ALT-3 Pros and Cons of Buying a Hybrid Car
There are many pros and cons to consider when you are thinking about buying a hybrid car. Some people may only see the advantages and wonder to themselves what cons could there possibly be to owning such a vehicle? Hybrid cars are environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, and are also well built. With fuel pricing going through the roof a hybrid car seems like a sensible choice for the average vehicle owner. They are run on energy efficient mix of battery and fuel, thus making these vehicles more friendly to the environment. The gas engine and electric motor design is what makes a car a hybrid.
One major factor to take into account is that there is talk of the government giving hybrid buyers a tax break. It could be $2,000 or more, which would make a considerable difference if you are trying to decide whether to buy one. This is most definitely a pro when you think about positive aspects of a hybrid. These types of cars can also shut down cylinders while driving to make fuel efficiency better. The car is smart and can switch to battery mode when at slow speeds or stopped at a red light.
These are all pros of the hybrid car, but what are the cons? The most obvious con is the price, at this time they are way overpriced as opposed to a regular car. Although, there may be some states that are now subsidizing these cars now, and insurance companies are looking into reduced costs for hybrids. The tax break mentioned earlier will also take away some of the overall cost of the vehicle. If you are buying a hybrid simply for fuel efficiency then this may not be a wise decision. Statistics have shown with some hybrids you may only get 10 - 15 percent more mileage, depending on where and how you drive the vehicle.
Due to the extras a hybrid has it may prove to be a con when it comes to maintenance. There may be computer problems, trouble with the ancillary systems, and there are essentially two motors in which to deal with too. Running into issues with these items could prove expensive as repairers seem to unjustifiably charge more to work on hybrids than standard vehicles. All in all there are more pros than cons when it comes to hybrid cars and there will hopefully be a lot less cons when the cost of owning one is reduced.
