Comments zzsd has made

Other non-hybrid options

If you don't have a wad of cash to blow and/or or don't drive a ton, I'd suggest the used car route. The frustrating thing about new-non-hyrbids, is they've gone backwards on mileage since about 15 years ago. Honda made the Civic VX, which in 1992 was EPA rated (under current 2008 standards) at 49 mpg Highway/ 39 city (for the 49 state model, the CA model got 3 mpg less on both). Compare that to the 2008 Fit (5 spd) at 34/28, the 2008 Civic Hybrid at 45/40 or the 2008 Toyota Prius at 48/45. Of course, you're not likely to find one available now because people have snapped them up. But we got a regular old 1992 Civic LX sedan, which is rated at 36/30, and we only paid $2600 last spring.

If I did have a wad of cash, and owned my own home, I'd get a Honda Civic GX (i.e., Natural Gas) for a daily driver and a Phill (to fill it from my home's natural gas lines at utility consumer rates). This is far and away the cheapest per mile fuel cost, least dependent on foreign oil, and least polluting solution (although the carbon footprint is similar to a regular Civic).On Umbra on hybrid myths posted 1 year, 2 months ago 6 Responses