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Most Hybrids Won't Save You Money on Gas
April 29, 2010
Car shoppers interested in buying a Hybrid vehicle with the sole purpose of saving money on gas should reconsider.
A study by Investopedia.com found that it can take as long as 21 years to recoup your investment depending on the model you purchase. In many cases, the hybrid version costs several thousand dollars more than the non-hybrid or similar non-hybrid one.
If you do want to save money on gas, a low-cost electric car may be a better option.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid, which only costs $3,200 more than the non-hybrid version, is the only hybrid which allows you to recoup your investment in less than 10 years.
Here is the breakdown for the most popular hybrids:
| Vehicle | Price Difference | Years to Recoup Investment |
| Ford Fusion Hybrid | $3,200 | 5.6 years |
| Mercury Milan Hybrid | $6,300 | 13 years |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | $6,000 | 15 years |
| Honda Insight | $5,600 | 16.5 years |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | $8,000 | 17 years |
| Toyota Prius | $12,605 | 20 years |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid | $6,000 | 21 years |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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