Quote:
Quote by: tivodan1116  It hasn't worked so far.
Even at $4 a gallon, the difference, assuming 15,000 miles driven per year (pretty high), between 20mpg and 16mpg is only about $750 per year.
That's one of the reasons why it just doesn't make good economic sense to buy a hybrid - they still cost too much more than their non-hybrid twins to be cost-effective. |
The problem with comparing hybrids to their normal twins is the hybrid is far better equiped that the standard twin the estimates are based off.
The Toyota Camry hybrid comes to about $26,000 with mostly standard options. Add in a $1900+ tax savings in the US.
Then compare it to the normal camry. Add the automatic tranny (the most popular choice) add moonroof, cruise control, and many other options that come standard on the hybrid. Suddenly the price of the "normal" car is close if not even with the hybrid. Add in the tax credit and gas savings and in 5 years or less you've made a better deal.
Same applies to most other hybrids. They come better equiped than the base model. Base models don't make up the largest sale catagory for most auto's. The middle level, like the Camry LE makes up the bulk of sales. These middle lever cars or SUV's are not priced far from their hybrid twin.
Unless you want the bare bones MT car with no options then the hybrid makes the most sense.
My point:
Hybrid Camry - standard with option package 1
Camry LE - LE with option package 3 to match standard features and hybrid options
If every american decided they wanted an M1 tank for a car, fully armed would the government try to regulate and use laws to stop that? Yes, so they can do the same for regulations on products sold to consumers in their country.