Interesting article on how much hybrids really save in fuel costs.......

[SMOGZINN]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Everyone knows that the mileage reported by the EPAs tests are bogus. I don't know why they even bother with that. I wish they'd get some realizstic tests. I'm surprised it can't be considered False Advertising to advertise those estimates.

They are similar to synthetic benchmarks used on AT, they tell you something about the performance, but not the entire story.

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
Let's hope the rich eco-geeks keep buying them so the economies of scale and introduced.

They sound like a good idea, but it's a LOT cheaper to just buy a nice 4 banger that gets pretty good mileage stock.

That's exactly why I recently went for a 2005 Corolla S instead of a Prius. The Corolla was only $18k and it still gets 30MPG city/38MPG hwy, so even though it is a normal internal combusion car it's still no slouch when it comes to fuel economy.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Talk about the uninformed. I know a couple people who own hybrids and all they talk about is saving money at the pump; saving money was their motivation for buying it.

Yes, there are uninformed people in every crowd. But that doesn't mean that hybrids are bad just because some people are uninformed. That is why it is a strawman argument. There are many other benefits to hybrid vehicles. And thus, they are not all bad just because they don't save money.

What other benefits? Only time will tell if these vehicles are great. For some reason I think the battery system will come back to haunt it.

 

[ucdbiendog]

that article doesnt take into account the value of "feeling good for saving gas and polluting less". Sometimes people will pay more if they think it is for a good cause or it will give them some self satisfaction.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
I worked this out mathematically in a thread. I did Civic hybrid, loaded vs. Civic EX V6, loaded. This is not new news to anyone that reads AT religiously.

you need to redo that with gas at 3+ bucks a gallon.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

I say let them spend more money and think they are saving. I've quit trying to convince a friend that getting a Prius isn't really going to be cost-effective. If he wants to buy that ugly, overpriced, handles like a brick vehicle, let him. That keeps the prices of nice, efficient under-rated 4-bangers like Corollas, Focus, Neons, Mazda3's at something I can still afford.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
I worked this out mathematically in a thread. I did Civic hybrid, loaded vs. Civic EX V6, loaded. This is not new news to anyone that reads AT religiously.

you need to redo that with gas at 3+ bucks a gallon.

It's easy enough math. Driving 15000 miles/year, 50MPG, $3.50/gallon you'd spend $1050 on fuel. Same thing at 35MPG, you'd spend $1500 a year on fuel.
Savings of $450/year. It would still take 5 years to make up the $2000 price difference. By then, you'll probably have another car.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Talk about the uninformed. I know a couple people who own hybrids and all they talk about is saving money at the pump; saving money was their motivation for buying it.

Yes, there are uninformed people in every crowd. But that doesn't mean that hybrids are bad just because some people are uninformed. That is why it is a strawman argument. There are many other benefits to hybrid vehicles. And thus, they are not all bad just because they don't save money.

What other benefits? Only time will tell if these vehicles are great. For some reason I think the battery system will come back to haunt it.

Not to mention the regenerative breaking system. Overall I worry about all the extra things that can go wrong with these vehicles. I think that repair and maintance costs are going to be prohibitively high. I will admit that I have no proof of this, but I am still going to wait a few years to see how these cars age.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: Jzero
It's easy enough math. Driving 15000 miles/year, 50MPG, $3.50/gallon you'd spend $1050 on fuel. Same thing at 35MPG, you'd spend $1500 a year on fuel.
Savings of $450/year. It would still take 5 years to make up the $2000 price difference. By then, you'll probably have another car.

I still own a car I bought in '96 (and will until it stops running), not everyone wastes money and trades cars in every 4 years.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: rahvin
I still own a car I bought in '96 (and will until it stops running), not everyone wastes money and trades cars in every 4 years.

We're talking about the average consumer. The same average consumer who finances Kias for 7 years, leases cars, pays more than MSRP for a used Prius and believes that they will save money on fuel when they buy a hybrid car.

