Comments on: Study Shatters Myth of Hybrid Premium

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:58:27 +0000

of hybrids as new technology or better for the environment. Klein views hybrids as a “real disruptive technology making its debutTop Business Hosting

By: Steve623

Steve623 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:12:12 +0000

Reading this really makes me sad as it perfectly illustrates our idiocy and consumerism as a nation.

For starters, if one is truly worried about saving money then maybe you have no business buying a new car. Instead of buying a 2011 Toyota Prius for $24,000, buy a low mileage 199X Civic (or comparable) for about $3000. Spend about a grand on touch-up, a killer stereo, some rims, whatever. OMG! Cheap insurance, easy maintenance, low repair costs and no monthly payments. That $20,000 dollar premium is what all the idiots pay because they think gas prices are so high that they NEED a hybrid.

OK, so let's say that you are so wealthy that gas prices are of no consequence and you really just want to reduce your carbon footprint, or whatever. Buy that used Civic. It's called recycling! That's one unloved vehicle potentially saved from an ignominious end in a landfill, and one less new car built. I dunno what energy costs and materials go into making a new car, let alone a hybrid, but by buying that old econo-box you are not contributing to the destruction of mother Gaia!

Then there's the third, and most common reason for buying a hybrid: you can look down your nose at your neighbors because they are sooo less educated and responsible than you are. Well, I can't help you there, no other vehicle on the planet does as good a job of making you look like a pretentious D-bag. So enjoy your hybrid!

By: Homer

Homer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:42:27 +0000

Our American economy is founded on waste: mcmansions surrounded by nothing but more mcmansions. To buy a loaf of bread, we must get into a car. Few of us commute to work via mass transit (most of us live in towns and cities that do not provide clearn, cheap, fast public transportation). If we are serious about freeing ourselves from spending money to finance terrorists, we need to rethink our infrastructure.

That said, my next car will be a hybrid. I am thinking Insight.

Thanks to those who have made informative comments.

By: Hybrid Newbie

Hybrid Newbie — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:23:55 +0000

I recently purchased a ’11 Camry Hybrid because I think gas prices will rise quickly in the foreseeable future. Oil prices are up, and if the growth in world population does not let up, there will be more people competing for finite amounts of fuel. If people in this country want to maintain their driving standard (ie, driving anywhere they wish without much concern about fuel prices), high-MPG hybrids are the only way to go. This is a preparation for the future. The electric car will still be ‘impractical’, due to the long re-charge times and short driving ranges of current models.

By: Abner

Abner — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:35:34 +0000

You are guaranteed to save money with a hybrid car: If you are doing town driving, you may save fuel and you may not. The same goes for motorway driving. There are just too many different factors involved.
Hybrid Car Myths
Great read, Thanks.

By: DaveBaldwin

DaveBaldwin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:23:47 +0000

This is a useless comment – whether they are rich are not doesn’t matter, the fact is that they are making good choices environmentally, and arguably ‘better’ choices financially.

By: Chris G

Chris G — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:00:18 +0000

I started my Prius lease in February and love it. I drive a truck for a living (gasp!) and have noticed that I am driving my work truck differently. Maybe it is from “re-learning” to drive my Prius. Seeing what can happen to your average MPG with full throttle acceleration makes you realize most people driving like idiots (full throttle, not leaving space between cars in front, or slamming on brakes constantly) robs your pocket in wasted gas. Coasting, slowing down, and just good old defensive driving go a long way in saving fuel. My Prius has taught me that Driver Ed teachers knew what they were talking about. Let’s all be a little more considerate of one another on the road and save gas at the same time.

By: Armand

Armand — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:19:37 +0000

They are still too expensive. Just because you make over $100K per year doesn't mean you want to send $500/m+ for a car does it?

Where are the Hybrid Fits? Yaris? Punto? Polo? Etc???

By: Nate

Nate — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 11:42:02 +0000

When we bought out Hybrid where weren't looking at the years after buying it to save money, we looked at our monthly expenses. We traded our Trailblazer XLT in for our Hybrid. So here is some simple math that told us we were saving money.
Trailblazer monthly payment: $436/month
Gasoline for SUV: $400/month(roughly $100/week)
Total: $836/month
Our new Prius:$466/month
Gas: $70/month (roughly $35 week 1/2, full tank gets around 520 miles)
Total: $536/month
Savings:$300/month est.
Full coverage of all parts of Hybrid (stndrd 8yr/100k for all Hybrid components)
We have money coming back in our pocket and maint. on the Prius is like any other car, fluids/breaks/tires/etc are all changed same time as all gasoline cars are, for the same price.

What are these "added" costs of Hybrids you speak of?

By: Ellie

Ellie — Sat, 05 May 2007 00:51:51 +0000

I just bought a touring prius with xm radio for 24500 before tax and title.