If you own a Prius or any other type of hybrid...

What do you love and hate about it?

I am looking at getting one, but I don't know anyone that owns one. 

You might check out this recent post

http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/102 115.html

 

I was the one who started that thread Fuzzys posted.

Here is what I've learned since I began researching:

A 100% NEW Toyota Prius is being released next summer for the 2010 model year.  It will have lithium batteries which are head-and-shoulders better than what the current Prius has.  It will also be the 3rd generation Prius, which in terms of Hybrids, means Toyota has had 2 generations to test things out and see what works where as Honda is currently in it's 1st generation on the Civic Hybrid.  There will also be a non-hybrid, FULLY Plug-In Prius in 2010.  This car will be all-battery and cost about $2 to fill up.  It will have about a 50-mile range meaning it will cost $1 per 25 miles... equivalent to a 100mpg car at $4/gallon.  CONCLUSION: Buying a 2009 Prius is NOT worth it because the 2010 will be WAY better.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid will got through some customization in next years model.  Mainly, the lights, interior and exterior styling will be modified slightly.  Also, there is a good change Toyota will replace its batteries with lithium batteries as well.  This would result in much higher mpg.  CONCLUSION: Buying a 2009 Camry Hybrid MIGHT NOT be worth it.  I would wait until Toyota releases more info on what the changes in the 2010 model will be.

I would NOT recommend buying a hybrid from any other manufacturers right now because Toyota has been building the Prius since 1997 and has has 12 years to get things right where as other companies have just started their hybrid programs.

Total cost of ownership over 5 years is within $400 dollars of the gas models. Hybrids are not quite there yet.

Original Post by cstefan:

Total cost of ownership over 5 years is within $400 dollars of the gas models. Hybrids are not quite there yet.

BUT, you have made a fatal flaw: resale value.  The hybrid is worth more after 5 years than the gas model.

Original Post by cstefan:

Total cost of ownership over 5 years is within $400 dollars of the gas models. Hybrids are not quite there yet.

 That also assumes that gas is going to stay the same price as it is today... 

No, the resale value was figured into it. And if gas drops back to $3 a gallon or less you are going to be at a loss instead of $400 in the green.

Gas will NOT drop to $3 a gallon for any extended period of time... ever.

Here is an article that shows a comparison of the cost of ownership of a Toyota Prius versus the Honda Civic and Honda Accord internal combustion-only vehicles.  You will see that the cost of ownership of the Prius is SIGNIFICANTLY less.  I don't know where or how you calculated your figure, but unless you can provide numbers to back it up, I think it is way off.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/amorylovins/43/re thinking-the-cost-of-hybrid-cars.html

2010 Prius is expected to be around 60-90 mpg, btw.

BTW, has anyone heard about a Honda diesel coming out next year that supposedly gets 80 mpg?  That was just a rumor I heard.

WSJ just did a big analysis of the cost-savings for hybrids.  The new prius pays for the difference in just under 3 years.  The camry, escape, civic, all take about 5-6 years to pay for the price differential.  The fancy new $100K Lexis coming out will pay for it's difference in 98 years. 

If you have $100k to spend on a Lexus, who cares what mileage it gets.

^seriously!

BTW, the main reason the prius gets so much hype is because it gets vastly better gas mileage than any other hybrid on the market (or on the drawing boards, as far as I can tell).  It's rated to get about 48 mpg.  The next best gets about 30 mpg.

K - pretty sure I posted this info on your first post, but in case I didn't, we have a Honda Insight.  We paid just under 20k CA about 5 years ago, still getting 70 mpg, still no major repairs or expenses,  still the best rated mass produced north american vehicle on the road, even though they ceased production in 2005.  If you can find a used one, grab it!

I got a ford escape hybrid SUV and I love it. I can pack it full o stuff and avoid icky SUV guilt. ;)

Original Post by lysistrata:

BTW, the main reason the prius gets so much hype is because it gets vastly better gas mileage than any other hybrid on the market (or on the drawing boards, as far as I can tell).  It's rated to get about 48 mpg.  The next best gets about 30 mpg.

Not true.  All of the following 2009 vehicles have City and Highway MPG above 30.  All of these MPG estimates are based on the new EPA testing methods which don't really reflect what you can actually get in these vehicles.  Depending on how you drive, you can get up to 60 mpg in the Prius.

Toyota Prius: 45/48 mpg
Honda Civic Hybrid: 40/45 mpg
Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35/33 mpg
Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33/34 mpg
Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, and Mercury Mariner Hybrids: 34/30

Nissan has a contract with Toyota in which they actually pay Toyota to use their technology.

I personally don't like the Honda Insight just because it is too small for me.

My daughter says you have to get the expensive batteries changed every so often.  We own a Toyota Echo- 2 door so small but I am not hauling hay or gorillas so that is ok.  40 miles to the gallon.  Too close to the more expensive hybrids for my wallet.  I'd rather save green backs and keep our little car.  I am concerned that the smaller cars seem to be made crappier than the large gas guzzlers.  I can't picture driving anything else right now cause I love putting in 10 bucks and driving around town for almost a week.  I've been in a Prius and loved all the bells and whistles and room etc. and felt like more power but I really don't want to be thinking about years more car payments. 

Original Post by poetnw:

My daughter says you have to get the expensive batteries changed every so often. 

 Huh?  We've owned a Ford Escape Hybrid for 2 and a half years now and we haven't had to charge it yet.  I don't think this is accurate.

I have heard that no one is sure how long the original batteries will last and they may need to be replaced in a few years. 

Here is an interesting review

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmG05AtNVtM

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP6fe6i1vaY&am p;feature=related

is your old car still making hay ok?  unless its getting really poor gas mileage, the green thing is to stay with that car.  (not that im green, i put grass clippings in plastic bags.  the whole planet is going to hell because of me).

i have a 2000 honda civic and get 30-33 mpg highway/highway city combined.  i doubt my next car will be a hybrid, simply because i will drive this car into the ground (or until the kid can use it) and maybe buy a pretty car for showing off but not driving a whole lot.  to me, it makes more economic sense to stick with what i have until it wears out rather than up my outlay by 300 a month in car payment.

 

there is an excellent slate.com article about it, in the lantern section.  ill see if i can dig it up but no promises, im tired.

Not sure if you've figured maintenance costs into your calculations.  My brother is a mechanic at a dealership and has told me they have problems with getting mechanics certified to work on hybrids.  It is dangerous working with the electrical systems and most of them would rather not risk it.  This can make them costly to repair.