So what's the deal with the hybrid bandwagon. Someone sends me a link to this article, where people are paying over new MSRP for a used Toyota Prius, because they want the good mileage. Why, to save money? I really hope not. I put together this spreadsheet (Excel file) to see how much or how long someone would have to drive a Prius for it to really be cost-effective, over something like a Civic. A Civic HX hatchback gets 36/44mpg, for 2/3rds the price of a Prius. Driving 12,000 miles per year and paying $2.40/gallon, the Prius pays for itself in a mere 35 years. :-P Such a deal!
"But I drive way more than 12,000 miles per year" says the whiny hippie. Fine, change it to 20,000 miles per year, and you still need to drive it for 21 years. "But...gas is going to be $3/gallon this summer, everyone says so!" continues said hippie. Fine, $3/gallon with 20k/year and it takes 17 years. $4/gallong? 13 years. $5/gallon? 10 years, and that's still at 20,000 miles per year.
Now all that said, I'm not against hybrids, believe it or not. If companies can build two cars that are otherwise identical, and one gets 15mpg better mileage, that's great. Just don't charge $5k more for it.
>:-O
Posted by Ben at May 6, 2005 9:16 AMThanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
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