hyrid cars

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hyrid cars Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worthwhile monetary-wise to buy a hyrid car (Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius)?

Given that these cars are more expensive, could be SGD 10,000 more than their non-hyrid counterparts having similar specs.

I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the Prius does very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for near new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include federal and any state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.html

Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006 and http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids

While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied.
(I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ )
Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general." However, in the US, the Toyota hybrids have sold so many that they no longer qualify for the US Federal hybrid vehicle income tax credit, but Honda and others still have theirs.

Check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you want reliability information. Both the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius make their best bets for new cars and for used cars.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm

There is more to vehicle ownership besides initial purchase cost and the amount of gasoline used - there is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.

However, the societal costs for emissions are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with many (like the Prius and HCH II) an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold in CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDIs, which cannot be sold new in CA-emission states because of their poor emissions.) In the US, hybrid models (like the Prius and HCH II) tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars (hybrid/gasoline/diesel/flex-fuel/etc.), and that is for BOTH highway and city driving:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/bestworstNF.shtml

The Prius and Honda Civic are also in Kelley Blue Book's 2007 Best Resale Value Awards: http://www.kbb.com/kbb/ReviewsAndRatings/BestResaleValueAwards.aspx (though if you're not in the US resale values may differ...)

The Honda Civic/Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius are also in Consumer Reports' top picks for new cars:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm

as well as for used cars: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm

The Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/index.html

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/index.html

Remember that the Toyota Prius is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this December, so it's hardly new technology!

http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/www09/toyota/prius/main.html

http://www.toyota.com/html/dyncon/2007/september/birthday.html

Maintenance is about the same as a regular car - use your favorite mechanic or DIY. Typically just oil/filter changes and tire rotations.
Toyota scheduled maintenance guides:

http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/

http://www.toyota.ca/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WWW.woa/3/wo/Home.Owners.MaintenanceMenu-mAJJwzTxmt23o9nuRKQCm0/3.11

Honda scheduled maintenance guides:
https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=honda (free registration)

http://www.honda.ca/HondaCA2006/YourHonda/HondaService/MaintCalcDefault.asp?L=E

as for cost differences, make sure that you are comparing similarly sized and equipped vehicles. If you were looking at the Camry Hybrid, it is best paired against the top of the line trim Camry XLE model, for example. For the Prius, the closest comparison is the Camry Hybrid, or the Camry XLE, to match size and options. The US state of Colorado has already done such calculations for state income tax credit purposes, and presented the incremental price difference between the hybrid and closest non-hybrid model, here: http://www.revenue.state.co.us/fyi/html/income09.html
The incremental price difference is:
2008 Toyota base Prius is US$2370
2008 Toyota touring Prius is US$3654
2008 Honda Civic Hybrid II is US$3675

Both the Prius and HCH are great cars. But, only you can decide which will work out best for you. Take both for a test drive, and see which one you like better, which you like the seating better, and/or like the available options better... Do you prefer a sedan (Honda Civic Hybrid), or do you like a hatchback (Toyota Prius)? Is a compact OK with you (Honda Civic Hybrid), or would you prefer a larger midsized vehicle (Toyota Prius)? If you want a manual transmission, then you'll have to look for a used HCH. Do you want to show off that you have a hybrid or not? The Prius is only available as a hybrid and its distinctive aerodynamic design gives it away, while the HCH blends in and looks like most every other Civic on the road...

Myself, since I like having a trunk, I'd find a used 2001-2003 NHW11 Prius (compact sedan version), just like my current 2001 Prius. The HCH wasn't available yet when I purchased my 2001... I did try a HCH I at one point, and preferred my Classic Prius. I haven't tried the newer HCH II... Although I have driven the current Prius (my husband had a 2004 NHW20 Prius (current hatchback version) and it is generally better than my 2001, as much as I like it I wouldn't buy it for because it doesn't have a trunk. If I had to buy a new hybrid (not used) I'd look at the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the new HCH II, and maybe the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

What is best Camry Vs Camry Hybrid?

I selected Camry as my new Car. Now that Camry is offered as Camry & Camry Hyrid, what is the driver for buying Camry Hybrid?
Is really Hybrid Engine on Camry Hybrid very similar to Prius?

I like the Camry Hybrid because it costs less to maintain than a regular Camry.

Why the Camry Hybrid costs less to maintain:

- It uses a Power Split Device transmission, which is a simple planetary gearset, no gear-shifting wear-and-tear, no clutch, no hot-running torque converter. This mechanical simplicity means it is very durable. How the Power Split Device transmission works: http://www.eahart.com/prius/psd (yes, the Camry's Power Split Device is the same kind of transmission used in the Prius hybrid).

- The PSD transmission allows the car to use electrical regenerative braking to convert the car's forward momentum into storable electricity (which can later be used to move the car). This saves brake pad wear tremendously-- The Camry Hybrid needs no brake pad change until well after 100,000 miles. (Not a typo).

- The Camry Hybrid has no timing belt, no alternator, no starter motor or solenoid to go bad and need replacement.

- Because the Camry Hybrid's gasoline engine isn't running all the time the car is in operation, it experiences less heat stress and the engine coolant lasts 8 years. (again, not a typo).

- The hybrid battery is covered by an 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty, which is automatically extended to 10 years / 150,000 miles if the car is bought and registered in CA, CT, MA, ME, NY, NJ, RI and VT. So anytime you hear some idiot saying crap like the battery needs to be replaced every couple years for thousands, you know right away that guy knows NOTHING about hybrids.

Also, I would suggest you look at the Nissan Altima Hybrid too. Nissan licensed the Camry Hybrid's PSD transmission from Toyota for use in the Altima Hybrid, and the Altima Hybrid qualifies for a $2300 Federal Tax Credit refund. The Camry Hybrid qualifies for $0.

And the Ford Fusion Hybrid is also another good alternative to look at-- It also uses the Power Split Device transmission with all of the same low-maintenance benefits, and it qualifies for a $1700 Federal Tax Credit refund if purchased before September 2009.

Hope this helps.

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