Has the high cost of gas got you thinking of trading in your SUV for a hybrid? It seems a bit drastic, but you would be surprised at how many consumers are cruising down to their local car dealership to test drive these vehicles that combine the best features of internal combustion engines and electric motors. I know because I recently tagged along with a friend as she test drove a hybrid for the first time.
Before, you jump on the hybrid bandwagon you should know that these fuel-efficient cars are in high demand and not all car dealerships have them in stock. In fact, my friend had to wait three weeks before she was notified that a single hybrid was at the dealership and available for a test drive. With that said, I must confess that I was very glad that I tagged along. We got to test drive one of the country’s most popular hybrid’s, the Toyota Prius. I got a crash course in what makes a hybrid tick and interestingly enough, learned (from the salesperson) why a hybrid may not be the best fit for all families.
The first thing that struck me about riding in a hybrid is how quiet it is. Even on the freeway (during rush hour), you could hear a pin drop in the car. (I wondered if I put my unhappy toddler in the backseat, would the serenity of a hybrid only amplify her screams?) It was almost eerily quiet—to the point where I wondered if the car was still running. It was, and I learned that the car’s intelligent power electronics decide when to use the motor and engine and when to store electricity in advanced batteries for future use. The electric motor is used primarily for low speed cruising or to provide extra power for acceleration or hill climbing. When braking or coasting to a stop, the hybrid uses its electric motor as a generator to produce electricity, which is then stored in its battery pack. Talk about intelligent—the hybrid automatically shut off the engine whenever we came to a stop. The engine restarts when the accelerator is pressed, thus it prevents wasted energy from idling. It was a neat feature, but again would take me a bit to get used to.
Another bonus (besides its fuel efficiency and smooth ride) is that the government is currently offering generous tax breaks to hybrid buyers. Based on fuel economy, they range from a one-time credit of $250 for the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra (that improve gas mileage only 10% to 15%) to $3,150 for the Toyota Prius. In addition, some state and local governments also offer their own individual incentives to hybrid owners.
Now for the bad news: A recent study by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine found: “Unless gasoline prices triple, you’re not likely to earn back the premium you’d pay for a hybrid car with savings at the pump. When you compare the cost of a hybrid with its gas-engine doppelgänger, hybrids typically cost at least $5,000 more.”
And then there’s the issue of supply and demand. As I already mentioned, my friend waited three weeks just to test drive a Prius. The salesperson told us that some people have waited up to four months before their already purchased hybrid was delivered to the lot. According to a leading automobile trade publication, the average Honda Civic Hybrid races off the lot in 10 days. Compare that to a non-hybrid, which can sit for two months before it is purchased.
If you absolutely must have a hybrid NOW, our salesperson recommended being flexible with your color choice. The Toyota dealership we were at had a wait list of nine months for black Prius’, but if you are willing to consider purchasing a white one your wait could be cut in half.
Finally, our salesperson revealed one last reason why some people decide that a hybrid may not be the best choice for them—-maintenance. If I remember correctly his exact words were: “Hybrids are a pain to fix.” He says he found that a hybrid’s electronic system often acts up and he warned my friend that she could be “looking at bringing it into the shop every few months.” We were also told that dealership mechanics are the only ones specifically trained to fix problems with hybrids (meaning that you can’t just pop into your run-of-the-mill service station for a quick fix), which of course, means that you will be paying more for repairs.
Ultimately, the decision to buy a hybrid is up to you. However, I would highly recommend test-driving one before you make you make a commitment. If you sign up to test drive one now you can probably have one available by say… Christmas.