 

[thomsbrain]

too bad gas costs over $3, not $2.25. and too bad the average commuter, at least in my area, is going to drive WAY over 15,000 miles a year.... try 25,000.

that alone cuts the break-even point to 7.2 years.

and gas is only going up from here, and that's not even counting the points dullard makes -- that the Hybrid is nowhere near comparable to the LX in features. the hybrid is basically the top of the line model, not the mid-range.

EyeMWing, where did you find this mythical V6 Civic?. Cause they don't actually exist, you know.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
that the Hybrid is nowhere near comparable to the LX in features. the hybrid is basically the top of the line model, not the mid-range.

The Civic Hybrid is still $2000 or so more than the EX.

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Talk about the uninformed. I know a couple people who own hybrids and all they talk about is saving money at the pump; saving money was their motivation for buying it.

Yes, there are uninformed people in every crowd. But that doesn't mean that hybrids are bad just because some people are uninformed. That is why it is a strawman argument. There are many other benefits to hybrid vehicles. And thus, they are not all bad just because they don't save money.

It doesn't say anywhere in the article that they're bad, I think you are being a little defensive about this. The whole point of the article is to show how hybrids won't actually save you as much money as you would think (if at all). Since everyone in this country seems to be obsessed with gas prices at the moment I think it's foolish to say that most people aren't looking at hybrids because of the money saving aspect.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
I worked this out mathematically in a thread. I did Civic hybrid, loaded vs. Civic EX V6, loaded. This is not new news to anyone that reads AT religiously.

There is no Civic V6...

Oh, wait. I did Accord hybrid loaded v Accord EX V6. Civic, Accord, I was close, right?

 

[jdini76]

This article may be interesting (and right) if you are going from a regular gasoline powered vehicle that is in the 20k price range to a hybrid, but what if you are going from a vehical that is in the 30k price rangeto a hybrid. It would be worth it then, right?

 

[Codewiz]

Volkswagon Golf TDI = real 50MPG

Screw hybrids.

 

[CChaos]

Originally posted by: jdini76
This article may be interesting (and right) if you are going from a regular gasoline powered vehicle that is in the 20k price range to a hybrid, but what if you are going from a vehical that is in the 30k price rangeto a hybrid. It would be worth it then, right?

Will you save money buying a cheaper car that gets better mileage? I'll venture a guess and say yes.

 

[Fritzo]

This was on Dateline a few weeks back too. You are better off going with a fuel efficient standard car.

 

[EvilYoda]

I understand where they're coming from with all this, but most informed consumers should know that they're buying a hybrid both for gas efficiency and the car being environment friendly.

 

[CChaos]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Volkswagon Golf TDI = real 50MPG

Screw hybrids.

Diesel may well be a good alternative but in my area diesel prices have kept pace with gas prices. Also, there are very few diesel offerings in this country, some states don't even allow new diesel vehicles to be sold, and while torquey, I'm not sure that the typical US consumer would be happy with the usual low horsepower output. Personally, I'll be considering one for my next car.

 

[Vic]

This is known. Hybrids are a scam. A CAFE-positive car that manufacturers can sell for a high per-unit margin (whereas most CAFE-positive cars, being super-economy compacts, sell at or near a per-unit loss).
People who are really concerned about using less gas and polluting the least should buy the least expensive economy compact they can find, the one with the least options/goodies/etc., the best gas mileage, and the simplest and smallest drivetrain, and then drive it the least number of miles they possibly can.

 

[DrPizza]

I've seen plenty of people who can't do the math...
Eventually, in order to "save" money, there will be more people purchasing hybrids, helping to bring the price down.

I know someone, who because of the high gas prices, parked his SUV at home and purchased a second car "for every day trips" for the sole reason of "saving money" 😕

So... he spent 10,000 to save 30 a week...???
In 5 years, both vehicles will have aged 5 years, regardless of the mileage. Even with allowances for low mileage on the trade in, the 10k will never be recouped.