- Hybrids saving most money: Camry, Malibu, Altima
- Posted by johngdole@hotmail.com
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...value_car_news
Among Hybrids, the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu Offer the Best
Overall Value - Car News
Surprise! Not all hybrid cars cut costs equally.
BY JAKE HOLMES
July 2008
Car buyers hoping to economize by switching to a hybrid car will save
the most money if they buy a Toyota Camry hybrid, Chevrolet Malibu
hybrid or Nissan Altima hybrid, according to a study by
NADAguides.com.
As gas prices continue to rise around the country, hybrid cars are
attracting more and more drivers who want to save money on fuel. But
many consumers looking to buy a more efficient car only compare the
EPA fuel economy and don’t factor in the increased price of the hybrid
model, according to Tara Baukus Mello, NADAguides.com lead market
analyst.
Even though they use less fuel to go down the road, hybrid cars cost
more upfront and, depending on how many miles drivers cover, won’t
necessarily save money. Baukus Mello and NADAguides.com studied the
prices and potential fuel savings of hybrids on sale in the U.S. to
determine their break-even point—how far the cars must be driven
before savings in fuel costs outweigh the initial outlay for a hybrid.
The study used EPA combined fuel economy ratings for 2008 model year
hybrid cars and their gasoline-engine counterparts to evaluate fuel
savings. Coupled to the manufacturer suggested retail prices (minus
any tax breaks for hybrids) for each vehicle, NADAguides.com found
varied results. For gas prices, the study used the current cost of a
gallon in Los Angeles, $4.59. While that’s higher than the current
national average, it might not be too long before all of us are paying
those prices.
The Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Toyota Prius and
Honda Civic hybrids all offer enough fuel savings for drivers to
recoup their price premiums after fewer than 75,000 miles of driving—
or less than five years for an average driver. But even among these
five models are some surprises.
Hybrids such as the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon take longer to break
even than the five cars listed above (about 75,000 miles), and are
thus not mentioned in detail below.
The Popular Kids are Costly
Since its introduction to the U.S. in 2000 as a 2001 model, the Toyota
Prius has been the volume leader with over half a million models sold
stateside. Discussion on fuel economy and high-mileage hybrid cars
always seems to center around the quirky Prius, yet it may not be the
best hybrid for buyers looking to minimize overall vehicle costs.
Even though it achieves a combined EPA rating of 46 mpg, the Prius
starts at $22,160—thousands more than a comparable Toyota Camry LE
rated at a combined 25 mpg. Baukus Mello’s study found that a driver
paying $4.59 per gallon for gasoline would need to drive 41,626 miles
before they saved money. That distance rises to over 47,000 miles for
buyers paying the current national average of $4.11 per gallon. For
most drivers, that’s three to four years of vehicle ownership before
the Prius delivers cost savings.
The Honda Civic hybrid delivers an even worse return on investment.
Though the hybrid Civic is far more fuel-efficient than its gasoline
brethren, a $4000 premium for the hybrid is hard to recoup—even when
factoring in a $525 tax break. At $4.59 a gallon, buyers need to
accumulate 57,216 miles in order to save money with a Civic hybrid
rather than an automatic LX model.
Still, Baukus Mello said she believes many consumers want to drive
hybrid cars regardless of overall cost savings. Though the highly-
praised Prius isn’t really going to save money for drivers, it might
fulfill a different need: ecological pride.
“You’re doing it because you have an interest in fuel economy,” Baukus
Mello said.
- Posted by Cathy F.
<johngdole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dff5ac81-47dd-434c-bea0-8b603f4eada1@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...value_car_news
Among Hybrids, the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu Offer the Best
Overall Value - Car News
Surprise! Not all hybrid cars cut costs equally.
BY JAKE HOLMES
July 2008
Car buyers hoping to economize by switching to a hybrid car will save
the most money if they buy a Toyota Camry hybrid, Chevrolet Malibu
hybrid or Nissan Altima hybrid, according to a study by
NADAguides.com.
