On a local progressive radio show an "energy company spokesman" claimed that the Prius and other hybrid vehicles were simply not very popular here in the United States, and that the total cost of hybrids simply negates any benefit they may provide for the environment (He was being interviewed as part of a segment on "Who killed the electric car?", a new documentary). He was calling from Washington D.C. He was asked where he lives: he said Reston, VA. He was told by the DJ that in California there are hybrids everywhere and they seem to be very popular.
My question: Are hybrids "not very popular" in your neck of the woods? I live in the SF Bay area, and, of course, I see Priiii everywhere. And they seem to be popular even among non-owners, who ask a lot of questions about the car. Not to mention the many Civics and Escapes that I also see on the road.
What's the situation in the rest of the country? Any thoughts?

In Huntsville, the Bill Penny Toyota of Huntsville, AL, 256-837-1111, has a "2-3 month waiting list". They do not have any Prius sitting on the lot unsold.

Koon's Tyson's Toyota VA, 703-790-5920, just got two trucks with a pair and they are selling them as fast as they arrive. Five more are scheduled and will be gone as soon as they get there. Deposits are needed before the car arrives.

So I would suggest letting the radio station do the same experiment. Call a couple of Toyota car dealers and some Honda dealers. Ask the sales managers if hybrids are "popular."

For an "unpopular car," they need to look at what doesn't move and the hybrids are moving!

Let me suggest this, "wishful thinking" versus "facts and data" . . . make the d*mn phone calls. . . . BTW, if anyone finds some that are not selling, please post the name and address of the dealer. I'm not the only one interested!

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

I'm not exactly living in Hybrid City USA and I see a Prius or two fairly regularly, as well as a couple (could be the same one) Toyota Highlander Hybrids and a couple Honda Civic Hybrids. It's not as rare as I thought it might be to find myself sitting at a light next to another hybrid vehicle of some sort (in fact, it's happened three times and it always looks staged... Toyota Prius at the stop line of an intersection, me in my FEH behind them. )

A hybrid here is rare enough that people comment on it, and it takes some effort to find one (FEH) on a lot that has what you want without driving a couple hundred miles. Prius waiting lists here are comparable to other major cities, I am told. My husband took our '92 Toyota Corolla in for an oil change and casually inquired about Toyota Prius availability. All they could offer up offhand was "We've got a used one with hail damage and 11k miles."

I probably see as many hybrids as I do Mini Coopers, Mustang GTs or other lower production run vehicles. If that's a valid comparison criterion, it tells me they're not unpopular just not produced in large enough numbers to make them a highly visible presence on the roadways in many areas.

- Shannon (Geeky, Wild Texan)

If the caller lives in Reston, VA, he's probably got three Priuses, a HCH, and a HiHi in his neighborhood.

Although there are long waiting lists, keep in mind that this partially a product of the limited number hybrid models and doesn't necessarily indicate popularity. They are still a minute fraction of overall car sales in the U.S. which is likely what the evil oil exec was alluding too. Ferrarri's have waiting lists sometimes several years long, but they certainly aren't 'popular' among the general public.

I see several Priuses here in the Denver area each day. My coworker has one and somebody else that works in our complex has one. The Prius is very popular here. I've seen one other HCHII, a few HCHIs, and I occasionally see Insights. I just saw one about 15 minutes ago. Also, I've seen a handful of Highlander Hybrids

The more I think about it, the more I think the popularity of the car far outstrips availability. I think people would be more likely to drive off with one if it were readily available. Were supply to meet demand, I suspect we'd see twice the number on the road notwithstanding the price. Why? Because people still spend 40K on a Cad Escalade, 50K on a stupid hummer, 60K on the high performance BMW, etc., and there are lots and lots of BMWs around here too. Its not the price, its the availability that pushes people to other makes and models.

A difficult question to answer, since hybrids could be popular with those who don't purchase them at all (like all my friends who love my HCH and the mileage when I drive them around, but probably wouldn't buy one themselves).

Hybrids comprised 1.54% of all U.S. light duty vehicles (or 23,048 units) sold in June 2006.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...es_of_hyb.html

Hi,

I just called the radio station, 415-273-5754, and left the following 'listener feedback':

"About that oil company hack in Reston VA, you need call Koon's Tyson's Toyota VA, 703-790-5920 and learn they can't keep their hybrids on the lot. Or call Bill Penny Toyota of Huntsville, AL, 256-837-1111, has a "2-3 month waiting list". You have to put down a deposit just to get on the waiting list. For an unpopular car, they can't keep them on the lot.

That oil company hack was talking 'out his exhaust pipe.'

I left my name and office number.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Hybrids are pretty popular in Baltimore. Within a 3 block walk from my house, there is an Insight, two HCH, and three Prius. There's also some oddball Ford sedan that runs on CNG.

At my gym, there are Two HCH, a Prius, and a FEH.

At my parking garage, I frequently see at least one FEH and three Prius.

On my walk from the garage to work, I usually spot the hybrid metrobus making its rounds. The meter maid drives a State-owned Civic GX.

At my church, there are two HCH and two Prius.

So I'd say hybrids are reasonably popular in MY neighborhood.