But, this brings up a practical question for those of us who live away from the big city. Because we do so much highway driving, is an hybrid vehicle a good idea? Is our proportion of hwy vs city driving balanced the wrong way? How does one calculate this?

Looking at the figures from the Civic, Insight, and Prius, the highway figures are still far better than just about any non-hybrid vehicle.

[ 01 October 2004: Message edited by: Mike Keenan ]

My parents have only ever bought one new car (a 1967 Ford Custom that rusted to death in less than a decade). The cars they do buy, they keep for a fairly long time (they have a 1989 Thunderbird and a 1988 Olds Cutlass at present). Even the ones they've been burned on have lasted longer than many people keep their new cars before buying another one, and they've probably spent less overall than the people who listen to what the cathode ray god tells them.

From an environmentalist's point of view, it's also generally much better to buy used, given the amount of resources that go into a new car. The hybrids are something of a special case, because cars are going to be with us for the forseeable future, so we might as well help to create a market for less harmful ones- if it's economically feasible for you. And if it isn't, remember that you'll burn less gas in a $2000 Crown Victoria that you drive once a week to pick up groceries than you will in a $25,000 Prius that you drive to work every day.

Bottom line is: If I came into a fair bit of cash (say, winning a lottery) I'd probably buy one. Other than that, I'm likely to wait till they start showing up on the second-hand market.

[ 01 October 2004: Message edited by: Mike Keenan ]