Is it worthwhile monetary-wise to buy a hyrid car (Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius)?

[gortonfisherman]

The prius is pretty good financially. The Civic is not. Normal Civics use so little fuel that you don't save much money when you switch to a hybrid.The prius doesn't have a normal counterpart, so you have to guess a little, and compare it to something similar in size.

[belfus]

That depends what you're comparing them to.Generally speaking, a hybrid will make up for the higher initial price over a comprable car in about 5 years:http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.htmlBut if you're comparing say a Prius to a Yaris, which is not a comparable car because the Yaris is much smaller and has fewer features, economically the Yaris will cost less.Then again, a hybrid will also have a higher resale value as gas prices continue to rise. They have lower maintenance and insurance costs as well. So generally speaking yes, a hybrid is worthwhile economically when compared to a similar gas car.

[LuckyRide]

I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the Prius does very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for near new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include federal and any state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts:http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.htmlHybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006 and http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybridsWhile Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied.(I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ )Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general." However, in the US, the Toyota hybrids have sold so many that they no longer qualify for the US Federal hybrid vehicle income tax credit, but Honda and others still have theirs.Check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you want reliability information. Both the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius make their best bets for new cars and for used cars.http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htmhttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htmThere is more to vehicle ownership besides initial purchase cost and the amount of gasoline used - there is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.However, the societal costs for emissions are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with many (like the Prius and HCH II) an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold in CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDIs, which cannot be sold new in CA-emission states because of their poor emissions.) In the US, hybrid models (like the Prius and HCH II) tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars (hybrid/gasoline/diesel/flex-fuel/etc.), and that is for BOTH highway and city driving: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/bestworstNF.shtmlThe Prius and Honda Civic are also in Kelley Blue Book's 2007 Best Resale Value Awards: http://www.kbb.com/kbb/ReviewsAndRatings/BestResaleValueAwards.aspx (though if you're not in the US resale values may differ...)The Honda Civic/Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius are also in Consumer Reports' top picks for new cars: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htmas well as for used cars: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htmThe Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/index.htmlhttp://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/index.htmlRemember that the Toyota Prius is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this December, so it's hardly new technology!http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/www09/toyota/prius/main.htmlhttp://www.toyota.com/html/dyncon/2007/september/birthday.htmlMaintenance is about the same as a regular car - use your favorite mechanic or DIY. Typically just oil/filter changes and tire rotations.Toyota scheduled maintenance guides: http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/3/wo/Home.Owners.MaintenanceMenu-mAJJwzTxmt23o9nuRKQCm0/3.11Honda scheduled maintenance guides:https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=honda (free registration)http://www.honda.ca/HondaCA2006/YourHonda/HondaService/MaintCalcDefault.asp?L=Eas for cost differences, make sure that you are comparing similarly sized and equipped vehicles. If you were looking at the Camry Hybrid, it is best paired against the top of the line trim Camry XLE model, for example. For the Prius, the closest comparison is the Camry Hybrid, or the Camry XLE, to match size and options. The US state of Colorado has already done such calculations for state income tax credit purposes, and presented the incremental price difference between the hybrid and closest non-hybrid model, here: http://www.revenue.state.co.us/fyi/html/income09.htmlThe incremental price difference is:2008 Toyota base Prius is US$23702008 Toyota touring Prius is US$36542008 Honda Civic Hybrid II is US$3675Both the Prius and HCH are great cars. But, only you can decide which will work out best for you. Take both for a test drive, and see which one you like better, which you like the seating better, and/or like the available options better... Do you prefer a sedan (Honda Civic Hybrid), or do you like a hatchback (Toyota Prius)? Is a compact OK with you (Honda Civic Hybrid), or would you prefer a larger midsized vehicle (Toyota Prius)? If you want a manual transmission, then you'll have to look for a used HCH. Do you want to show off that you have a hybrid or not? The Prius is only available as a hybrid and its distinctive aerodynamic design gives it away, while the HCH blends in and looks like most every other Civic on the road...Myself, since I like having a trunk, I'd find a used 2001-2003 NHW11 Prius (compact sedan version), just like my current 2001 Prius. The HCH wasn't available yet when I purchased my 2001... I did try a HCH I at one point, and preferred my Classic Prius. I haven't tried the newer HCH II... Although I have driven the current Prius (my husband had a 2004 NHW20 Prius (current hatchback version) and it is generally better than my 2001, as much as I like it I wouldn't buy it for because it doesn't have a trunk. If I had to buy a new hybrid (not used) I'd look at the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the new HCH II, and maybe the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

[greyback1142]

I agree it is not worthwhile monetary wise to buy a hybrid cars, for show off, maybe, for the environment less impact.

[angelika]

Probably not worth it at this time. At least that's my opinion and why I'm waiting until they improve the technology to get mileage more in the 50- 75 per gallon range.


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