You read the title right, a women is sueing honda because her hybrid car doesn't get the 50mpg it was supposted to get. Take a look.

Woman takes unique road to sue Honda over mileage - Yahoo! Autos

 

Hell id sue too if they said its supposed to get 50 & all u can get is 30 & other ppl are having the same issue

 

I don't normally agree with frivolous lawsuits. But I think this lady has a valid point. All car companies play with the MPG's in their advertising. They establish the numbers by using perfect world conditions. Car owners very rarely get close to the advertised fuel economy.

 

Yeah but most of the time ur about 5 or less off but 20 is rediculas id say, plus i already think hybrids are the biggest waste of money there is

 

I really don't see how you can win something like this.

The EPA always states that these are estimates, and other factors such as:
How & Where You Drive
Vehicle Condition & Maintenance
Fuel Variations
Vehicle Variations
Engine Break-In

All contribute to changes in the Estimated Gas Mileage. Which means, it's nice to SEE what it COULD POSSIBLY achieve, but nothing is set in stone.

 

I really don't know what to think as Chibi said they're always advertised as estimates.

 

I think she probably drives it like a maniac so the mpgs are going to suffer - I have no idea how a hybrid works anyway - does it loose mpgs if you have a lead foot?

 

This reminds me of how often I'm going 70 mph on the interstate and a Prius passes me. Happens on almost every long road trip. They're definitely not getting their 50+ mpg driving like that.

 

This particular one has 2 engines. An electric and a small gasoline one. They both work together to turn the wheels. Since it can do the same as a car with a larger engine, it is supposed to save MPGs.

If you do mostly stop and go driving though, they both need to work hard, and if you accelerate quickly, they both need to work hard. So you are basically wasting fuel to accelerate like a fool, and you are wasting fuel charging the electric engine with the gas engine.

Highway driving the electric motor can take some of the power that the gas engine should be doing and help the car stay at speed.

I think the electric can even coast the car without the gasoline engine on this particular car, to further help the MPGs.

But really, if she is doing 100% city driving, and driving like an idiot, the MPG will be terrible. And that's probably what she is doing.

 

There's a class action law suit against Honda already filed regarding their inflated mpg claims that hasn't been settled yet. This woman decided that their offer wasn't acceptable ($200 - $500 and a discount on a new car) so she is taking Honda to small claims court instead. Most of the legal minds observing this case say she has a very good chance of winning.

If you've researched hybrid cars most of the claims are nothing more than hype anyway. Did you know that the production of 1 hybrid car leaves a larger 'carbon footprint' than the production of 1 gasoline powered vehicle? Did you know that the 'payoff' of paying less at the pump isn't reflected until you've owned the vehicle for at least 5 years - and that's if you drive at least 120,000 miles a year. Replacement batteries for them cost $7,000.00+. The Prius is nothing more than a status symbol for the ignorant.