Auto Think-Tank Finds Hybrids Do Save Money As Total Package (Depreciation, Tax Breaks, etc.)

[hatrack]

Hybrid vehicles are proof of the old saw that you've got to spend money to save it, a new study shows.

In recent years, studies by Consumer Reports and others have shown that most hybrids won't save owners enough money on fuel alone to make up for their higher initial prices. But a new study by Los Angeles-based Intellichoice.com, which specializes in automotive cost-of-ownership data, says that hybrid buyers are still the winners when you factor in costs of financing, fuel, insurance, state taxes and license fees, repairs, maintenance and depreciation.

"Across the board, we found that all 22 hybrid vehicles have a better total cost of ownership over five years or 70,000 miles than the vehicles they directly compete against," said James Bell, Intellichoice.com's publisher. "Hybrids are proving themselves to be an excellent alternative for car buyers," Bell said. "Even when factoring in the additional upfront costs for their purchase, the long-term savings hybrids generate makes them a sensible and attractive purchase."

There is no better example, the study says, than Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius. The study concludes that a Prius owner over five years will save $13,408 over a similar-size sedan that is not a hybrid. Prius, the five-passenger mid-sized sedan, is the most popular of the 22 hybrid models on the market today. It accounted for about 43% of hybrid sales in the U.S. last year and for about 60% of all hybrid sales since its introduction in 2000.

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-hybrid8jan08,1,778775.story

[kestrel91316]

1. "No they don't!!!!!!!! NO THEY DON'T", scream GM and Chevron hysterically.

"Lies!!!!!!! All lies by those evil treehuggers!!!!!!!"

[byronius]

5. ...who are making TONS of MONEY off PROTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriesly!!!!!11

[Strelnikov_]

2. Why Is It No One Ever Questions Whether A Corvette Saves Money?

Maybe people simply want to reduce their carbon emissions, and are willing to pay a premium for the technology to do so.

[skids]

3. My new baby...

Ain't she perty?

[mod mom]

4. Almost as perty as my silver baby.

:hi:

[Nihil]

8. Yeah ... I've got a "silver machine" too!

(As you might expect for a Hawkwind fan :-) )

:hi:

[skids]

11. Ooh. And an obscure reference, too.

I can't figure out where the controls for the orgone accumulator are. :headbang:

[spooky3]

6. that bumper sticker is the perfect finishing touch!

[byronius]

7. Jealousy consumes me. Sooooon. I want a Tesla Roadster, though.

Oh yeah.

[CRF450]

10. You may get better fuel milage than me...

But its got nothing on my car HAHA!!

[Drifter]

9. If you buy a Hybrid to save money ....

you have done it for the wrong reason.

You buy a Hybrid to use less fuel. Period.
You are also investing in a technology whose main focus is to "use less fuel".

Since when does anything on the cutting edge of technology "save" you money.

I have owned my Civic Hybrid for nearly 3 years. I have easily "saved" money in purchasing this car when I did. But that is not why I made the decision.

Cheers
Drifter