If you're thinking about buying a Hybrid to save money.......
New study finds that Hybrids might not make economic sense:

Source: Edmunds.com

The only car in the comparison that roughly equates in costs over five years is the hybrid Toyota Prius, vs. the conventional Camry. The owner would need to drive just 15,000 miles a year or gas would need to be $2.28 a gallon, the peg Edmunds.com is using for the first year in the study. But Camry is bigger.

When compared with the smaller, gas-thrifty conventional Corolla, the Prius wouldn't equal the five-year costs unless it were driven 66,500 miles a year or gas reached $10.10 a gallon.

The study shows, "If people go in with the idea they are saving money, they are mistaken," says Jesse Toprak, pricing director for Edmunds.com, an auto research site.

Edmunds.com compared costs of ownership, including purchase price, taxes, financing, insurance and maintenance over five years. Depreciation costs are excluded because it's hard to predict resale values of the new hybrids. The study also assumes two-thirds highway and one-third city driving.

While gas is figured at $2.28 the first year, which is what Edmunds.com says it found was the average price across the country in April, it rises 3% a year.

Edmunds.com's assumptions in the study paint a "worst-case scenario," says Honda spokesman Andy Boyd. A less-aggressive approach would require hybrid Accord be driven only 17,000 miles a year before it becomes thriftier than the standard Accord.

Toyota's Sam Bhutto says, "Prius is an excellent value."

The Ford Escape hybrid not only gets great gas mileage, but has lower maintenance requirements — fewer oil changes and brake-pad replacements, for example — meaning fewer trips to the dealer, says Bryan Olson, hybrid Escape marketing manager. "I tell people to think of the value of your time."

The analysis doesn't take into account that low-polluting hybrids are allowed in carpool lanes in some locales or that their prices could fall over time. "People buy hybrids for different reasons," says Ron Cogan of Green Car Journal.

 

I'll probably get a hybrid after my current commuter car dies. I'd buy it for one of the same reasons I bought the Cummins. Less fuel consumed means less dependence on foreign oil. I didn't get the diesel option because it made economic sense...

 

I'd buy a hybrid if it had the same power, sound and smell of my Cummins....and of course it would have to come in a full size 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

 

They do have hybrid Cummins, don't they?

The "contractor special"? Or is that out yet?


Hybrids just don't make any sense. The only way they gain any energy is through regenerative braking and a LITTLE bit through keeping the engine in the power band. Otherwise they are just STUPID.

 

In Virginia, driving a hybrid lets you ride in the HOV-3 lanes by yourself.
That's why most of the people around here buy them.

 

I was going to get one just for that reason Ed. Apparently though, people are complaining about all the Hybrids with just one passenger and I've heard that in 2006 or 2007 they will no longer be able to be used as a ticket to the HOV....
I don't know if I could drive one of those little cars anyways. I'm too used to driving the monster...

 

You can ride the HOV lanes legally on a motorcycle too.
It's a lot cheaper, and I look forward to the commute.

 

I might buy a hybrid, after they've been on the market for 20 years and the technology is easy for the individual to fix with aftermarket parts. Otherwise, my next vehicle will be a diesel that can run on bio.

Edwin

 

Don't you have a Diesel that can run off of bio right now?


Just put more money into that truck- no need to buy anything new...


($20,000 for a crappy new car is what, 500 HP?)

 

Hear Hear!.

Did some experimenting this past 2 weeks.

Filled up the Motorcycle for 7 bucks, Super Unleaded about 4.5 gallons,
and rode it for 5 days to and from work before I had to refill.
Can ride all alone in the HOV lane, 75-80 mph both ways.

Filled up the truck for 50 bucks, regular #2 Diesel about 20 gallons,
and drove it for 5 days to and from work before refilling.
Can't ride in the HOV lane, have to go 70 mph max, if I'm lucky.

Right now Diesel and Super Unleaded are about the same price, maybe a couple pennies more for Diesel.

Sure am glad the weather cooperated.

Truck is sitting out in the lot right now though, very angry black and gray clouds filling the sky.


phox

 

I thought about a MC too but I haven't ridden one in over 25 years and I really don't feel like getting caught in one of our surprise rain storms in the summertime.

 

I'm what's known as a 40 - 40 rider.

It's gotta be over 40 degrees and less than a 40% chance of rain or I'm takin' the truck.
(Of course the above does not apply to Memorial Day weekend, or 'Biker' funerals.)

 

Man freezes engine gets almost 150% better gas milage on his hybrid. The story is the first link and the second link is the science behind it.

http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?s=3390503

http://www.300below.com/site/home.html

 

I like taking my bike just b/c it's more fun with wind in your face and I can zip around traffic so much easier. However the truck can lay down a nice smoke screen if needed and we all know smoke screens are cool.

Let's see $16 dollars a week or $50 dollars a week??? Hmmmm ya my motorcycle get's more action when the weather is right.



-CM

 

I was looking into the Hybrids for my wife (73 mile commute one way) Then I saw a Volkswagon TDI at the pump next to us last weekend. Way Cool, a tiny Diesel that gets 40-50 MPG!!!? They are a bit on the small side, but it's just the three of us anyway.
Why let them try out the Hybrid Technology on me when I can get a Diesel powered car that could last 300K miles??