehicle this size, it's pretty much impossible.
Nice job, GM. That's a pretty impressive beast. Will the new Duramax diesel (not the one mentioned in the artlcle, the new, smaller one) fit into that bay? Hmmm? Will it bolt-up to that transmission? I know it'd be expensive, but wow, what a combo that would be.
Quote, originally posted by Burnin8r »
thumbs down (to wooden steering wheels) unless its a car that you drive while wearing a leather helmet + goggles while yelling "tally ho, chocks away!"
Quote, originally posted by patrikman »
A restoration to me is some sort of exorcism/brainwash for a car. /rant.
There is a manual override to the BBW (that acronym... eew) in that if you whomp on the pedal with all your might, the last eighth of its travel will contact the pushrod the for the manual hydraulic brakes. But you really need to be standing on them, giving them the old what-for and bit of how's your father? in order to operate the hydraulic part. Most people will never get into that part of the system during the lifespan of the truck.
Ah, that'll do then. That's all I thought it was lacking. Well, I guess it's missing a proper clutch pedal, but that's nigh impossible at this point.
Quote, originally posted by Burnin8r »
thumbs down (to wooden steering wheels) unless its a car that you drive while wearing a leather helmet + goggles while yelling "tally ho, chocks away!"
Quote, originally posted by patrikman »
A restoration to me is some sort of exorcism/brainwash for a car. /rant.
I applaud GM for putting effort into developing hybrid vehicles. I do see some small problems with the Tahoe Hybrid though. One is, it is still a gargantuan vehicle that makes poor use of its relative interior space compared with modern vehicles. Another is that we all know people who drive Tahoe Hybrids are going to drive them the same way they drive Tahoes. Semi-consciously jamming their foot on the go pedal while talking on the phone and drinking coffee and tailgating people in the fast lane. They are going to wind up getting slightly better MPG than the non hybrid.
This vehicle is a fair effort, but it misses the point. We need to rethink the whole vehicle, not just the powertrain. If we could get out of the ladder frame SUV as daily driver framework and get people into lighter weight unibody vehicles that will carry more and be saver for everyone and have REAL MPG gains we'd all be a lot better off.
This vehicle is a fair effort, but it misses the point. We need to rethink the whole vehicle, not just the powertrain. If we could get out of the ladder frame SUV as daily driver framework and get people into lighter weight unibody vehicles that will carry more and be saver for everyone and have REAL MPG gains we'd all be a lot better off.
Actually, you are the one who is missing the point.
These vehicles fill a need in the market. I would be a classic case for this vehicle. I have a boat that I trailer...a big one.
Lets get this out of the way: No matter what the gas prices are, I will never sell the boat...I enjoy it too much. And for the boat, I need a vehicle that pulls it.....and a lighter weight, smaller SUV just won't do that job.
However, I also (like you) object to the sheer amount of gas these large vehicles suck down. (my F150 cant even clear 10 mpg downhill with a tailwind). For people like me who have a need for a vehicle like this, its a viable way to provide the capability I demand with the fuel economy I desire.
I think the people who don't NEED these vehicles have probably already traded down, or are about to with the high gas prices.
But for those of us who are pushed into these vehicles, we still want an option to reduce fuel consumption.
Modified by Download_Complete at 10:24 AM 1-18-2008
Coming soon: A tow vehicle with some real firepower. 1986 Bayliner 2450 Ciera Sportcruiser / Volvo Penta AQ260A/275SP
You guys NEED to suggest strongly to GM calibrators to not make the RETURN TO V8 MODE so damn agressive.
They listen to you guys more than insiders! If you've ever driven a GMT V8 with AFM, you'd know that it IS possible (without 2Mode tech) to get ~23mpg in HWY cruising IF that mode wasn't so anxious to get back into V8 mode. It's as if the V8 feels ashamed of itself for being half the motor it is... so it reverts back so easily.
Seriously, though... I think GM is in such fear of 1980s Cadillac V4-6-8 backlash that it is affraid to give ANY hint of sluggishness. Suggest to them also that a simple switch to allow flexible AFM would be great, too: 1) Normal 2) Frugal - It is less likely to go V8 with minor inputs on throttle as you noted. 3) Manual - you can hold whatever mode you want.
It's just a thing with ZeroForum. The attachments are visible inline when you view the thread through forums.motivemag.com or forums.vwvortex.com.
Why does forums.thecarlounge.net still exist? When logged in though there, I was unable to access the full library of avatars, and apparently attachments don't work anymore either. It seems like you guys have abandoned it, so why not kill it?
I applaud GM for putting effort into developing hybrid vehicles. I do see some small problems with the Tahoe Hybrid though. One is, it is still a gargantuan vehicle that makes poor use of its relative interior space compared with modern vehicles. Another is that we all know people who drive Tahoe Hybrids are going to drive them the same way they drive Tahoes. Semi-consciously jamming their foot on the go pedal while talking on the phone and drinking coffee and tailgating people in the fast lane. They are going to wind up getting slightly better MPG than the non hybrid.
This vehicle is a fair effort, but it misses the point. We need to rethink the whole vehicle, not just the powertrain. If we could get out of the ladder frame SUV as daily driver framework and get people into lighter weight unibody vehicles that will carry more and be saver for everyone and have REAL MPG gains we'd all be a lot better off.
While I don't particularly believe in any wide spread 'need' for some of these behemoths, I understand it is a free country. You must understand that unibodies do not make the vehicle necessarily lighter... especially with the TOWING factor. The beefiness necessary to make unibodies similar to BOF brings their weight up staggeringly, too.
Companies will learn about sound product selection the easy way or the hard way. In the end, the market will tell GM whether this product is worthy or not... regardless how good the tech is.
I have a question - the GM hybrid's advantage is supposed to be that it not only improves city fuel economy, but highway as well, right? How does that work?
Here I go... I'm given to understand that the Hybrid Tahoe has 2000LBS LESS towing Capacity and COSTS $13,000 MORE than a standard Tahoe.
Sorry, I'm just an Engineer who can divide $13,000 into about (max) 8mpg and come up with....Fail. The pay-off well...isn't!
My Dodge gets 21mpg with 5500 lbs towing cap. For less than HALF the price.
I would be more excited if it was a proper Diesel and they inreased the towing capacity.
Hybrids are a marketing ploy...pure and simple.
The feeling of immortality extends right up to the moment of impact. Every 10% weight reduction equates to 7% fuel mileage gain. Priuses are ECONOMY cars for people who can't add.....
For advertising information Click Here
they said something like knowing that hybrid owners want the world to know what they are driving, GM didn't hold back in plastering the tahoe with Hyrbrid badges.... bahahahaha 
The above is an excerpt from the best selling book Band of Boozers, a heroic tale of ordinary alcoholics thrown together in an extraordinary time. Experience this harrowing Wino War II tale as only those that drank it can slurr.
) and I wish he was used more in Motive in a writing capacity.
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