As gas prices continue to rise around the country, hybrid cars are
attracting more and more drivers who want to save money on fuel. But
many consumers looking to buy a more efficient car only compare the
EPA fuel economy and don’t factor in the increased price of the hybrid
model, according to Tara Baukus Mello, NADAguides.com lead market
analyst.
<snipped>
The Popular Kids are Costly
Since its introduction to the U.S. in 2000 as a 2001 model, the Toyota
Prius has been the volume leader with over half a million models sold
stateside. Discussion on fuel economy and high-mileage hybrid cars
always seems to center around the quirky Prius, yet it may not be the
best hybrid for buyers looking to minimize overall vehicle costs.
Even though it achieves a combined EPA rating of 46 mpg, the Prius
starts at $22,160—thousands more than a comparable Toyota Camry LE
rated at a combined 25 mpg.
`````````````````````
**I just checked on the Toyota site: starting MSRP for an '09 Camry LE is
$20, 375 (no add-on options). Considering the difference is $1785, the
above sentence employs a little hyperbole, n'est-ce pas? "Thousands" makes
one (or at least me) think "Probably, oh... $3 grand or more difference".
`````````````````````````````
Baukus Mello’s study found that a driver
paying $4.59 per gallon for gasoline would need to drive 41,626 miles
before they saved money. That distance rises to over 47,000 miles for
buyers paying the current national average of $4.11 per gallon. For
most drivers, that’s three to four years of vehicle ownership before
the Prius delivers cost savings.
The Honda Civic hybrid delivers an even worse return on investment.
Though the hybrid Civic is far more fuel-efficient than its gasoline
brethren, a $4000 premium for the hybrid is hard to recoup—even when
factoring in a $525 tax break. At $4.59 a gallon, buyers need to
accumulate 57,216 miles in order to save money with a Civic hybrid
rather than an automatic LX model.
Still, Baukus Mello said she believes many consumers want to drive
hybrid cars regardless of overall cost savings. Though the highly-
praised Prius isn’t really going to save money for drivers, it might
fulfill a different need: ecological pride.
````````````````````````````````````
**It'll save $ if you already drive a comparably prioced car - lateral
switching.
````````````````````````
“You’re doing it because you have an interest in fuel economy,” Baukus
Mello said.
````````````````````
**Or spewing out even fewer emissions than the low emission cars.
Cathy
- Posted by Ray O
<johngdole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dff5ac81-47dd-434c-bea0-8b603f4eada1@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...value_car_news
Among Hybrids, the Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu Offer the Best
Overall Value - Car News
Surprise! Not all hybrid cars cut costs equally.
BY JAKE HOLMES
July 2008
Car buyers hoping to economize by switching to a hybrid car will save
the most money if they buy a Toyota Camry hybrid, Chevrolet Malibu
hybrid or Nissan Altima hybrid, according to a study by
NADAguides.com.
**************
Guess which company supplies hybrid components for Nissan?
--
Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
- Posted by Cathy F.
"Michelle Steiner" <michelle@michelle.org> wrote in message
news:michelle-DC92BA.22194913072008@news.east.cox.net...
The way I read it, I think they were comparing apples & oranges: a Prius & a
regular gas engine Camry, not a hybrid Camry.
Cathy
- Posted by Gosi
On Jul 14, 1:10 pm, Michelle Steiner <miche...@michelle.org> wrote:
When calculating total cost of ownership you need to know the total
life of the car.
You need to know the initial cost, cost of repairs each year, what it
costs to run and how many years it is likely to last.
I am not sure we know what the normal lifespan of a Prius will be.
If we assumes it lasts same number of years as an ordinary car it may
cost more to own.
If it lasts longer it may be cheaper per year to own.
As far as I am told the resell value of the Prius is high which may
indicate that it will last many more year than ordinary cars.
It has less moving parts so it would be natural to assume it to last
much longer and then be less costly per year.
- Posted by Cathy F.
"Michelle Steiner" <michelle@michelle.org> wrote in message
news:michelle-4536A4.06103214072008@news.east.cox.net...
I agree w/you re: claiming that a Camry hybrid is more economical than a
Prius - makes no sense.
Cathy
- Posted by EdV
Would you advice a person who drives 90% freeway and 10% city driving
to buy a hybrid? What amount of city driving should one have to even
consider driving a hybrid?
