Reasons to get a fuel efficient car?

[RU482]

Originally posted by: vegetation

It basically isn't cheaper in the long run. It would take a LONG time to save $4000 in gas costs. If you compare the Prius to the Corolla and assume that the Corolla gets 40 mpg and the Prius gets 60 mpg, then it would take years to save $4000 in gas costs. If you really want to save money on a car, buy a used car with low insurance costs.

Don't forget you'll need a new battery pack once you hit so many miles and nobody knows how much this will really cost at this point. But considering it's pretty much a dealer-only type of job, you're at their mercy.

actually, you can buy the battery packs at your toyota parts counter for about $4000, IIRC. they are actually pretty easy to install

 

[rootaxs]

It's hard comparing the Prius to a "regular one" in terms of price as there isn't exactly a "regular" Prius like there is a regular and hybrid Civic.

Now on with the Civic, Invoice price-wise. A Civic EX sedan costs $16322 while the Hybrid costs $18776. That's a $2454 price difference.

However, you also have to consider that the Hybrid comes standard with Side Airbags & 4 Wheel ABS - That's about a $688 option on an EX.

Add to it the tax deduction of $2000, which comes out to about $600 for an average person and the price difference between an EX and a Hybrid comes down to $1166 - which isn't a bad number now.

Then we start calculating gas savings, averaging the city/hwy EPA estimates on the Civics:

- Hybrids get 47.5mpg
- EX gets 34mpg

On an average of 15k miles/year of driving,

- Hybrid uses 315.78 gallons of gas
- EX uses 441.17 gallons of gas

Multiplying those two numbers with current regular gas prices of $1.50/gallon and finding the difference between the two,

$188/yr of gas savings.

At that rate, it will take one approximately 6 years to break even on a Hybrid.

Of course, the environmental impact is a subjective matter - i personally would price that a lot higher so driving a Hybrid, even on the first tank alone, is "breaking even" enough for me.

 

[Saulbadguy]

I equipped my vehicle with a "Mr. Fusion" generator. I put my garbage in it from the week before, and it runs quite well. No need for plutonium!