Doug Kanter wrote:


Well, people are buying hybrids right now. If battery replacement issues are
such a problem, how do YOU explain the FACT that they are selling well? Are
the customers being hypnotized when they enter the dealerships?

Here's some perspective for you;

My wife is ready to replace her Subaru. We started shopping a couple of
months ago and looked initially at the Mercedes M Class. When I
discovered that nearly all current owners are reporting a lot of
mechanical problems, we expanded the search. Really liked the Toyota
Highlander, but made the mistake of driving the hybrid. The performance
of the hybrid kicks the stuffing out of the standard V6. There is no
comparison.

People compare the mpg of the hybrid with the standard V6 and wonder,
"why would anybody pay all that much extra just to get (in real life) a
couple of more miles per gallon?" Probably nobody would. However, if
you compare the mpg to a V8 model and realize that the hybrid offers V8
performance, (not V6 performance), with fuel economy more typical of a
large displacement 4-cylinder it makes some sense.

Toyota licenses the hybrid technology to Ford, who uses it in the
Escape and the Mercury Mariner. We drove both, and I wouldn't buy
either one. Toyota only sells the 4-cylinder version to Ford, and the
4-cylinder version is very underpowered. With the 4-banger, you really
do get about the same mpg as with the gas engine and if anything the
4-banger Escapes and Mariners are *less* peppy than the gas
counterparts.

Then for about 20% more than a Highlander you can buy a Lexus, which
will probably be our final choice. The Lexus makes the Toyota look
crude by comparison. We'd own one already except there's no rush to own
a vehicle that's in short supply and where the sticker price is
absolutely non negotiable. I almost don't know how to buy a car where
you can't "deal". The Lexus guy wanted to close me and I asked him,
"Can you give me a reason to buy now?" He was pretty sharp, replying
with, "Yeah, you get to own a Lexus." :-)

(One consideration in favor of delayed timing is the "monorail tax"
drops off of our car tabs by late summer this year. Will make about a
$700 difference in the first year license cost of a vehicle in that
price range. Have to weigh that against continuing depreciation of the
present 5 year old Subaru.........)

So there's some insight into why people would consider buying hybrids.
On a fuel economy basis, don't compare to the V6 gas- compare to the V8
gas that delivers equivalent performance.