been offered a 2006 silverado hybrid 'cheap' - can i get rid of the hybrid stuff?

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derek sollows - 27 Jan 2008 03:10 GMT

I just resubscribed to find the longest thread ever in Chev -about a Toyota

I have recently driven in toyota and chev hybrids. the silverado hybrid
that I tested today sucks bad - but only because it would work better
without the hybrid stuff. Still the same great truck otherwise!

I am thinking that I should trade in my 01 silverado LS for this thing -
no toyota is even on my radar screen since my son bought a 4cyl Tacoma
(for more than I paid) and that: gets the same highway mileage as my
4.8, doesn't carry a proper load, and won't carry the missus and me
and our two malamutes in the 'comfort' of the chev.

The only thing holding me back is the certainty that GM has already
abandoned this technological "dead-end" - leaving any owners with no
viable exit strategy other than to take your lumps. Kinda like the Olds
diesels of the '80's (had two: one died, one didn't) or the big Canadian
government incentive program (to the big 3)that had contractors from
coast to coast with whole fleets of propane powered trucks that suffered
engine failure at 60,000 kms

Can anyone on this forum speak with knowledge to the subject of a
hybrid-ectomy for an otherwise useful vehicle.

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Ronald Thompson - 27 Jan 2008 14:25 GMT

There was a study I saw recently that showed based on a cost of
$4.00/gallon of gas and depending upon the vehicle it take 7 to 18 years
of ownership to offset the extra cost of the vehicle.

Ron

> Can anyone on this forum speak with knowledge to the subject of a
> hybrid-ectomy for an otherwise useful vehicle.

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Picasso - 29 Jan 2008 01:58 GMT

> There was a study I saw recently that showed based on a cost of
> $4.00/gallon of gas and depending upon the vehicle it take 7 to 18 years
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>> Can anyone on this forum speak with knowledge to the subject of a
>> hybrid-ectomy for an otherwise useful vehicle.

thats not hard to believe...

did that analysis calculate the cost to replace the batteries when they
die just after the warranty gives out?

The friggin things only get about 2mpg better in the city anyway... and
the same highway mileage

i wouldn't touch a hybrid chev truck... they are just about as useless
as the OP's sons toyota... (maybe not as reliable, but about as useless
;))

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Troy Sigwing - 29 Jan 2008 23:43 GMT

anything to back up the useless or reliable statements?

>> There was a study I saw recently that showed based on a cost of
>> $4.00/gallon of gas and depending upon the vehicle it take 7 to 18 years
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> the OP's sons toyota... (maybe not as reliable, but about as useless
> ;))

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Eugene - 30 Jan 2008 02:12 GMT

>> There was a study I saw recently that showed based on a cost of
>> $4.00/gallon of gas and depending upon the vehicle it take 7 to 18 years
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> as the OP's sons toyota... (maybe not as reliable, but about as useless
> ;))

It only gets a little better because its a mild hybrid. GM sells a lot of
vehicles so their idea is by making a small improvement to a lot of
vehicles gives the same benefit as making a larger improvement to a small
number of vehicles.
GM has not abandoned the hybrid truck, its still available and the
technology is going into the suv's in the next model year.
To remove it you would need to replace the starter/generator with a
traditional starter and replace or reprogram the engine controller to not
shut off the truck and remove the batteries and extra electronics. Then
replace the electric engine accessories like power steering pump with
traditional belt driven ones, Since its a 'mild' hybrid there isn't that
much difference.
I'd swap you parts with those from my 04 if your near Ohio.
Since its just a 'mild' hybrid there are not nearly as many batteries so
replacement won't be very expensive. IIRC its only like 4 higher end car
batteries.

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derek sollows - 04 Feb 2008 04:23 GMT

>>> There was a study I saw recently that showed based on a cost of
>>> $4.00/gallon of gas and depending upon the vehicle it take 7 to 18 years
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> replacement won't be very expensive. IIRC its only like 4 higher end car
> batteries.

not abandonned yet by GM - but the dealer staff are already committed to
a new, smaller than current diesel and will not promote the hybrids

this is exactly what happened to the olds diesels that came through the
dealers doors here - dealer staff sold customers 'away' from the cars -
and discounted the early turn-ins so that they all were devalued - just
like this 06 hybrid they are showing to me this time around.

(I bought a diesel cutlass brougham for well under half the price that
it had come off the showroom floor for only 10 months previously,drove
it for 200k and sold it running fine. I kept a spare engine on a stand -
just-in-case, but never needed it)

re parts swap - a real nice offer - - I live in the maritimes == it
would be a a tough few days to changeout all of this stuff.

I probably won't be buying a new truck, hybrid or not, as gas prices are
so high. Maybe I'll rebuild the 01 and get a car for most of my light
transportation needs. I used to do this 'til the insurance companys
here started to really whack us for each vehicle in the driveway as if
we can drive all of them at once - (not much competition in the
insurance industry in these parts). The price of gas may put that option
back on the table - even at high premium rates for the vehicle that
sits at home.

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