the turbo sprint were cool.

 

They "may" buy a hybrid car?

Well, I "may" buy a new Z06 for my next ride. But it's highly unlikely that I'll actually do it...

 

The only thing I take from this study is that there is a positive perception for hybrids.

Other than that it reads like any other consumer clinic survey. Nonsense.

 

Perfect time for Toyota to launch a $25,000 Hybrid Camry. Hmm... $25k for a midsize sedan that's also a hybrid? Doesn't sound like that much of a "hybrid premium" compared to other non-hybrid midsize cars.

...or you'd rather spend your money on technology than gas...

 

From a cost perspective, you usually only "break even" after 5-7 years.. Although now that hybrids are becoming cheaper, that number may be going down.


And of course there's that argument that overall the total life cycle, hybrids aren't really much better than their normal counterparts..

 

I still think that people in general just don't understand hybrid buyers. Most of them really don't care about "saving money" (otherwise they'd buy a $9000 Aveo) so "payoff analysis" is irrelevant to most of them.

Hybrids will fully take off when gas goes way up in price or the cost of the technology comes wasy down. That's when they will be relevant to "the rest of us."

 

Yea, your right. Its what they call the "emotional" aspect of owning a hybrid. South Park had a funny episode about this recently.

 

The new Camry can be priced all the way up to just over $36,000, I wouldn't hold my breath for a cheap mid-size hybrid anytime soon.

 

Why don't they start public awareness campaigns on the higher cost of production of hybrids, higher cost of purchase, higher cost of maintenance, the fact that it may take 5 - 8 years of savings on fuel to make up for the higher initial cost, that once the warranty is out and replacement batteries/electrical components are needed it will be necessary to take the mortgage out... as well as the long-term environmental effects of battery disposal or recycling.

And what about SMUG that hybrid cars create?

Why not point out that low-sulphur diesel vehicles will get same or better mileage consistently without the hybrid price premium, and are actually normal cars.

Gosh, some people...

 

That may or may not be so, but I personally will buy an Impala and convert it to Natural Gas, just like cabbies do. Same low price, same engine, and runs on both fuel types at the switch of a button.

 

Well, Honda manages to make its highest-end Accord into Hybrid, with V6 and all options, making it the most expensive 4-door Accord in the lineup.

If you're going for a hybrid, why not stick to cloth seats and base model?

 

Then they will move away off the radar screen and other countries will start pointing fingers at a new pollution scapegoat.

 

Strangely enough Honda announced today that they are going to be cutting back production of Hybrids because sales and demand have been so low.

 

It was specifically the Accord hybrid I believe.

 

Hybrids aren't all about saving money - they also add power to the vehicle (look at the LS600H that was just annonced by Lexus. ~4.6L 450 horsepower naturally aspirated hybrid V8, and also allow us to divert some money from the oil companies to the realm of technology. Gas isn't going to change... they'll just keep bringing in money and refining more of it. By supporting the hybrid industry we at least can continue to make progress in one direction or another.

Heck... let's see E85 hybrids with DOD and direct injection. Best of all the current day new techs.