Arianna Huffnpuff

[SJ]

Jason:

I'll make one last effort on a civil note:

I want a Hybrid vehicle, but for use as my commuter car (as opposed to weekend and bad weather use). The only problem is that Ford is not releasing their Hybrid Escape to non-fleet customers until 2004. GM says they have at least 5 models in the works, so I'll have to hold my breath there.

I won't buy a Japanese nameplate, so what options am I left with? My H2 is driven 1 day to work and the rest of the time it is for slogging through the mountains and when snow is too deep for most cars. My daily driver is powered by a Ford V6 that gets an avg. of 22-24mpg and I don't know what emission standards it qualifies under, but it is a model year 2002, so hopefully the newer tech. lends to lower emissions (compared to older cars).