Technology Articles
Why Not to Buy a Hybrid
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Why not to buy a hybrid If you are thinking about a hybrid, but have some nebulous nagging concerns, then you probably want to get past all the feel-good praise about hybrids—and find some good dirt on the automotive darlings of the green techno-chic class. What are the hybrid cheerleaders hiding? What are the drawbacks?
- Extra maintenance cost? Nope. Not necessary.
- Too slow for highway driving? Uh-uh. Plenty fast.
- Battery replacement expense? No. The batteries last as long as the car.
- Low resale value? Not that either. Prices holding strong.
- Problems in snow and cold weather? Wrong again.
Then what? Here are four reasons why you shouldn’t buy a hybrid:
- To get a return on your money: Don’t buy a hybrid because you want to make back an investment. That will take between five and twenty years, depending on gas prices, the amount you drive, and how good of a deal you got on the car. Buy a hybrid because it’s the most fuel-efficient car on the road, because the tailpipe emissions are very low, because it’s great technology, or because they are fun to drive. If gas prices go up, then you might get your return on investment. For now, it’s not a good enough reason alone to choose a hybrid version over exactly the same size and kind of conventional car.
- To get the exact EPA numbers: If you are going to take your hybrid home, and whine and worry about getting the exact EPA fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, then don’t bother. The way you drive and the road conditions will play a major role in determining if you will get numbers lower or higher than the EPA numbers. If you are not willing to stop speeding, stop jackrabbit starts, and stop flooring the gas as you approach a red light, then don’t bother with a hybrid.
- To get a car quickly: Expect the demand for hybrids to be higher than the supply. For many (but not all) models, expect to order your car and wait a few months before you get behind the wheel.
- To get a sense of spaciousness and visibility (especially for tall people who want a Prius): A number of six-plus-foot hybrid shoppers have complained that they don’t feel comfortable in a Prius. They especially complain that the Prius’s curvy interior limits their headroom and may pose a safety risk in an accident. In addition, some hybrid shoppers, both tall and small, feel that the rear-view visibility is compromised by the hatchback design on the Prius. Of course, hybrid shoppers can choose from among gas-electric vehicles of many sizes and shapes—and the next generation of hybrid SUVs and sedans will provide even more room. But these issues of space and visibility continue to put the brakes on the purchase decision for some hybrid considerers.
Are you cool with these four issues? Then, do not pass go. Do not collect two-hundred. Go directly to a test drive.
