8 Reasons To Buy Hybrid Cars
1. They're as comfortable to drive as conventional cars.
There's no difference between a hybrid and the gas-powered car parked
in your garage it can accelerate just as quickly and cruise just as fast
on the highway, and it handles just as smoothly. Most important, hybrids are
just as safe to drive. Well, there is one difference: Hybrids are super-quiet sometimes you can't tell whether the engine is running
or not! When power is not needed at a red light, say, or in bumper-to-bumper
traffic the engine completely shuts down and revs up
again when you press on the accelerator, meaning you don't waste gas or emit
toxins. Hybrids run on a rechargeable battery and gasoline rather than gas
alone, but the power shift between the gas engine and electric motor is so
seamless that you're likely to forget about all the advanced technology moving
you down the road. And there's no need to plug them in as you would with an
all-electric car; the electric motor also acts as a generator during
deceleration and braking to continually recharge the batteries as you drive.
2. You're sure to find a model that fits your family's lifestyle.
Currently, there are three popular hybrids on the
market: Honda's compact two-seat Insight coupe, along with the midsize Toyota
Prius four-door hatchback and the Honda Civic hybrid sedan, both of which seat
five. But with half a dozen new hybrid models on their way, larger families will
soon have more good choices. Look for everything from midsize family cars like
the Honda Accord hybrid to hybrid versions of midsize sport-utility vehicles,
like the Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander, and Lexus RX 400h, to full-size pickup
trucks from Chevrolet, GMC, and Dodge to turn up in your local dealers'
showrooms within the next year
3. You'll save money on gas.
With gas prices soaring to more than two bucks a gallon in many parts
of the country, there's no smarter reason to switch to a hybrid than fuel
efficiency. Just compare the miles per gallon you're getting now with, for
example, a Toyota Prius's 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. In fact,
hybrid cars can go for more than 600 miles between fill-ups, meaning you should
be able to cut visits to your neighborhood gas station in half, saving you time
as well as money. If you drive 1,000 miles a month and your current car averages
20 miles per gallon, driving a hybrid could save $700 or more a year at the
pump.
4. You'll be doing your part to help protect the environment.
Not only do gasoline-electric hybrids get much better mileage than many
standard cars, but most also produce about 90 percent fewer smog-forming
tailpipe emissions compared with the average new car, accordeing
to Dave Hermance, head of Environmental Engineering for Toyota.
5. You'll set a good example for your kids.
If you like the notion of leaving the world a better place for your
children, driving a hybrid is one good way to transform that lofty ideal into a
concrete move. Our actions as parents speak louder than our words, even with
seemingly simple decisions. Owning an eco-friendly car does more to impart
environmental values to your children than countless talks about saving the
planet.
6. They're not all super-expensive.
Hybrids tend to cost $1,500 to $2,400 more than mainstream cars (don't
forget about that tax break and major gas savings). But they are becoming
extremely popular: Many dealerships have a several-month waiting period for a
new one. And it is perhaps this growing demand for hybrids that has sent a
message to American automakers who've been slower than their Japanese rivals to
adopt this new technology to build cleaner, more socially responsible
cars
7. You'll boost your "coolness quotient."
You can't put a price on this aspect of hybrid ownership, but suffice
it to say, driving a hybrid car is a surefire conversation starter among
coworkers, fellow parents, neighbors, and even total strangers. Just ask
Hollywood hipsters Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Larry David, and
Leonardo DiCaprio all happening hybrid owners.
8. You'll get cash back
More financial incentive to buy a hybrid: The IRS's
Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction allows you to take $1,500 off your 2004 federal
tax bill (the deduction decreases by $500 a year until it's phased out in 2007).
You may also qualify for additional financial incentives offered by state and
local agencies
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