Buying Hybrids

53 mpg city: Think about it when you’re stuck in congestion

It's pretty, but how does it compare to the Prius C in urban living?

And those 40 mpg compacts turn into 20-something mpg cars

I know, everyone wants to talk about the prototype lithium-ion battery explosion that rocked GM this morning. Why? It was a prototype battery being tested for such outcomes. So, they’ll have to tweak the chemistry. That’s the nature of prototypes. The explosion means nothing in terms of the Chevy Volt.

Anyway, had to run an errand this morning in rainy LA — two things that don’t mix. Thus, I got stuck on the 110, and since I wasn’t going anywhere I had a lot of time to observe the scene around me, and all the pretty little compact cars, pretending to be fuel efficient. Read more…

Hybrid loyalty study an outrageous lie. For morons only

Toyota Prius loyalty about same as best-selling Camry?

OK. Not a lie, but a deceptive load of crap

Have you heard about the new hybrid loyalty study? Almost 2/3’s of hybrid owners won’t reconsider another hybrid. Of course, no where in the study is such a claim made. It’s just that many in the press care little for the truth, only the advertising revenue any story can bring. Headlines don’t really have to tell the truth, right? They just have to drive traffic, then you can tell the truth, maybe.

Anyway, did a little study on brand loyalty, and wouldn’t you know, hybrid loyalty isn’t all that different than overall brand loyalty. Wow. You mean hybrid buyers act, well, just like everyone else when buying another car? No way. How dare they? Read more…

Hybrid and EV fans: Reconciling with reality

Hybrid hater answer to foreign oil dependence?

Buying hybrids and EVs is one great step, but

So the media is slamming hybrid cars today because of the Polk study on repeat hybrid buyers, or the lack thereof, posted earlier on Hybridcarblog. As I wrote this morning, the Polk study doesn’t mean that much to me for a number of reasons. Seriously, if you want a benchmark, a key metric, do you really need to look further than, less than 3 percent marketshare?

Even more distressing is the forecast that hybrids and plug-ins combined will only make up around 10 percent of sales by 2020, but it gets even worse than that — but not for hybrid fans. Read more…

Buy a hybrid car once, but not twice? Skewed and undersupplied?

Just 20 percent of Honda hybrid owners bought another hybrid in 2011

Could two car families and limited hybrid supplies be skewing the results?

Pretty scary Polk study regarding hybrid car buyers, at least at first glance. According to Polk just 35 percent of past hybrid buyers shopping in 2011 bought another hybrid, although Toyota Prius buyers — at 41 percent –  buoyed these averages higher.

But, I wonder, do many that own a hybrid also own another vehicle? And what about the 2011 hybrid supply shortage? Read more…

NY Times – Hybrids, EVs cost-ineffective, except Prius, MKZ

There's a reason the Prius is the king of hybrid cars

Even at $5.00+ per gallon most hybrids and plug-ins make little financial sense

Here’s the bad news. Most hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles just don’t make financial sense at $4.00 or even $5.00 per gallon, according to a NYTimes study using TrueCar.com data.

Here’s the good news. The Toyota Prius and the Lincoln MKZ hybrids do make great financial sense at $4.00 per gallon, achieving hybrid premium cost-effectiveness in around 2 years. Likewise, some of TrueCar’s data might be questioned. Read more…

Larger Toyota Prius V outselling the smaller Prius C in US

The C and V are bringing new buyers to the Prius family, so far

C and V not cannibalizing Prius sales yet, but is it all about supplies?

With 3 new members now part of the Toyota Prius family, a real big question has been whether the new Prius C, V, and plug-in versions would drive new buyers towards the Prius or just steal conventional Prius sales. March sale’s data suggests it’s all about new Prius hybrid buyers.

And even more surprising, at least to me, the Prius V is outselling the Prius C in the US. Read more…

Lexus ES 300h hybrid takes the stage in New York

Another Lexus hybrid

The latest Lexus hybrid sedan

The 2013 Lexus ES 300 will add a new hybrid version in 2013. The ES 300h hybrid will utilize a 2.5-liter I-4 engine mated to an electric motor that should offer up 40 mpg.

Additionally, the new ES will offer increased size, improved styling and an upgraded interior. Read more…

Chevy Volt sales climb, Toyota Prius hybrid sales soar

Prius family sales are starting to achieve impressive numbers

Volt posts huge percentage gain, Prius hits some big sales numbers

The Chevy Volt finally topped 2000 unit sales in one month, hitting 2,129 sales in March, which was a good step for the Volt. Still, in terms of pure numbers, the more interesting sale’s story was the Toyota Prius family. The Prius family reached 28,711 sales, while sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrid cars, combined, topped 38,215.

The Prius isn’t yet ready to catch Toyota’s sales king, the Camry, but Toyota’s contention that the Prius will top Camry sales by the end of this decade is beginning to seem believable. And then there’s the Volt. Read more…

Toyota Prius V price increase soon. Buy it, other hybrids, now?

1.5 percent more expensive in May?

A V hybrid price increase up to 1.5 percent

If you know you’re going to buy a new hybrid or electric car in the next couple of months, then you should buy it now. With gas prices set to climb through July, the hybrid supply situation could become a problem. And hybrid deals? Don’t expect any great deals on hybrid cars until well into Fall. Hybrid prices are probably about as good as they are going to be for some time.

And, if you’re thinking about a Toyota Prius V, then there’s an even greater reason to buy now. A Prius V price increase is on the way. Read more…

Overall savings: The two best cars for higher gas prices

The i plug-in can be good for your wallet long term

The right mix of cost and fuel economy

So, you need a new ride and cost-effectiveness is your key benchmark. That means long term thinking. The only way to squeeze the most out of an automotive purchase is to think long term, and if you’re going to think long term, then you need to factor in long term costs of ownership.

Thus, the best two cars for higher gas prices, with long term cost-effectiveness and cheap upfront costs as the key metrics, are the Mitsubish i and the Toyota Prius c. Read more…