ALT-1 Pros and Cons of Buying a Hybrid Car
Other than the fact that a hybrid model costs considerably more, (the 2010 Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid costs $8,000 more than the 2010 Civic Sedan) there really aren't any cons to owning a hybrid vehicle. It's up to the individual car shopper to figure out if a hybrid is worth it for them to buy. For most people who live in big cities where hybrids are the most beneficial to the environment, a hybrid will eventually pay for itself in fuel savings. The Honda Civic gets 26 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 miles to the gallon on the highway. The Honda Civic Hybrid gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 miles per gallon on the highway.
If you live in a rural area where your mostly driving highways that additional 5 mpg will take a lot longer to pay for the difference between the Hybrid model and the regular Civic Sedan. It's still a savings of 11 miles per gallon when comparing the two different models, but is it worth paying an additional $8,000.00 for the same vehicle if you live in an area where congested traffic isn't an issue?
Other pros to becoming a hybrid owner have to do with government perks. Everyone who buys a new hybrid gets a federal tax credit. Credits are nice because unlike cuts, they do not lesson the amount of income you made, but they take off the total tax you owe, so if you owe nothing, this is money you get back from the IRS. Most states also offer a tax incentive to car shoppers thinking of purchasing a hybrid. In California hybrid owners also get to drive in the carpool lane anytime they want to, ALONE. That may not sound like that big of a deal unless you've experienced five o'clock traffic at the on LA freeways.
The only con to buying a hybrid is that they cost a lot more, and if the savings in fuel is not going to pay for that additional $8,000 during the life expectancy of the vehicle, then this could be a legitimate reason not to go green when it comes to the car that you drive.
Pros
you get a federal tax credit and most states give a tax break to new hybrid owners as well. You use less fuel. your being kind to the environment. you get to drive in the carpool lane ALONE.
Cons
They cost more. A 2010 Honda Civic Sedan starts at 15,655 while its Hybrid twin starts at 23,800
