Is a used Hybird Car a good buy?

Question

Is a used Hybird Car a good buy?

Answer 1

No not at all.  Average expected life of a hybrid car is 10 years.

Answer 2

ARE HYBRIDS WORTH IT?

wheres the savings?

hybrids are cheap compared with a $55,000 Cadillac Escalade. But if you compare them with their counterparts — economy cars — you could end up coughing up anywhere from 25% to 30% more at the dealership and not save much at the pump.

Consumer Reports compared the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid model, which gets 36 miles per gallon and sells for roughly $21,000, with the 2003 Honda Civic EX, which gets 29 miles per gallon and sells for an average of $18,500. The results? Not including the tax break (which would vary depending on one's income), it would take you 21 1/2 years in gas savings to pay back the extra money you initially laid out for the hybrid, says Consumer Reports' Shenhar. With the tax break, it would still take four years to break even.

Here's some more bad news. The folks at Edmunds.com predict that hybrids will depreciate faster than other models. Why? Auto makers are improving the hybrid powertrain so quickly that it's unlikely that in a few years a driver in the used-car market will want to purchase a hybrid with early technology. Already it's pretty hard to see why someone would buy a 2003 Toyota Prius when they could have the 2004 model, which handles better, has more power and gets much better mileage.

Tax Disincentive

Making matters worse, the IRS no longer wants to subsidize hybrid cars. Back in 2002 the IRS gave hybrid owners a $2,000 tax break on new purchases. This was supposed to encourage Americans to buy hybrid cars, and thereby protect the environment and decrease our dependence on oil from the Middle East. But come January, that tax incentive will start shrinking; it'll be phased out entirely by 2007. According to the IRS, the $2,000 deduction will be cut 25% in 2004, 50% in 2005 and 75% in 2006. The Senate energy bill, which is still being debated, would deliver two tax breaks worth up to $3,500 for fuel-efficient cars of all stripes. (Experts estimate hybrids could qualify for up to $2,000.) But passage of the bill in its current form is anything but certain right now.

Living Up to the Hype

What we don't know yet is how much the new hybrid SUVs, the Ford Escape and the Lexus RX Hybrid, will cost, or what their gas mileage will be. According to the early buzz, they should be priced at least somewhere in line with other lightweight trucks, and offer far better fuel economy. If they could achieve both goals, there wouldn't be any reason not to own one, says Edmunds.com's automotive expert Ed Hellwig.

Ford plans to unveil its Ford Escape early next summer, and claims it will get an astonishing 35 to 40 miles per gallon and have the power of a V6-like engine. Consumer Reports' Shenhar is skeptical. He doesn't understand how a heavy SUV can get the same mileage as the 2003 Toyota Prius got in the Consumer Reports test. Still, even if the Lexus or Ford SUVs do achieve superior fuel efficiency, some argue against owning the first-year models of any new car. Better to wait 12 months for the kinks to be worked out.

Waiting Game

Waiting doesn't mean you have to drive around feeling guilty that you're killing the environment. "You can get comparable or close hybrid fuel consumption with several small cars with efficient engines and manual transmissions," Consumer Reports' Shenhar says. While the Honda Civic hybrid gets 36 miles per gallon and the 2003 Prius gets 41 miles per gallon (Consumer Reports hasn't tested the 2004 model yet), a regular Toyota Echo with a manual transmission gets 38 miles per gallon. It's also considerably cheaper, starting at around $10,000.

Indeed, you can boost fuel efficiency for any car if you choose a manual transmission over an automatic. "The average stick-shift vehicle gets 17% to 18% better gas mileage than an automatic," Shenhar says.

And if you have three kids and sports equipment to lug around, consider a wagon rather than an SUV. While the average wagon gets mileage in the mid-20s range, an SUV usually scores in the midteens. Wagons are a lot safer to drive, too. That's an important consideration when you're hauling your priceless cargo.

Answer 3

You are not giving us enough information. Go to Kelly Blue Book.com

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Default....

My friend has one, he gets 55 mpg on the highway and 38 mpg in the city.

You can calculate the difference between your mpg and your expected mpg and multiply that by the number of miles you frive in a year. Thta will give you your approximate savings.

Answer 4

With current hybrid technology the way it is, I would say no.  The battery cell life on them is limited and they are very expensive to replace.

I will say that hybrid technology is the way of the future, but it's still to expensive currently to make it cost effective for the consumer.

Why would you sell a $10,000 car and spend another $15,000 on top of that to buy a hybrid car to save on gas? To get your money back at current gas prices, just going from 15 miles per gallon to 25 miles per and driving 100 miles a week, that would save you $10 a week. To get back your $15,000, it would take you almost 29 years! Does this make sense to you, because IT’S DOESN’T TO ME!!! People have lost their ever-loving minds if they think this is smart.

Answer 5

yah it is cause a hybird car is a hybird car

Answer 6

A hybrid in the long run isn't a good as buy as an economic vehicle. When buying a car ask yourself this, "if the car is good, why is the owner selling it?"

Check with the owner if anything was replaced and look at it closely for cosmetic damage.

Also check for aftermarket parts on the vehicle as this can sometimes indicate damage has occured.

Answer 7

if you are buying a used that is 1 or 2 years old, you will be ok. just be careful that you dont pay too much. right now used prius are going for more than new because they are available today instead of ordering a new one which takes 4 months.

previous generation hybrids are less reliable and not worth the headaches

the people who suggested a conventional economy car are correct if your primary concern is cost of ownership, you cant beat a civic or corolla

Answer 8

yh because its completely clean (doesn't give out any poisonous gasses) and it runs on hydrogen which is wont run out. its a bit hard to get hold of the hydrogen, but its worth is coz they can split it using renewable sources... but that probs don't mean anything 2 u.... so yh tis a good idea :D

Answer 9

Whether a Hybrid is a good idea or not aside, as far as the one you're thinking of buying, you need to watch out how many miles are left on warranty, specifically the battery warranty. Don't take the sellers word for it. Either read the warranty yourself, or ask a dealer. If those batteries need to be replaced out of warranty, they are expensive and you are on your own. I think Toyota has a 10 year 100,000 miles non pro rated warranty, which is excellent. If the batteries fail on the last day of the warranty at 99,999 miles, you get new batteries for free. I personally would not buy a hybrid without a manufacturers warranty, either original and/or extended. Too risky.There are other reasons to own a hybrid other than Total Cost of Ownership. There is the environment, and reducing dependency on energy from the nastiest worst countries on earth. I know that sounds silly, but in the big picture, it all adds up. Hybrids aren't perfect, but they are a step towards the future.

Answer 10

Sure...any hybrid car is great to buy these days.  Just check out the history of the car (as you would w/ any other car you purchase)

Answer 11

Not if you expect it to save you money..

Answer 12

it all depends on the price and condition of the car, just like any used car.  It doesn't make sense to over pay for a hybrid if you can get a comparable sized car for thousands less.  you'll never make up the difference on gas savings.  Also depending on the age of the vehicle, you do have to worry about battery life.

If it is a fairly new hybrid and the price is right, it probably is a good buy.  But if it is a 2004 Prius for $20k, HECK NO!!!