Are hybrid cars less or more expensive then "normal" cars? What are the pros and cons of owning one?

Question

Do you own one?

Answer 1

Insurance is about the same as a regular car.

Maintenance is about the same as a regular car - use your favorite mechanic or DIY.

Same gasoline as a regular car...

Depending on model, many hybrids are holding high resale values (mainly the fuel-economy hybrids as opposed to the power hybrids).

Pros:
* Depending on where you live, tax incentives (income tax credit for US federal, some states or Canadian provinces offer income tax credits/deductions or sales tax reductions),or single-occupant HOV lane privilages (CA, VA, FL, NY), or reduced tolls (NY) or free parking...
* better HP and acceleration than a comparable car
* better (lower) emissions than a comparable car
* better fuel economy than a comparable car
* own a neat techy car
* long warranty (depending on model, the hybrid battery or system is warrantied in the US a minimum of 8 years/100,000 miles, up to the AT-PZEV models in CA-emission states out to 10 years/150,000 miles, and it is NOT pro-rated but a full coverage.)
* you do not plug it in

Cons:
* slightly higher initial purchase price
* own a neat techy car (should you need unscheduled maintenance, you're mainly stuck paying dealer rates)
* many ill-informed people stopping you and asking questions about your car, telling you untruths about your own car, or even telling you how stupid you were for buying it...
* you cannot plug it in

Answer 2

The upfront cost of a hynbrid is higher. The battery warranty is prorated, so the longer it lasts the more it costs you to replace and I've hear 2yrs -5yrs on the battery.
the battery is about $2,000 plus your routine maintenance.
Normal cars, you have gas and routine maintenance.
I think if you drive nearly always in the city, a hybrid is a reasonable solution, if not then a gas car will save you more. IMO its not time for hybrids yet the technology is still too new and too expensive.

Answer 3

They are more expensive and you need to be a person who uses his car very frequently for the added expense to pay off. If you just use the car to go here and there, light commuting, that sort of thing, then it will not start paying for itself for a long time. But if you use it for business where you are on the road a lot, it will then be worth it.

Answer 4

I heard on the news 2 days ago, that hybrid cars are more expensive then regular cars, they had an article about that.
They want people to buy them

Answer 5

you will save on gas and pollute the ambience much less. in spite of the shown fact that, the preliminary fee of hybrids continues to be costly and to recoup the fee and value reductions in gas, it is going to take an prolonged time. there's a learn out some the place that in case you purchase a hybrid as unfavorable to a extra low fee non-hybrid gas vehicle, it will take somewhat some years to for the fee to be well worth it.

Answer 6

Maintenance is high, sticker price is high, but gas mileage is good. Ethanol gas evaporates extremely fast! That might be the hidden cost. The gas may not be as cheap in the long run after all.

Answer 7

more expensive I'm sure if it breaks down the parts will cost more also. But you save on gas.

Answer 8

Cons

expansive maintenance,
costy car
Slow pickup speed

Pros

Save gasoline

Answer 9

they are more expensive. i think it would be hard to find the kind of gas you need for it.