What are the draw backs to owning a hybrid vehicle?

Question

I am considering purchasing an hybrid vehicle this weekend, but want to do more homework first. Everyone talks about the pros, can someone tell me about the cons? How do the hold up in cold and snowy climates? Your candidness would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Answer 1

The one correct statement made by the first few answerers is that you need the gas engine to be running in order for the heater to work, so in snowy climates that engine will be running most of the time, which will decrease its mileage a bit.

Of course, that's not really a drawback, because it will still be getting much better mileage than a non-hybrid.

Another con is that hybrids have a higher initial price.

That's not much of a drawback either, because they generally make up for the initial cost after about 5 years:

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

So if you pay for a hybrid with a 5 year loan, your gas savings will make up for the higher monthly payments.

You have to get repairs done at the dealership, but hybrids require less maintenance than non-hybrids.

Someone mentioned resale value - hybrids have a very high resale value. I bought a new Prius for less than I could find a used Prius asking price.

There's really no good reason not to choose a hybrid if you're buying a new car at this point.

Answer 2

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/80,000 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 (charges off of the gasoline engine and recapurted kinetic energy while braking)

Cons:
* slightly higher initial purchase price
* own a neat techy car (should you need unscheduled maintenance (break down), you're mainly stuck paying dealer rates as few independents have bothered to take the advanced hybrid training)
* many ill-informed people stopping you and asking questions about your car, telling you untruths about your own car (such as it'll kill you in an accident or hybrid batteries are replaced often/costly, or environmentally unfriendly), or even telling you how stupid you were for buying it...
* you cannot plug it in


Depending on where you live, will depend on resale value. In the US, hybrids (particularly those tuned for fuel economy, like the Prius or Civic) tend to hold their resale value very well. See the April 2007 issue of Consumer Reports (Prius depreciation is close to nil), and
http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids
http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006
http://www.kbb.com/kbb/ReviewsAndRatings/BestResaleValueAwards.aspx
In the UK/Europe, where hybrid sales volumes are low, resale isn't very good.

ALL cars have lowered fuel economy in the winter. However, it is more noticable in a hybrid due to the rule of large numbers, and that the gasoline engine usually has to run more often to provide you with "waste" heat (whereas it could be turned off for normal driving in warmer weather).

As for handling, that all depends on your driving skills, and what tires you put on the vehicle. Hybrids are no better/worse than any other vehicle.

Answer 3

Draw back #1 . In snowy climates The electric gasoline hybrid is running gasoline to keep the interior warm. #2 on the highway there is no real gain in economy. Next #3is the high inital cost and #3b the very nature of complicated dual propulsion systems electric regenerative braking and ABS operation. Electric power steering electric A/C 12volt systems 40 volt systems and 255 volt systems. #4 First responders to a hybrid accident site have to make sure the car has not shorted because 255 volts can kill parametics and careless mechanics too. Score so far is about 5 people have been killed not following proper precautions. #5 Another big draw back is only Nissan Toyota and Honda and Chevy Ford specially trained Technicians can work on there Hybrid car model and each make has special locations for the parts. #6 Your home work will tell you to wait until this stepping stone technology to Hydrogen fuel cell car or full electric solar panel car is comming soon as we run out of fuel. Buy a high fuel economy car and save approx 13,000 Corolla vs Prius or more Escape Hybrid vs Mazda tribute Nissan Altima Hybrid vs Altima. Or buy Your little tree hugging car with toxic batterys that cost $5,000 to replace in 6 to 10 years.

Answer 4

There is one big drawback in my mind. The resale value of these cars is largely unknown. With hybrid technology evolving so quickly, who is to say that today's will have strong resale value in the future? For this reason, I would lease a nybrid rather than buy. Let the bank take the risk on the future value.

Answer 5

the only thing i think would be the gas mileage is better in stop and go traffic rather than highway driving. i do mostly highway driving. the batteries are expensive to replace. i do not know how long they last.

Answer 6

>Slow
>Ugly
>Sound that they make is not as good as my alfa 3.7 litre supercharged 147 GTA

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