Why to Consider Hybrid Vehicles when Purhchasing a New Car

The More We Buy, the More Alternative Fuel Choices We Will Have Tomorrow

When I need to buy something, whether it's a new hairbrush or a new computer or a new car, I am not a big fan of gimmicks or marketing campaigns. Instead, I want good value not just at the time I buy, a purchase that will stay within acceptable operating costs during the time I own it. I want the dollars I spend to make sense today and a year from now. For these reasons and more, I believe my next new car purchase will definitely be a hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius.

The beauty of this move is that I am not limited to just one make and model of automobile with a hybrid purchase. In the last few years, manufacturers have been rolling out more and more options for vehicles that combine standard fuel use with alternatives like electric and hydrogen. Because of this, I have some options from Ford like the Ford Escape, from Toyota, and from other manufacturers as well. Within a few more years, and the horizon may broaden considerably.

Sure, there are tax breaks and incentives to buy a hybrid right now. The federal government offers one type of tax break while individual states like Colorado promote their own. For example, a 2002 Toyota Prius according the Colorado's tax revenue Web site, can get you back nearly $4,000. That's good because hybrids are still far more expensive and their rapidly rising popularity can put you at the end of a very long waiting list to obtain one from a dealer. Buy used, and you can literally pay more than new sticker price.

Yet I'm not looking at hybrid vehicles for tax breaks or cash rebates. I'm investigating them because I want to put my dollars where my mouth is in terms of energy conservation. I've always leaned toward gas efficient car purchases but now I want something not entirely dependent on OPEC oil supplies or pricing.