I am a student at the University of North Texas and I'm investigating why people buy hybrid cars for one of my marketing classes. If you all could answer a few short questions about hybrid cars and why you buy them, it would help my class understand why they are so important.

1.What are you really buying when you buy a Hybrid?

2. What type of person buys a Hybrid?

3. What influences someone to buy a Hybrid?

4. Did you buy a Hybrid to make a "difference"? If so what difference are you making?

Thank you for your time, your answers will help my project immensely.

-JC

<GROAN>Perhaps you might start by searching the archives for the other surveys.

1.What are you really buying when you buy a Hybrid?
A replacement for our 1991 Camry that was totaled in an accident.

2. What type of person buys a Hybrid?
Well I guess you want to know what kind of person I am. First, I'm very humble and a follower of Jesus. I also have a few clever moments. A former Marine, I am confident that if reason and logic don't work, I've been trained to kill by experts.

3. What influences someone to buy a Hybrid?
Need for a replacement vehicle and price of a used hybrid.

4. Did you buy a Hybrid to make a "difference"? If so what difference are you making?
No. However, I have noticed a lot of lies, deceptions and half-truths being spread about by hybrid skeptics. So I take special joy in puncturing their delusions.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
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Sure, but your questions are incredibly vague if you don't mind me saying, so much so, that the questions can be interpreted many different ways as to the real question you're asking. If there's something specific, just ask it so you can get the answer to the question you're really interested in asking. Also, have you thought about having people PM you with their responses, or asking just a target section for responses? Hybrid owners run the gambit, so if you're only looking for responses for a few days, you'll probably get them all over the map, enough only for generalities at best. For example:

Magic. A sense of superiority (SMUGness for those in the know. ). Something larger than a breadbox. Something that runs on electricity, but isn't plugged in yet.

A person like me.

A person like me.

Yes, it has made a difference to my wallet! I spend so much less money for fuel!

I doubt it.

On a more serious attempt to answer your questions:

1. The most fuel efficient SUV on Earth; something that has the fuel economy of a compact car and the space of an SUV.

2. An examination of fuel costs, an interest in emerging technologies, and someone who seeks information for themselves.

3. The endorsements of other owners, brand loyalty, an aversion to high fuel bills, an interest in reducing their carbon footbrint.

4. While there are many positive aspects to owning a hybrid, it fell to a matter of solely personal interests. High fuel economy means less in gas, which means more green in my pocket. For me, that was sufficient.

I hope that helps more than it hurts.

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1. One of the most fuel efficient vehicles available on the market.

2. I read somewhere that hybrid buyers fall into 3 categories:
i.) Green - enviornmentally conscious
ii.) Cheap - cost conscious, perhaps willing to pay a bit more upfront for a vehicle as a hedge against unpredictable rising gasoline prices
iii.) Geek - early adopters, technology enthusiasts
I think there is also a 4th category, not included above:
iv.) Anti-Oil - they believe our nation's dependence on petroleum poses very real and serious economic, foreign policy, and national security risks in addition to the widely touted environmental risks. They are outraged at the record profits being made by the oil companies, at the expense of society. They don't appreciate being treated like sheep by those in positions of power and influence.

3. The answer to #2 above pretty much somes this up. But needing a new vehicle is usually the main factor.

4. My reasons for buying a hybrid fall primarily into categories (ii.), (iii.), and (iv.) above. Am I making a "difference"? - Not sure how to interpret that. My choice made a "difference" for me. With a daily 100 mile round trip commute I feel more secure knowing that I am not as vulnerable to volatile gasoline prices, and I am confident that my choice made economic sense for me. I am enjoying learning about and benefiting from the advanced technology in the Prius. My decision was the best possible based on the choices I had available. But I am not satisfied because I still purchase and consume 2 gallons of gasoline per day. That's 2 gallons too many. I look forward to the day when there is a PHEV or EV that meets my needs available in my price range.

In order for there to be a real "difference" on a large scale there needs to be economic incentive for the mass market to move away from petroleum powered vehicles. Gasoline is still too cheap for that. The oil companies understand this very well. They price gas low enough to ensure that there is not a strong enough incentive to move the market away from petroleum powered vehicles, but price it as high as they dare in that range to maximize profits. Timing of rising and falling gas prices play a role in this strategy as well. We remain addicted. - Sheep.

GET THE DENOMINATOR TO ZERO.