I am getting ready to buy another car now. When gas prices were $4 plus, I was really thinking about buying a hybrid. Now with gas prices back down to $2 or less, should I.

I understand the environment situation, however with the cost of a hybrid being $5k plus more, I will never make the money back over the life of the 4-5 years I am going to keep the car.

So any feedback of your experience owning a hybrid, or why I should or shoulnt would be appreciated.

Don't bother with Hybrids, I had a Prius for a weekend and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't get more than 45mpg, a diesel Octavia would do better than that.

Where are you based?, the US I'm guessing.

Hybrids are a lot of smoke and mirrors if you ask me, they cost a lot because they cost a lot to develop. The companies selling hybrids don't want to admit that they aren't the most environmentally friendly cars, or economical either.

You're better off with a new diesel engine if you're worried about economy.

Plus the cars themselves are very un-environmentally friendly! This is mainly due to the batteries used... or more precisely the nickel used in the batteries and how it mined and then turned into batteries!

Phil

Yup. Get a decent diesel. They may not be all that popular across The Pond, but presumably you get the same engines over there as we do here, so something from the VAG stable (or, though it pains me to say it, other German or even French marques) should see you fine. And I'm guessing the price of diesel isn't as inflated over there as it is here...???

As everyone else says. I regularly beat the 45mpg quoted for the Pious driving an old TDi110 quick.

Yup. Get a decent diesel. They may not be all that popular across The Pond, but presumably you get the same engines over there as we do here, so something from the VAG stable (or, though it pains me to say it, other German or even French marques) should see you fine. And I'm guessing the price of diesel isn't as inflated over there as it is here...???

I thought diesel cars were banned in some states as they don't meet emissions regs?