theaveng
Well-known member
If you are TRULY trying to save money, hybrids don't make sense. You can buy base model cars from all carmakers that are only 14, 15, or 16 thousand in cost, and yet still get ~40mpg on the highway. No hybrid's fuel economy would make-up their ~10,000 dollar premium.
Nissan Versa (sedan or wagon) - 40 mpg
Mitsubishi Mirage (wagon) - 44 mpg (wow!)
Chevy Spark (wagon)
Ford Fiesta
and on and on and on. All of these cars range in price from $11,800 to ~14,000. You get near-hybrid economy without the huge 10 grand premium pricetag. Let's say I bought the Mirage instead of the Prius. That's $13,000 difference in price and for the prius to recover that cost, I would have to drive over 1 million miles!!! Nuts.
Another example:
It makes a LOT more sense to buy a Prius C (or insight) for $19,000 than a standard Prius for $25,000. You save $6000 dollars upfront, and you'd have to drive the standard prius close to 1 million miles to recapture that premium (over the C).
Nissan Versa (sedan or wagon) - 40 mpg
Mitsubishi Mirage (wagon) - 44 mpg (wow!)
Chevy Spark (wagon)
Ford Fiesta
and on and on and on. All of these cars range in price from $11,800 to ~14,000. You get near-hybrid economy without the huge 10 grand premium pricetag. Let's say I bought the Mirage instead of the Prius. That's $13,000 difference in price and for the prius to recover that cost, I would have to drive over 1 million miles!!! Nuts.
Another example:
It makes a LOT more sense to buy a Prius C (or insight) for $19,000 than a standard Prius for $25,000. You save $6000 dollars upfront, and you'd have to drive the standard prius close to 1 million miles to recapture that premium (over the C).