Weekly Roundup: I Want A Toyota Hybrid

But it’s not the Prius, it’s this crazy looking concept car called the Toyota Volta, named after Alessandro Volta, inventor of the battery in 1800. The car is a carbon-fiber three-seater that has drive by wire controls, which means all electronic, that lets you move the controls in front of any of the three drivers. That’s right, if you’re a Brit and confused by sitting on the left side of the car, simply move it to the right (just remember to drive on the right side of the road!) and you’ll feel right at home.

It sports a 13.7 gallon fuel tank and can run 435 miles, or close to 32 miles per gallon. The engine is a 408-hp Hybrid Synergy Drive, which is a 3.3-liter V6 with an electric motor for each axle, and it can get from zero to sixty in four seconds. FOUR SECONDS. Except for the fact that the car looks absolutely crazy, it sounds freaking awesome. Would I need 0 - 60 in four seconds or over four hundred horses underneath the hood? No… but it’s a hybrid, I want to do my part for the environment.

• At Consumerism Commentary, guest poster Sasha shares her conversion from buying lunches to bringing lunches.
• JLP shares with us the best and worst months for the S&P.
• MBH announces that September is eBay month with MyPoints.
• Nickel refilled a travel size tube of toothpaste, this should go in my list of ridiculous money saving tips (in all fairness, it was a time constraint and convenience issue and not about saving cash).
• FMF reviews a few timeless money tips from Money magazine.
• SVB wants to retire early and do her own thing.
• Jeremy lists a few good reasons why you should pay your taxes.
• Sun gives advice on how to save and make money with an HSA.
• Lazy Man has learned a lot from the NFL, this time it’s from those damned 2001 Pats.
• Ben reacts to an Ameriprise solicitation… lamenting his youth.
• Golbguru asks whether your house is friend or foe-y (i made up that word) to burglars.
• At My Retirement Blog, I discuss the decision between taking a pension as a lump sum or as an annuity.
• If you’re potentially facing a foreclosure, here’s what to do if your mortgage lender is trying to contact you.
• Consumerist had a post for the ages this week with a thirteen step guide to buying a car. I don’t say things are must-reads often, if ever, but if you’re looking to buy a car and you want to have total control, follow this guide.