Nathaniel Eliot ([info]temujin9) wrote,
@ 2008-12-09 22:32:00
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Current mood: exanimate
Current music:La Phaze - Nouveau Defi (Aphrodite Remix)
Entry tags:announcement

Hybrid Hues
RIP nameless grey beast. You carried me many miles, but fixing your brake lines would cost at least half what you're worth, and you've other troubles besides. So now I'm looking for a new car, or more precisely, a new used car.

Does anyone have experience with hybrids, and getting them fixed/fixing them? The extra cost up front is repaid by savings on gas (even using conservative assumptions of mpg and fuel cost), but I'm worried that the novelty will also make repairs more expensive. Given that they're at the top of my budget range already (and thus, also sure to cost more for insurance), I'd like to be really sure before I take any plunge.

On the gripping hand: Hybrid! Its officially a vehicle of the future for me, as they were more myth than merchandise when I first learned of them in college. These don't have the composite material frames of those mythical motor vehicles, but I'll take half-mythic (if it's not too tough to repair).


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[info]crwilley
2008-12-10 01:41 pm UTC (link)
A couple years ago, I asked my mechanic about the cost of repairs on a hybrid, and he said they were no more expensive to repair and maintain than any other car from the same manufacturer (with the exception of the battery, which would probably cost more to replace than the transmission). If you have your own mechanic, you might want to consult with him and see if he's got experience with hybrids.

On the other hand, depending on what model you're after, getting a used one might not save you much money - in some areas a used Prius goes for more than the sticker price of a new one because they're in such short supply.

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[info]earlofstomp
2008-12-10 04:20 pm UTC (link)
2 Hybrids, one Ford Escape runs at 30mpg (SUV) and one Toyota Prius at 46mpg. Both have been very low maintainence as the oil changes are 5 to 10Kmi and not 3 to 5. They both run great. As for eletronics both cover the battery for a long time 80K for the Fords 75K for the Pruis. I got some extensions to the warranty.

The Ford is almost @ 50K mileage and running great!
The Prius is just over 10K mileage and I have only spent $275 in maintainence for it, 2 oil chages, some filter replacements, tire rotations.

I use the dealerships for this.

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[info]valkyriie
2008-12-10 05:43 pm UTC (link)

A less familar mechanic may charge more than one that has experience with hybrids so you may want to shop around for a mechanic. I still think that as a specialty it would cost more and you would want to estimate how that would balance with the savings.

You can research on-line what other hybrid owners had to say.

If you are purchasing an enviro-vehicle you may want to look for government subsidies being offered. Many people aren't aware but the dealerships that sell them can probably tell you what programs are available.

It could be $100s of dollars of savings.

This can sometimes be more than just on a federal level... could be a state done thing as well and if so you may be qualified for both. (I know in the past this has been done but I'm not sure which states and if still offered.)

You may have to initally cover the amount but they would mail you a substanial check later.

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[info]awibs
2008-12-10 11:55 pm UTC (link)
don't forget to figure in the tax break for buying a hybrid...

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[info]awibs
2008-12-10 11:58 pm UTC (link)
also also - most hyrbids aren't that much more expensive to maintain for the sake of being a hybrid. the additional expense for most routine maintenance comes from things being covered by extraneous plates that need to be removed before something basic like changing the oil can be done. now, i've never had to replace the battery or a specialty part on a hybrid, nor have i owned one myself, but i did ask a mechanic as a general question once and he said no, it wasn't any different to him.

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