Does Driving Green = Saving Green?

[cwerdna]

"May wholesale used-vehicle prices indicate that 2005 hybrids hold more of their value than their 2005 gasoline-powered twins, according to price data from Black Book, a wholesale price guide...."

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...1024/LATESTNEWS

[TonyPSchaefer]

There seems to be constant obsession with equating environmental progression with monetary improvement. It has been my impression that in the United States, with very few exceptions, a growth in profit directly results in environmental desecration and resource sustainability deterioration. Other, more progressive countries, have been able to prove that it is possible to maintain resource management strategies while growing the economy.

The bulk of Americans simply will not understand what we are doing to our children until we manage to stop equating everything to money spent and/or saved. This article and those like it are perfect examples. Consumers do not buy hybrids and high-efficiency vehicles based purely on their knowledge that doing so will not save them money. However, no matter how much money you save today, it will not buy the world more non-renewable resources.

[Jeannie]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 24 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]276319[/snapback]</div>

There seems to be constant obsession with equating environmental progression with monetary improvement. It has been my impression that in the United States, with very few exceptions, a growth in profit directly results in environmental desecration and resource sustainability deterioration. Other, more progressive countries, have been able to prove that it is possible to maintain resource management strategies while growing the economy.

The bulk of Americans simply will not understand what we are doing to our children until we manage to stop equating everything to money spent and/or saved. This article and those like it are perfect examples. Consumers do not buy hybrids and high-efficiency vehicles based purely on their knowledge that doing so will not save them money. However, no matter how much money you save today, it will not buy the world more non-renewable resources.
[/b]

I wholeheartedly agree, but 'good news' that hybrids depreciate less quickly than gas powered cars can be viewed as an incentive to individuals to purchase a hybrid, which is positive news.

[Leo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Jun 24 2006, 01:15 PM) [snapback]276355[/snapback]</div>

I wholeheartedly agree, but 'good news' that hybrids depreciate less quickly than gas powered cars can be viewed as an incentive to individuals to purchase a hybrid, which is positive news.
[/b]

Something that people overlook when comparing the cost of the Prius over the life of the vehicle, is the low depreciation. You pay a premium for that hybrid technology, but you are likely to get it back when you sell/trade it in later.

[eak354]

when i was shopping for a car i was considering a midsize Camry LE, this was back when the '04 Prius was not yet released (but orders where being taken). the deal breaker for me to get the prius was that it was comparably priced with the LE package i was looking at, plus i get a hybrid, SKS, etc. so in the end i got my midsize for the dough i was going to spend on a camry anyway, and at the same time i don't pay more at the pump than i would've with the camry. oh and yeah.. i get partial zero emissions! :P

[theorist]

To be fair, the article makes a common but serious error in measuring depreciation by dividing the used market price by the new MSRP, instead of by the new market price. How often do you hear someone brag that they bought a non-hybrid car (Accord, Ford Escape, Corolla, Camry, Civic, etc) for MSRP? (We paid $500 under MSRP, but that was the closest to MSRP that we've ever paid.) If you factor in the hundreds or sometimes thousands below MSRP that other cars are often sold for and the present value of finance incentives, the differences in depreciation change completely.

On the other hand, they didn't account for tax incentives.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 24 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]276319[/snapback]</div>

There seems to be constant obsession with equating environmental progression with monetary improvement. It has been my impression that in the United States, with very few exceptions, a growth in profit directly results in environmental desecration and resource sustainability deterioration. Other, more progressive countries, have been able to prove that it is possible to maintain resource management strategies while growing the economy.

The bulk of Americans simply will not understand what we are doing to our children until we manage to stop equating everything to money spent and/or saved. This article and those like it are perfect examples. Consumers do not buy hybrids and high-efficiency vehicles based purely on their knowledge that doing so will not save them money. However, no matter how much money you save today, it will not buy the world more non-renewable resources.
[/b]

In most developed countries, more fuel efficient vehicles are good for the pocketbook as well as the environment because they tax gasoline appropriately. If we in the USA paid typical European or Japanese prices for gasoline, we too would be kinder to the environment in our driving (and choosing not to drive).

[hycamguy07]

Tony nicely said,

But if a person goes from driving a 17mpg or less vehicle and they fill up more than once a week & they get into a Hybrid they will see the monetary savings...

[meezercat]

I didn't get it to save money. I just plain love the car. Plus, I'm an eco-freak and spending more to help the environment is worth it to me.

(Plus, forget about the cost of gas, I just hate stopping to refuel, now I have to do it less often!)