Best hybrid for a 6'3" 300 lb guy?

[SVOboy]

A co-worker just asked me my opinion on a hybrid for her husband, a guy of that size. I told her his best bet was just to test drive what was out there and see what felt good and then get whatever had the best mileage (he does a lot of highway miles so comfort is important), but I didn't have any specific knowledge for size.

Any ideas?

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

A co-worker just asked me my opinion on a hybrid for her husband, a guy of that size. I told her his best bet was just to test drive what was out there and see what felt good and then get whatever had the best mileage (he does a lot of highway miles so comfort is important), but I didn't have any specific knowledge for size.

Any ideas?

If he doing a lot of highway miles he might be better off without the hybrid.

[MetroMPG]

Why is that, Lazarus? (Unless you're thinking: diesel, for super long distance durability?)

[MetroMPG]

Ben: I know a 300 lb 6ft+ guy who bought a Camry hybrid. Loves it. And it gets better highway FE than the non-hybrid Camry.

[SVOboy]

I also thought about the fact that hybrids are not designed for the highway, but I kept in mind the fact that they usually have smaller ICEs and more FE conscious gearing that would also benefit a highway traveler.

I'll prolly recommend: Prius, Civic, Camry, unless one doesn't fit,

It's always nice to see normal people making the switch.

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

I also thought about the fact that hybrids are not designed for the highway,....

Check out the mpg ratings for honda's hybirds Last I checked (this would be for the 2007 offerings), their highway mpg was still higher than their city mpg. It's just what they optimized for

My recommendation - have him do test drives. Narrow it down to 1 or 2. Then do a 3 day or 5 day rental (during the weekday) and live with it for a few days (a week even better). Of course, that's only if you can find a hybrid rental :/

Looks like toyota has a rental program
http://www.toyota.com/html/rental/index.html

[SVOboy]

That's why I suggested the civic hybrid, I think it's a fly car, too bad there's no coupe.

[elhigh]

A bicycle. When he works himself down to something more reasonable, a guy that big might be happiest in a Ford Explorer Hybrid.

[budomove]

Hey Ben and Everyone, If he doesn't mind a car that is a couple years old, then how about an 01-05 civic hx? They get pretty much the same mpgs as all the other hybrid 4doors out there, and you dont have to worry about all of the added expense/inconvenience of owning a hybrid. When I recently chose the insight, it was between that and the hx, since all the rest of the hybrids seem like more potential problems than the extra 5mpg's are worth. Of course you can squeeze more than 45mpg out of the average 4door hybrid, but would this gent likely be driving 50mph on the highway to achieve that? Dont get me wrong, I do support the general advancement in technology that the hybrid represents, but give us cars that double the mpgs. After a week with the insight, even 70mpg on the highway seems like too little for all the added liability. I want a 4 wheeled vehicle with aptera like efficiency, if I need to worry about 5-6000 in hybrid related repairs. We are well on our way there it seems, but it is just so frustrating to watch. Someone just told me that there will be a hydrogen filling station in ny pretty soon, though I dont know where...Pretty Exciting!!!!!

frank