I hope this fine group will be able to answer a rather simple question...

I currently have a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid on-order, but I've heard from a variety of people who say "You'll never get your money back on a hybrid because of the higher cost...it'll take you 7 to 12 years...". And I've spoken to a couple dealers who've said, "A hybrid is more of a lifestyle statement rather than a good way to save money...". It seems that the general consensus of most people I talk to (and none of them own or operate a hybrid) - is that a hybrid is not worth the extra cost at this time although the total cost will probably come down sometime in the future.

I need to replace a 13 year-old Corolla and we've settled on the 2006 Honda Civic (either the Hybrid (at 50mpg) or the regular sedan (at 30 & 40mpg)) as a car that would work for us. We ordered the Hybrid because there about a 3 month waiting time here in the Minneapolis area. I finally test drove a HCH yesterday and it seemed to work rather well, and I can see how the immediate feedback for the MPG would help 'teach' a person how to get the most out it.


The question for us is whether buying the hybrid model would truly save us money in the long run (total cost of ownership) or if the premium paid for a hybrid makes it so you don't see any real savings for quite some time (depending on the cost of gas of course). Is it cheaper to own and operate a hybrid? Or do you have have to keep it for a long long time in order to recoup the cost of the higher purchase price?


Thanks for any assistance you can provide!

Given the rather generous tax write-off for 2006 new hybrid purchases and given that you will save at least 1/2 on your fuel bills, I would safely say that any hybrid premium that "THEY" always complain about will be negated in your first year of ownership......Most people do not do the research and will believe everything they hear or read 2nd or 3rd hand as the truth especially from news wire articles etc.

Let them buy their Denali LT at 13 mpg and 31 gal fuel tank and pay their $250 per month for premium grade fuel and then talk.....

My MA state tax for 2005 was a wash ($0 due with refund) becacuse of the $2,000 clean vehicle deduction. It also helped my Fed tax due as well. The deductions for 2006 will come directly off of your taxes due, not income....a much better and very nice incentive.

Rog,

You are only paying a small premium (~$2k) for your HCH (a nice car, I have a 2004 Prius, ~$3k premium). The maintenance costs should be similar to those in a std Civic so the payback period corresponds to about 50k-75k miles travelled. I have saved about 1000 gallons of gas in less than 2 years (high mileage driving) which almost covers the "premium". Besides, it's fun when you tell people that you actually have averaged 46 MPG over the life of the vehicle (and then they consider the MPG that they get).

Jeffd

--

I feel thats because the other vehicle owners feel threatened (Jealous),
if you can believe that..
I had a ford F-150 that got 8-11 mpg $75 per tank, 1-30gal & 1- 20 gal tank (before gas went up) filled up every week wed & sat. lol do the math.... I purchased an 04' Prius, & now fill up every sun (when I drive it during the week) 11gal at $25 per tank, again do the math I saw an imediate savings..

The wife used to spend $45 a week driving her 4cyl 96' Saturn & now spends $25 a week she saves roughly $100 a month..

I gave the 96' saturn away for $1.00, was costing 2-300 a month in repairs. Now she drives the Prius all the time just to work she drives 50 miles a day round trip..(she's averaging 51 hwy ) (I average 47.2 hwy) Saving $$

Everone else that says there is no savings is talking out of thier human rear exuast pipes... (making excuses) for the decision they made (non-hybrid) and are left wondering where thier money's going..

I have found a lot of people stating they get good mpg and its not worth owing a hybrid.. I tell them they get 16 cty & 17-20 hwy. I get 59- 47. Do the math shuts em right up..

I think you will notice a savings in the first year, even if you only drive 3-10 miles to work you wont be filling up as often as the rest. (if the wife drove 3-15 miles to work I'd only fill up once a month)!
Not to mention the Hybrids are holding thier value look around see what an 04' w/low miles is going for..

We did have an issue when the Prius II came out, some salesmen were buying them running them to 100 mi. and then turning around and selling them used for $22,000. but the dealers caught on to this..

Im sold on hybrids, I own the 04' Prius II, love everything about the car..
I hated the body style of the civic. Until I saw the 06-07's thats also a nice car looks like a stretched prius with a star-trek dash board...
( My next vehicle will be a Hybrid) .

04' # 5, W/leather & JBL omitted.
"Prius, Just ask the person that drives one"
04' Tundra, 18mpg city & 22mpg hwy.
04' Prius, 60mpg city & 53mpg hwy.

Kenstyle NHW20 AERO Kit

Every vehicle should have this, but hybrids have instant mpg.

Even if you insist on having a somewhat lead foot, using the instant mpg will reduce fuel consumption and the accompanying wear-and-tear. At 93,500, I have not had to replace anything outside of the usual tires.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

No.

Support the Troops - Drive a Hybrid!

24 months and 62000 miles on the Prius. 70ish MPG when I drive it, high 40's when my wife drives. We have saved about 2000 gallons of gas over the previous car, about $4500. Then there is was the tax deduction, which lowered my taxes by $500. So I have saved $5000 total so far.

I have never had a problem with it. Never been back to the dealer. I'm on my second set of tires. I do the oil changes myself. One air filter. The brakes show no signs of wear.

The KBB is around $17,500, about $5000 less than I paid for it. So the money I have saved has completely made up for the depreciation.

I can't speak for anyone but myself, but in a word....

YES!

It's a Wonderful Day for Science!

I started a similiar discussion here. Because of my daily commute making up the price difference is really not an issue since I will recoup it in gas savings, quickly.

2 1/4 in exhaust
Exhaust Pix
Intake and CC Breather

There's a lot of good sentiments in that thread.

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