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Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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#97 of 3943 Do the math by commonsense Mar 27, 2004 (3:57 pm)
The noble idea of saving an environment does not come cheap. Using less gas means paying less money (duh!), but buying the Hybrid SUV today involves forking out several thousands dollars, which virtually nullifies the savings. Paying less for gas would not translate into ANY financial savings over at least 5-7 yrs. The following example uses family-oriented people averaging roughly 12,000 mi per yr, or 1000 mi per month, who do not use their cars for businesses where one requires much greater utilization of their vehicles: - 6 cyl 2004 Highlander gets about 20 mpg (18 cty/24 hwy) needing 50 gallons of gas; total monthly cost of gas at $1.90/gallon is $95; - 6 cyl 2005 Hybrid should get 28 mpg; therefore 1,000 mi will cost $65 given prior parameters; - monthly saving of $30 accumulate into $360 saved per year; - with the trend to change cars every 5-7 yrs or when warranty expires, one could save $1800 to $2520; - this falls short of $3K to $5K to ?K more one should pay up front to buy the Hybrid; - this situation changes for the better, however, when gas approaches $5/gallon.   So, unless the difference in price is minimal measuring hundreds of dollars and not thousands, or the price of gas is European-like, it doesn't make financial sense to buy Hybrid SUV today. The "green" reasons (saving the planet, cleaner air, etc.) may be more prevalent in the first years of hybrid-mania.   But is it really technology itself that is more expensive, or is it politically motivated price gouging to continue pushing toward traditional gas-guzzlers to keep oil industry happy? I can hear the ecstatic slogans when "revolutionary" hybrid Suburbans and Excursions start getting 20 mpg as opposed to today's <15, and costing twice as much.
#98 of 3943 Re: Do the math by john1701a Mar 27, 2004 (5:40 pm)
> it doesn't make financial sense to buy Hybrid SUV today   It doesn't make financial sense to buy Traditional SUV either.   JOHN
#99 of 3943 Re: Do the math by usbseawolf2000 Mar 27, 2004 (8:22 pm)
How much values do you put on the following HSD features?   - Smooth acceleration, no jerking during shifting (Smoother than 6 speeds) - Instant power response, no delay from downshiftings (Within milliseconds) - More torque and horse power than a regular Highlander - Total silence at the stop lights - Electric heater that produces heat faster - HOV lane access in some states - Many more (Feel free to add)   Obviously, you were not aware of many other HSD benefits and calculated only the fuel saving.   Dennis
#102 of 3943 Re: Do the math by landdriver Mar 28, 2004 (2:42 pm)
My guess is at some point in the future, perhaps 20 years from now, hybrids will be standard on most cars, much like fuel injection has replaced carburetors over the past 20 years, or like automatic transmissions have become standard on many cars (Highlanders for example aren't even offered with a manual transmission). Once a critical mass of interest and demand for hybrids is reached, competition between auto manufacturers for the hybrid market will drive the price of hybrids down. We are witness to a new era of car evolution, the transition of which will occur over the next 20 years.   I also predict that 20 years from now the roadways will be just as congested as they are today...
#103 of 3943 by john1701a Mar 28, 2004 (3:06 pm)
> perhaps 20 years from now   What in the world would make a person think so much time is needed? If an average vehicle is only in service for 8 years anyway, that's over 2 full cycles, which more than is enough to replace everything. And in that same time, a vehicle will be remodeled at least 4 times. To revise so much, yet not improve the drive system that much would be a bit odd.   So I would expect hybrids becoming standard much sooner.   And by basing the rollout on other new technologies of the past, it shouldn't take more than 10 years... of which, has already begun.   JOHN
#104 of 3943 commonsense, your math is flawed by ceric Mar 28, 2004 (6:43 pm)
Saving $2000 over 5-7 year is not bad considering the resale value of hybrid would still retain 40% of its original value. For the 4K premium you paid, your lost is only $2400 (60% of 4k). In other words, you pay for all the benefits usbseawolf listed for only $400!!! What a deal!   The bottom line is ... there are people who would pay for being fancy and new and in-style. That alone would create high demand. See what is happening with Priuses. Every dealer has a long waiting list (30-50) for Lexus 400h. Check with your Toyota dealer for Highlander Hybrids. There is a list also. People are paying for MSRP for them. To me, if CA allow HOV lane access for Hybrids, I would buy it in a heart beat! All the rest are icing on the cake.
#105 of 3943 Ceric by sorter Mar 28, 2004 (7:06 pm)
And the resale for Hybrid will be higher a few years from now because alot more vehicle has hybrid and less people interest in regular engine.
#106 of 3943 The math again by sunbyrne Mar 28, 2004 (10:17 pm)
Let's say gas is more like $2.50/gallon, which it now is in some markets, and you have a longer commute, say, you put 15,00 miles/year on the car.   20 mpg = 750 gal = $1875/year in gas cost 28 mpg = 535.7 gal = $1340/year in gas cost   $535/year savings. In seven years, that's $3745. If there's still a tax break when you buy it new (I'm not sure what the status of that is these days), then you're paying virtually *nothing* to get all of the aformentioned benefits plus, of course, reduced environmental impact.   Obviously, if you live somewhere where gas is much cheaper or put less miles on your vehicle, it makes less finiancial sense, at least purely on gas price. But for some poeple, the math already pretty much works out _right now_.

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