When to Buy a Hybrid

[McC]

Apologies in advance if this belongs in OT. It deals with math and logic, so I put it here.

For some time, I've been concerned about the poor efficiency of my otherwise beloved Jetta. It averages about 23 MPG (city and highway amalgam). My last trip to the fueling station landed me with a bill approaching $50 (gas prices where I am are $4.16/Gal). These factors have all contributed to mulling over getting a hybrid vehicle for some time.

I've been told by several people that the costs associated with hybrids other than fuel make them compare only at par or even unfavorably with gas vehicles. I'm curious about what these costs are, and if it's possible to devise a sort of "formula" that can determine for an individual's current conditions whether or not purchasing a hybrid is a proper decision. How expensive are battery replacements, for example? How frequently do they need to be replaced? Are there any other maintenance costs above and beyond a gasoline-powered car?

Any help would be much appreciated. For reference, one of the leading contenders for me right now is a 2005 Civic Hybrid, which my boss is looking to sell to buy a new one.

A few other threads on this topic:
Hybrid Cars, Efficiency, and Green

[Master of Ossus]

Any help would be much appreciated. For reference, one of the leading contenders for me right now is a 2005 Civic Hybrid, which my boss is looking to sell to buy a new one.

A few other threads on this topic:
Hybrid Cars, Efficiency, and Green

Hybrids are more expensive than comparable vehicles. Once you buy it, it's basically like owning a normal car, but my Prius was about $6000 more than a comparable car when I bought it, just for the hybrid system, and other hybrids are similar but allow for even more fair comparisons because many of them are offered either as hybrids or conventional cars. When I bought mine, gas had to be pretty expensive to make it worth it purely on those terms--especially since I don't drive too much. The good thing is that I can use the car pool lane (a policy that disappeared thanks to the CA legislature but I'm grandfathered in because I already have the stickers), so I saved enough time in the first year to make it worth it on purely financial terms.

[McC]

Hybrids are more expensive than comparable vehicles. Once you buy it, it's basically like owning a normal car <snip>

If I buy, it'll be used. Right now, as mentioned in the OP, the leading contender is an '05 Honda Civic, pre-owned by my boss. It's got a KBB of ~$12,800 based on mileage and the like. My Jetta has a value of ~$7-9, so I'd only be paying about $4-5 to purchase the car. Based on the CNET Hybrid calculator, I'll end up saving around $1300/year on gas.

I'm just wondering if there are more price considerations than gas, but it sounds like you're saying there aren't, for the most part. Is that accurate?

[Pu-239]

What about the batteries wearing out, and replacement cost?

[Pu-239]

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks. ... ar-cga.htm claims the batteries should be good for up to 200k miles, and replacement is "only" 3k$, so that might be a nonissue.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

My dad has had a Honda Civic for several years now, and while I have no idea what the exact finances have been, he's said that it's already paid for its extra cost. Now that gas prices are even higher, he's practically laughing all the way to the bank.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Hybrids are not currently worth it, as they waste enormous amounts of fuel by still retaining a geared connection from the motor to the wheels, which is pointless and stupid. If you get one, wait until diesel-electric hybrids are available on the market, which are the only future sort of car worth using. Of course, nobody is planning any for the US market, which sort of shows the problem. The diesel-electric hybrid would yield the greatest efficiency presently, viz. that the diesel engine can run at constant low speed for the greatest effect, delivering enormous efficiency, and continuously recharging the battery at a slow and steady "sipping" rate that the batteries will like better, which in conjunction with a plug-in initial full battery charge, will yield enormous range. Also, in addition to the excellent mileage you'll be getting, the car's electric motors can be designed to deliver enormous power on demand, so that you can easily match the reserve power of a V-8 sedan if you needed it in emergencies, though that would drain your battery rather more rapidly.

[Master of Ossus]

What about the batteries wearing out, and replacement cost?

My battery is insured for 100,000 miles/10 years, but the Prius has been out in Japan for a lot longer than that and last time I checked, Toyota had never replaced one under the warranty.

[Master of Ossus]

Hybrids are not currently worth it, as they waste enormous amounts of fuel by still retaining a geared connection from the motor to the wheels, which is pointless and stupid. If you get one, wait until diesel-electric hybrids are available on the market, which are the only future sort of car worth using. Of course, nobody is planning any for the US market, which sort of shows the problem. The diesel-electric hybrid would yield the greatest efficiency presently, viz. that the diesel engine can run at constant low speed for the greatest effect, delivering enormous efficiency, and continuously recharging the battery at a slow and steady "sipping" rate that the batteries will like better, which in conjunction with a plug-in initial full battery charge, will yield enormous range. Also, in addition to the excellent mileage you'll be getting, the car's electric motors can be designed to deliver enormous power on demand, so that you can easily match the reserve power of a V-8 sedan if you needed it in emergencies, though that would drain your battery rather more rapidly.

Thanks for making no sense, whatsoever. Since he's thinking about buying a car right now, discussing future developments that aren't even planned for implementation in the US is absurd and irrelevant for his current decision.