- Posted by Cathy F.
"EdV" <systmengr@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:6756dfd4-a210-4881-8a85-53d1b9400695@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
Yes, I would - because people I know who bought a Prius in '04 (or '05?)
were getting 55 mpg on the NYS Thruway.
Cathy
- Posted by mack
"Cathy F." <clfrclfr@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:Wa-dnSwceami5-bVRVn_vwA@giganews.com...
Without knowing the sales figures for the Civic Hybrid, I have to wonder why
they've taken the back seat to the Prius. Is it possibly because the car
has only a little "Hybrid" plaque on the trunk indicating its inner
workings? The Prius is so totally different from other Toyota models it's
easy to identify as a Hybrid. Maybe a Hybrid buyer wants people to know up
front that he has the "green" conscience ...and the bucks, to do so.
- Posted by JM
"Cathy F." <clfrclfr@adelphiadotdashdot.net> wrote in message
news:Wa-dnSwceami5-bVRVn_vwA@giganews.com...
=US$10.50 a UK Gallon...4.5 Ltrs.
You guys are well off in the petrol price yet..
Johnny UK
- Posted by Mark A
"Gosi" <gosinn@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:faa07cb8-766d-4c75-a6e3-ddb6df7a154d@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
The resale value of the Prius has nothing to do with how long it lasts
(compared to other Toyota's). It is high because there is a shortage of new
hybrid cars, and there is an extreme shortage of used hybrid cars (because
not many were manufactured until recently).
For example, the resale value of a big Toyota truck has plummeted. Not
because it has any reliability problems, but because no one wants a gas
guzzler anymore.
- Posted by Cathy F.
"mack" <mackerel@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:hJLek.63905$pe5.33504@fe115.usenetserver.com. ..
Yes, &/or the styling. Personally, after having 4 Corollas in a row, with
the exception of the first one - a liftback, the subsequent 3 others' sedan
styling is becoming distinctly boring from my POV. Whereas the Prius is 1)
a liftback, & 2) is just... 'different' - not the same old, same old re:
styling. And I love its interior - the amount/no. of storage spaces &
roominess.
Cathy
- Posted by Cathy F.
"JM" <johnny@melvin.com> wrote in message
news:WJLek.18661$Ek.6606@newsfe21.ams2...
Yeah, we know - have always been. It's all relative...
Cathy
- Posted by Ted
On Jul 14, 2:47*pm, "Cathy F." <clfrc...@adelphiadotdashdot.net>
wrote:
AS far as the Civic Hybrid goes, my 05 got worse mileage than the
equivalent "regular" civic on the highway. That plus its miserable
tight interior and slow pickup convinced me to trade it in for a
Malibu(SS Maxx). With a light foot, I can get well over 24 mpg on the
highway with the advantage of having the power to get out tight
situations when the need arises.
- Posted by mack
"JM" <johnny@melvin.com> wrote in message
news:WJLek.18661$Ek.6606@newsfe21.ams2...
cut your wrists over the price of gas.
If we don't have health insurance (at great cost to us)
we'll bleed out in the street! : -)
Reminds me of buying gas in Ireland five years ago.
It was 85p (or being in Euros, is that "c" ?) per liter, and as I watched
the figures on the pump climb rapidly, I grimly thought "Well, when rape is
inevitable, just relax and enjoy it."
- Posted by Edwin Pawlowski
"mack" <mackerel@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
I'd say that is a huge factor. Remember when having an alligator on your
shirt was mandatory? That crowd had graduated to cars.
- Posted by Tomes
"Edwin Pawlowski" ...
getting 55 MPG in the other hybrids.
Tomes
- Posted by Tomes
"mack"...
Tomes
- Posted by Tomes
"Cathy F." ...
Prius over the July 4 weekend. It can indeed be done.
Tomes
- Posted by EdV
On Jul 14, 11:50 pm, "Tomes" <ask...@here.net> wrote:
Everybody was out on the road to celebrate the holiday, there was
heavy traffic and stop & go mostly on the interstate? =)
