jdawson1960

I am getting ready to buy another car now. When gas prices were $4 plus, I was really thinking about buying a hybrid. Now with gas prices back down to $2 or less, should I.

I understand the environment situation, however with the cost of a hybrid being $5k plus more, I will never make the money back over the life of the 4-5 years I am going to keep the car.

So any feedback of your experience owning a hybrid, or why I should or shoulnt would be appreciated.

WannaBFast

iTrader: (16)

IF you want to get a hybrid, get a prius, they are way better than other hybrids, and they can cover the cost difference in about 2 years, they are a lot better put together than the civic hybrids, plus you can drive on thebattery only if you are just tooling around town.. unlike the civic where you are always running the gas engine and you get a boost from the battery

sl33pyriceboi

iTrader: (3)

does anyone know what gas engine the 03 civic hybird has??? is it the same D17+electric motor? or what?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

um no its like 1.3L or something stupid. its slow as ballz. if you think your 1.7L is bad, go drive a hybrid civic ha

TemjinX2

iTrader: (11)

why not just get a honda fit? you save more money off the sticker price..you have more utility and interior space then a hybrid civic or prius and gas mileage isn't that different.

I don't think gas is going to spike back up to $4-5 a gallon..until housing price stop falling and people are spending again. The dow is about the same size as it was back 10yrs ago.

i would rather have $5 gas and have the dow at 15k then $2 gas and the dow at 8100. I'm sure anyone with a 401k can relate to this.

WannaBFast

iTrader: (16)

umm the prius gets on average 45mpg(my aunt has one and it gets about 48 regularly) no matter what you get
the civic hybrid gets about 38mpg from what i am seeing in customer cars(they have mpg meters)

so they do NOT get the same MPG at least a 10mpg difference, and when you break it down, a civic hybrid gets similar mpg than a normal civic mainly cause its an underpowered and cannot really get efficient enough to move the car.. think of having a huge semi truck powered by a lawnmower engine.. sure it eventually could get it moving.. but imagine how much fuel trying to get it going, same thing

TemjinX2

iTrader: (11)

yeah but how long will it take you to break even on the higher sticker from the gas savings? especially when gas is $2-3 a gallon.

Lets take a loaded fit with navigation at around $18k..ignoring the fact you can get a base one for around $15k. Lets take a base prius at around $22k, which goes as high as $24k and ignoring the current dealer markup going on right now.

$22k-18k = 4k price difference


Highway prius is rated at 45mpg
highway fit is rated at 33mpg

lets say every 2wk you drive 500miles, basically the national average of 1k miles a month

500/45 = 11.11 gallaons

500/33 = 15.15 gallons

15.15-11.11 =4.04 gallons saved per 2wks or 8.08 per month gallons saved


I'll use gas prices in california since its one of the highest in the country..at 2.25 for 87.


2.25 x 8.08= $18.18 in savings per month

$4000 / 18.18 = 220.02 months

220/12 = 18.33 yrs

I doubt you'll keep your prius for 18yrs...

TemjinX2

iTrader: (11)

here's a edmunds comparison with the civic hybrid and honda fit.

Maybe it'll give you some insights.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=134866