4.2 years to recoup premium in fuel savings

[Cacti]

Hybrid value rank: 1 (Toyota Prius)
Time to recoup premium in fuel savings alone: 4.2 years

Typical cost: $22,279
Compared to: Toyota Camry LE 4-cylinder
Hybrid cost premium: $2,303 (Based on Edmunds.com "True Market Value." No tax credits are available on Toyota vehicles.)
Overall mpg vs. non-hybrid: 46 vs. 27.6
Annual fuel savings: $543 (175 gallons)
The comparison to a 4-cylinder Camry makes sense because the Prius offers almost the same amount of interior space. Since the Prius was designed from the wheels up as a hybrid vehicle, its hatchback body style offers ample storage space.
The Prius' hybrid-only design also allowed engineers to maximize its fuel economy. For instance, the Prius gains fuel economy through its unique aerodynamic shape as well as through its hybrid drivetrain.

http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/artic...ective-Hybrids

[dandeman]

Don't take this personally, but after a while these how many years to break even stories are tiresome.

How many years does it take a set of bling-bling wheels to pay back?


Or, how many years is the payback on a hummer?

Why don't people ask those questions?

I drove my Prius off the lot, including license plates and tax at $25k. For a fully equipped mid size car, that's a bargain these days...

[brick]

/\/\What dandeman said./\/\
In the automotive world, a hybrid drive is about the only option that could ever pay for itself, never mind pay for itself two or three times over during the life of the car. The leather seats, power moonroof, chrome 18" wheels with sport tires, V8 engine, premium audio, rear seat DVD, and extra body molding will never do anything but cost you more money. Besides, if you've ever pumped 8 gallons to go 400+ miles it becomes obvious that the hybrid drive can be plenty of fun. We would say it's good clean fun.

[nwprius]

Price premium for the Prius? For the size, real space, and the important features on the Prius there are no other cars that compete. It is sad that the features that are standard on the Prius never seem to be taken into account by people making these comparisons. Checking out these comparison cars always seem to be smaller or when the standard items on the Prius are added to the comparison car their prices jump to more than the Prius. SAD.

[hill]

Originally Posted by dandeman

Don't take this personally, but after a while these how many years to break even stories are tiresome.

How many years does it take a set of bling-bling wheels to pay back?


Or, how many years is the payback on a hummer?

Why don't people ask those questions?
...

In that same vein (no pun intended) when I consider all the thousands spent on that wedding ring 15 years ago, that works out to several hundered dollars per . . . . oh never mind

[donee]

I wonder if they considered brake, starter and alternator normalized costs? I revamped my original purchasing spread sheet, and used a Pontiac G6 Base, which is like $20,090. I came out with a 3.1 year to break-even result.

The rational I used was that resale costs will track expeced maintenance costs. So, I just costed the weaar on each device on a normalized (per year, or per mile) basis.

[cwerdna]

This is the 3rd repost of the same info that I posted in most and least-cost-effective hybrids per CNN. The fuel economy numbers they used for at least two gasoline vehicles are suspect too. See my post.

[Charles Suitt]

Ho Hum... In 2007 and 2007, I bought my Prius-es for the ecological cleanness and the remarkable technology. I never expected my former vehicles (Jaguar, Cadillac, Ford, Nash, Toyota, etc.) to 'pay me back' for anything.

[apriusfan]

The interesting thing that nobody seems to mention is what happens after the 4.2/3.1/whatever time? The Prius becomes something of an investment (if you believe in the concept of a penny saved is a penny earned).

[subarutoo]

Please let the old "break-even" horse die. R.I.P.