Hybrids..

The model you mention certainly isn't for the general consumer's benefit. It might be great for contractors though that are always having to haul around a generator. Or maybe not even for that. This model will go the way of the four wheel steer GMs... (Although at least the four wheel steer made some sense!)

Supposedly GM does have another system on the way that they claim offers up a 25% increase in mileage and combines batteries with their displacement on demand technologies.

Personally, I'd like to see more diesel engine options..... but without the crazy price increases that the Big 3 tack on their diesel trucks currently. It wouldn't take much to get me into a 30+ mpg diesel Ranger truck, if I could buy it for a fair price.

Until then, I'll keep feeding my V-10 and drive with a light foot. It does hurt to watch the price on the gas pump, but the truck is paid for!

Matt

I read somewhere that GM has the most fuel efficient engines in the world. Better than the Koreans, Europeans and Japanese. I don't know how this was arrived at but I rented a DTS Cadillac and averaged almost 30mpg on the hiway at around 80 mph. I also know a Corvette gets very good mileage. You would think that GM would continue development with their "displacement on Demand" or go with a new fuel instead of the Hybrid which is just a stop gap at best. (if its even that)

Rob

There hasnt been a successful quad steer vehicle yet. They are disconcerting to drive, and some what fear-ful, the idea of it glitching into "crimp" instead of "crab" steer while doing a lane change at 70 mph.... Worked on pettibone 6000lb rough terrian forklifts while in the service, we were for ever having problems with the four wheel steer systems. When they worked they were great. Army finally scrapped them and went International Harvisters with an articulating style, like buckect loaders.

I read somewhere before the last hurricane season hit florida, that the 1500 hybrid with the

I hope they do the displacement on demand better than they did the Caddy

I havent figured out why the 4 cyl turbo diesel in the tiltmaster and Izusu isnt in the truck yet. and the 2.0 litre Isuzu engine used in the S-10, Chevette, I-mark, Pup truck etc, was not a bad engine, as long as you never bounced a drive wheel off the ground under acceleration, or broke a timing belt. And what about the V-6 diesel GM used in the "A" body? The only real pain there was changing a water pump.

Whitelightning

I've gotten 31.5 m/g on the hiway in my 04 ranger 4 banger 5 speed. Of course, the 4 banger ain't for towing. John

That certainly ain't bad.

I should have detailed the truck in my mind which is an extended cab

Matt

Matt - you have the same year and make truck I do - what kind of mileage do you get? My mileage has been as low as 5MPG !! but the truck has a heavy dump bed on it. It runs well otherwise.

John

I've got a 5 spd manual, 4.3 gears and 285 series tires and in light stop & go/country road driving I've been rock steady at 11 to 12 mpg for the past year or so. On a freeway trip last weekend running 75 mph for 2/3rds of the trip and 65 for the other 1/3rd, I was sitting right at 13 mpg. I've never gotten mileage worse than the low 9s, but I don't tow anything heavier than a pop-up or small 2-place enclosed snowmobile trailer. (These numbers take into account the tire size increase over stock [265s].)

Matt

I don't really see the point of it either. If you're interested in saving money or gas, you wouldn't be driving a GMC to begin with, but if you absolutely have to have a big truck to do your job, then you wouldn't pay a big up-front cost that doesn't pay out. So it doesn't seem to useful.

This month's road & track has a comparison of 3 common (I guess) hybrids to their non-hybrid versions - The ford Escape, Camry, and Honda Civic. It's really interesting. The Ford and Toyota pay back the up-front cost in about

The Ford and Toyota are full hybrids that really do a pretty good job by the numbers, even if they're not economical. The Ford Escape, for instance, increased its fuel mileage 50% - from 20 to 30 mpg. Or, put another way, it cut consumption by a third. Not too shabby. That's not epa, just the conditions of the test by the magazine folks.

A little extra info - the Camrys were 2007 prototypes.

I haven't opened an R&T cover in eons. Never seen it ever do anything but rave about imports, but then its a french owned rag.

Whitelightning