If "they" want us to go green with our cars, the price tag is gonna have to come down...?

Question

How long will it take before the cars are affordable for most people? I just bought a car for almost $11K and it was a little more than I wanted to pay. The "green" cars seem to be in the $20's usually. I can't do it. I know you get a big tax break for it, but I can't wait til then for the money.

I'm not really concerned about the environment per say - I think that our cultural demise will kill us before nature does. I like the idea of better gas mileage.

Answer 1

Estimates of the time to parity between hybrid and convential vehicles price parity are between 5 and 15 years, depending on how fast demand for hybrids goes up.

Answer 2

If you don't want to spend alot of money on a car, but want it to be environmentally friendly, you're in luck. You don't need to buy a hybrid. You can just buy anything that has a 4 cylinder engine and isn't SuperSized. The 1980s Honda CRX and Honda Civic get some of the best gas mileage around. My first car was a Saturn SL4. It got 35 mpg. The Scion XB is very environmentally friendly. Also, consider that 25% of the emissions associated with a given car are generated when it is made, so buying a used car is very environmentally friendly (as long as it has good emissions equipment, but any state inspection should cover that).

Answer 3

This is a big issue...it seems that those who are really driving the "green" idea are also fairly well to do.

Perhaps anybody who proposes wanting a "green" something should also have to surrender his property and income and live like the rest of us. Might bring the prices down fantastically quickly.

Perhaps, since most of the "green" cars can't go very fast, the government can allow the expensive safety rules and devices to be left off, which would bring the price down a lot.

The governments could also look to spending money to make public transportation effective...look to how other lands have done it, mix busses and trains.

Singapore has a mix of light rail and buses, that cover the area, rail for long distances, buses for short runs, and runs the system with enough vehicles out that one does not have long waits. So few cars are needed...only occasional taxies.

I kinda think those who are so concerned about the cars ought to drive them themselves, and turn over part of their inflated salaries and speech fees to help the poor get the cars. I think they need to put their money where their mouth is!

Answer 4

I agree with you....This is one green product that I will not buy(unless prices dropped WAY lower)

We drive a 4 cl. & we hardly drive anymore, not only because of the environment, but the gas prices are rediculous.

I guess it will be like everything else. ONce it's out a while, the prices will start to drop. By then, they will have something else out. I do not & will not ever buy a new car off of the lot...It's a waste of money. I don't see why everyone don't "recycle" cars, rather than buy something used & a little dated. I suggest we just take care of what we've got & get frequent oil changes, etc. I do believe these neew hybrids are just a way to make money...There are so many other things you can do to be green, without going into debt $20,000+.

That's just my opinion.

Answer 5

I'm with you. I bought a car in january and wanted to get the most fuel efficient car i could afford. Very regretfully, i could not afford a hybrid. I did not even find one used hybrid. I ended up getting a great deal on a compact car; the salesman was glad to get rid of it. He said no one wants compacts -- it's the SUV's that sell like hotcakes. I don't understand why what with the price of gas...

It's true that over the next few years more and more cars will be made hybrid. Eventually, probably all will be hybrid. That's when the price will come down. By 2012, 60mpg will seem like nothing.

Answer 6

Honda to Launch World’s First Low Cost Hybrid Car Priced Less Than 2 Million Yen...http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/honda-to-launch-worlds-first-low-cost-hybrid-car-priced-less-than-2-million-yen/

Answer 7

I think that you raise a very good point... one that I think about often. I think eventually prices on green cars will decrease. Until then, I think the best thing is to do what you can. At least, that is what I do. I figure if "they" are going to make green products out of the reach of every day people, what can I do about it? Well... not buying their over priced product is the first thing on my list. If enough people refuse their pricing then the price will eventually have to be lowered. Right?

Answer 8

No u don't under stand . U and me are supposed to walk . This hype of global warming is all hype and u bought it and support it against yourself. The CO2 is taken care of by the plants . The methane is a joke ,methane is a very light gas it will go up to about 50 miles how did they measure it. They just calculated what they wanted it to be . The hold thing is a snow job.

Answer 9

I agree...I know prices have been coming down some. Nissan is coming out with a hybrid that will sell for about $25,000. Not dirt cheap, but heading in the right direction.

Answer 10

I love the name Mercedes Benz There! I think a nice expensive sounding show name is Elegantly A Star or Instead of Diamonds. Good luck with the name search!