Would like to be a hybrid...best way to get started on honest research? dont want to get oversold...?

websites, etc.


i live in berkeley ca...would website prices be less useful than just checking out prices w/in local dealerships?


i heard consumer reports are good and some "auto row" in san jose area.


Do the premiums on these hybrids outweigh the gas savings? I just started working so i need to be able to afford it...thus financing the car needs to also be a big part of the research.


Lastly, are they safe cars and comfortable? I commute long hours so ergonomic seating would be ideal.


Please share advice, thanks much! :)

Would like to be a hybrid...best way to get started on honest research? dont want to get oversold...?
Hi,





This is a big question, and it requires a full and complete answer. Get something nice and caffeinated, get comfy, and read on...





First off, I have nothing to do with sales, only education, so I'll try and keep this as general as possible. My only advice on purchasing is to draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and write your needs on one side and your wants on the other (two or four doors is a need, a big stereo is a want). Put this list away for a week and then look to see if your answers have changed and what vehicles match (should be a short list). Only then would I start looking at dealer lots. You may or may not have much negotiation room with hybrids, no matter what the websites say.





Purchasing a hybrid depends on many factors, including:





1. how much you drive, and how you drive





2. how strong your commitment to the environment is





3. how advanced you want your vehicle to be





Let's look at each point and give you some information so you can make an informed investment (any vehicle is an investment).





1. How much do you drive and what type of driving do you do?





For example, if you drive ten minutes to work each way, and maybe 50-100 miles on the weekends, you will never drive enough to justify a hybrid on gas savings alone.





However, you say you commute long hours to work, with stop and go traffic being a part of that commute, so you will definitely make a difference in your gas usage with a hybrid.





Plus, when you are stopped in traffic, the gas engine will shut off (on most hybrids), so you will not be polluting for no reason like the other vehicles around you.





You will need to train yourself in maximizing your mileage, but that is simple to do and easy to practice. Four things:





1. try not to accelerate hard (press the accelerator pedal like there is an egg under it and try to roll the egg out, not make an omelet)


2. take your foot off the accelerator at double the distance you would normally start braking at, and coast to where you would normally brake, then brake (if you normally brake at 100 feet, take your foot off the accelerator at 200 feet)


3. check your tire pressure at least once a week with a digital tire gauge (throw away the cheapy stick gauges) and keep your tire pressure at the pressure shown on the sticker on the driver's door frame (you can go 2-3 pounds over that without much trouble, but don't over-inflate)


4. maintain your vehicle, including oil changes every 3000 miles





2. How strong is your commitment to the environment?





Full hybrids, such as the Prius and the current Civic Hybrid, not only use less parts than a standard vehicle, but the hybrid systems have less moving parts and are more reliable.





For example, the Prius has:


- no starter


- no alternator


- no power steering pump


- no power steering belt (ever hear someone's car squeal as they turn a corner?)


- the brake pads should last the life of the vehicle because they are rarely used with the regenerative braking system


- the electric motors that move and recapture the braking energy have essentially one moving part


- and the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery stack has yet to fail and cause an owner to pay out of pocket replacement costs because of a manufacturing defect (yes, there have been some replaced due to accidents or the occasional person drilling a 4" screw into the pack of his Prius trying to install a big sub-woofer for a stereo, but otherwise, no).





So you will not have to deal with replacing the NiMH stack on a hybrid, especially with California's 8 year or 150,000 mile hybrid warranties in effect.





Any myths you may have seen about the supposed "environmental impact" of the NiMH batteries are just those, complete myths. I have posted full details here at Answers before on this, do a search here if you want to know or just ask and I'll make sure it's sent to you.





Also, I present hybrids and technology to first responders and fire departments and there is no more hazard to them responding to an accident than there would be for any other vehicle (less on some components like the NiMH battery, actually). This is just in case anyone brings this up. Once again, if you'd like details, let me know.





A full hybrid does pollute less (uses less fuel), has less parts to break down (less broken components in landfills), and the components they do have last longer than standard components with multiple moving parts.





3. How advanced do you want your vehicle to be?





Hybrids represent the next evolution in motorized vehicles.





Just as the carburetor gave way to individual cylinder fuel injection and push rods gave way to double overhead cams, so hybrids are the next logical step in vehicles.





Not long ago, people fought about, argued against, and refused to buy vehicles that had;


- ABS


- airbags


- lighter-weight bodies made of plastic, aluminum, and thinner, more efficient steels





But now we don't even think about these features, and most of us actually won't buy a vehicle without them. Or they are mandated by the government because they are so important.





As far as the premium for a hybrid, there is more to pay for if you compare a standard vehicle to it's hybrid counterpart. But hybrids typically have more features than the standard version of the similar vehicle, so you are getting more for your money. Compare a Civic to a Civic Hybrid, or an Altima to an Altima Hybrid (the Altima Hybrid uses the hybrid components from the Camry Hybrid, just so you know). The Prius actually compares to the Camry, not the Corolla, in size, features, performance, and options.





If you are comfortable sitting in the Prius or the Civic Hybrid, you should be fine. They are designed to have commuters spend a long time sitting in them, so they should fit you well.





That is enough for now.





If you need any other info, or more details on a specific question, please let me know.





Good luck with your choice.
Reply:Check out edmunds.com They will give you "True Market Values" and invoice price for any car you look at, and it is adjusted depending on what part of the country you live in.





As far as your other question, the answer is no. Most people do not recoup the premium they pay for a hybrid in gas savings. Most hybrids take at least 5-7 years before they hit the break even point.