Comments on: Consumer Reports: 39 Percent Considering a Hybrid or Plug-in For Their Next Car

By: jellman

jellman — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:54:56 +0000

In the market for a hybrid and thinking about leasing?
There are some very good deals on Honda Civic, Insight, CRZ, as well as the Toyota Prius. Please check outhttp://www.fasttrackleasing.com/specials.htm

By: Charles

Charles — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 21:41:20 +0000

Dave - Phoenix,

I think the people of Minneapolis, Minnesota would disagree about "begin to resemble", after the I-35 bridge collapse.

By: Dave - Phoenix

Dave - Phoenix — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:50:51 +0000

Interesting point M@...

If we continue to "act" like a 3rd world country in terms of low gasoline taxes, our infrastructure will begin to resemble that of a 3rd world country....

That certainly explains why our infrastructure has fallen into such a state of dis-repair....

By: M@

M@ — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:15:42 +0000

Take a look at gas prices in the first world countries (England, Germany, Japan) and it will shift your perspective on what is low and what is high about the price of gas. It will also alert you to the fact that we are not a first world country anymore!

While third world countries have cheaper gas, in general they also have worse roads (gas taxes pay for roads), and less-desirable other things as well.

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/global_gasprices/

You also need to shift your concept of affordable. It doesn’t cost much to have a baby up-front, but the teenager will eat you out of house and home. That’s like purchasing a cheap gas car. On the other hand, an electric car’s costs are largely up-front in battery costs.

Eventually once you learn to think/look outside the box, you see that there’s no way we can afford to NOT drive electric.

By: DutchInChicago

DutchInChicago — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:17:11 +0000

Confuseussay, you are eh. confused. It is possible to own a leaf not just lease it. I am buying mine on Fall 2011 when it becomes available in Illinois.

By: Confuseussay

Confuseussay — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:35:43 +0000

I am tired of blogging I need an electric now! I live n the midwest and I’ve been waiting for several years for an electric car dealer to come here so I can purchase one. I won’t buy a g.m.product and I learned from the movie “who killed the electric car” that I don’t want a “leaf”. No lease for me. I want to own my EV. As much as I dislike the chinese, I will buy from the first company to bring a usable EV to my area. I REALLY hope it will be american made.

By: TexHooper

TexHooper — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 15:34:36 +0000

Hard to say how much I disagree with some on here. Consumer Reports is spot on. I am very interested in getting a hybrid.The problem is if it does not make financial sense, I’m not likely to do it. As hybrid/electric cars become more viable, there will be more of them. As there are more of them, their prices will fall. As their prices fall, more people will buy them. I “hope” my next car is a hybrid, but it depends on many things. I live in the mountains, so I need a car that can handle the steep inclines and winter conditions. My wife has a Honda Fit. This means when we replace my car in a couple of years, my car has to be able to handle these conditions. I have a Subaru now, and I would be interested in a Subaru in the future. I am interested in a couple hybrids, but I will probably be buying a 1-4 year old car. There are many things more important than how “green” a car is, but we just need to let the free, well semi-free, market do its job.

By: JamesDavis

JamesDavis — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 11:17:11 +0000

It is either Consumer Report or the author of this article who claims that gas prices are low. $3.00 a gallon is not low when you work at a minimum wage job or drawing an unemployment cheque. Gas prices are only low for those who own or work for the fossil fuel companies and they are only saying that the gas prices are low so if the republicans regain power they can jack it back up to the Bush administration's rates of $4.15 a gallon or higher.

Consumers will buy what is most readily available to them and the most affordable, and since electric and hybrids only represent 3% of the market - there is nothing out there for the consumer to buy that is affordable. I want my next car to be an electric because I am sick and tired of the high gas price roller coaster rides and the majority of my payday going to purchase that overly priced gas and other fossil fuels.

It seems like Consumer Report has finally been bought off by the fossil fuel companies during this great recession the Bush administration plunged us into.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 05:05:03 +0000

Great insight and suggestion!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:42:52 +0000

What is more important is that the Taxis should go Hybrid. They drive more in the city where Hybrids give double the mileage of non hybrid and also drive 40,000 - 50,000 miles / year. ROI can be done in just 1 or 2 years.

Infact Federal Government can offer another Cash for Clunkers program just for Taxis. Those who trade their gas guzzlers like Crown Vic, Grand Marq and Towncar to buy smaller hybrids like Prius, Escape, Fusion, Camry, Altima, Civic should be given a small amount.

This will promote many taxis to trade their old vehicle and buy a hybrid.