Not worth getting hybrid??? - Page 3 - GreenHybrid

bwilson4web · #21 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsme_lenny

well im holding off on buying any car for now. . . .

Test drives are free.

Bob Wilson

HybridVue · #22 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 06:02 AM

If I had a 5 minute commute you would see me on my "Hybrid" Bicycle. I would save the road bike for longer rides and the mountain bike for trails.

bwilson4web · #23 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 08:56 AM

We also rented a Prius in 2001 for a couple of days. I understand some of the car rental places now have hybrids in their inventory. For a little bit of money, you can satisfy your curiosity.

Bob Wilson

FastMover · #24 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HybridVue

If I had a 5 minute commute you would see me on my "Hybrid" Bicycle. I would save the road bike for longer rides and the mountain bike for trails.

All Electric Scooter more like!

Tim · #25 (**permalink**) 02-01-2008, 09:06 PM

I think there's a couple other things to know to better help you. a) How many miles do you drive a month (you gave distances, but not how frequent the trips are (daily, 3 days / week, etc.) so it's hard to tell). b) are you really in the market for a new car, or are you just looking to cut your budget? Seems to me like the latter.

On a pure cost basis: If you're already driving a 29 MPG car, and you don't drive around 2000 miles per month, I think a hybrid is a tough sell considering that a Civic or Prius is likely more (payment) than your Sentra, as would be an Altima. So what you save in gas would be more than offset by a higher payment. This is where how many miles a month you drive comes in. If it's only 500 miles a month, even at $4 / gal you only save $24 per month over a say a 45 MPG hybrid. Even at 1000 miles, it's only $48. So if you have to go from a $200 -> $300 payment to make the switch, unless you drive 2K miles per month you loose.

Now if you just want a new car anyway, and were expecting to pay more in the process, then sure - check out the hybrids. The Prius is probably a better choice if more of your driving is around town / short trips. Civic tends to favor the highway. But to just make a switch in the hopes of offsetting gas prices (i.e. a purely cost decision), when you look at all the factors (insurance, payment and gas) your Sentra is likely the better deal.

There is of course the environmental aspect - depending how big a factor that is in your decision making.

My take, based on the info you've provided: stick with the Sentra.

itsme_lenny · #26 (**permalink**) 02-02-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

I think there's a couple other things to know to better help you. a) How many miles do you drive a month (you gave distances, but not how frequent the trips are monthly i'd say less than 1000. (daily, 3 days / week, etc.) so it's hard to tell). b) are you really in the market for a new car, or are you just looking to cut your budget? we were actually looking to get a new car but trade in the sentra for maybe a hybrid. Seems to me like the latter.

On a pure cost basis: If you're already driving a 29 MPG car, and you don't drive around 2000 miles per month, I think a hybrid is a tough sell considering that a Civic or Prius is likely more (payment) than your Sentra, as would be an Altima. So what you save in gas would be more than offset by a higher payment. This is where how many miles a month you drive comes in. If it's only 500 miles a month, even at $4 / gal you only save $24 per month over a say a 45 MPG hybrid. Even at 1000 miles, it's only $48. So if you have to go from a $200 -> $300 payment to make the switch, unless you drive 2K miles per month you loose. you make a good point there..the more you guys advise me, the more i want to stick with my sentra

Now if you just want a new car anyway, and were expecting to pay more in the process, then sure - check out the hybrids. The Prius is probably a better choice if more of your driving is around town / short trips. Civic tends to favor the highway. But to just make a switch in the hopes of offsetting gas prices (i.e. a purely cost decision), when you look at all the factors (insurance, payment and gas) your Sentra is likely the better deal.

There is of course the environmental aspect - depending how big a factor that is in your decision making.

My take, based on the info you've provided: stick with the Sentra.

rrrrrroger · #27 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n8kwx

I always thought the insight came in at "just under 20k" (new).

They do unless you find a dealer with 10 insights on the lot (back in 2002), and he just wants to dump them. I got lucky.

P.S. I should also add it already had 2000 miles on the dial
(due to test drives) so he had trouble selling that particular car.
He marked it down to $14,000 to move it off the lot.

rrrrrroger · #28 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Caravelle new was sold in 1985-1988, at least 20 years ago. Using an inflation calculator, 1985, $10,000 -> $19,269.70 in 2007

Picky, picky. Well. I'm telling you now, if I needed a new car, I would buy a Versa, Yaris, Civic or maybe a Golf. I'd buy the under-$15,000 car not the $25,000 Nissan Hybrid.

I like to save money upfront.
And they all get good 38-45 mpg economies.

Per K · #29 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 04:24 PM

Jenny,

It's a matter of why you would want a hybrid. If you drive 11,000 miles a year, assuming $3.00 per gallon of gas, a Prius or Civic hybrid will save you around $400 per year at 45 MPG. As soon as you drive off the dealer's lot with your new hybrid, depreciation on the car will eat up ten years worth of gas savings, compared to keeping your existing car. If you want a hybrid, fine, but if you rather want another car, and want to save money till then, you are on the wrong track. Keep your Sentra until you can buy the car you really want.
We drive about 25,000 miles/year, and traded in our 2006 Odyssey on our new 2008 Civic hybrid. We get twice the mileage, thus half the gas bills, and monthly car payments went down--win-win all around. We get 48-50 MPG around town BTW--mileage difference between a Civic hybrid and a Prius is insignificant.

ChicagoHCHII · #30 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsme_lenny

Now...is a hybrid worth getting in my case?????

In your case I would caution no. New hybrids have a good payback when the following conditions are met, at least for the Honda Civic and Prius (this is largely due to recent used ones too as their resale value is so high):

1) the owner is expecting to drive them a lot as their commuter car (ie: 20k+ miles/year).
2) the owner is planning on keeping the car for 5+ years.
or
3) there are other government benefits afforded to being a hybrid owner (ie HOV lane, reduced parking, etc)

The more you drive it the more it makes sense as the savings add up to amortize the hybrid premium paid. There is a calculator at:
http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-h...lculator.aspx#

So you can see if it makes sense for you (FYI the regular Civic for comparison is 29mpg combined).

Also in your situation, unless your car is coming off lease if you own a 2006 you are basically taking a huge depreciation hit on that car. You're going to make a used car buyer very happy if you own it and trade it in after only 2 years.