dirtykj wrote:
How do you feel about those hybrids now huh? Huh?
Hybrids are dumber than ethanol for fuel. If you think they're good for the environment, you're wrong. No matter how fuel efficient a vehicle is, there is only a limited amount of oil available, and every drop of it will be burned eventually. More fuel efficiency only delays the inevitable. (I won't go into detail about the heavy metals mining involved in the battery production).
So now the only argument for hybrids is the amount of money that they can save you at the pump. Let's say a new hybrid gets 45 mpg (or should I use the 18mpg Escalade hybrid?), and my wife's 1994 Civic gets 30 mpg. Driving an average of 15,000 miles a year, with gas at $3.50 per gallon, she'd save an average of $437.50 at the pump per year if she drove the hybrid.
However, her car was paid off 10 years ago, and her insurance is around $60 a month. We have a neighbor that has a hybrid Civic who's insurance (both my wife and the neighbor have flawless driving records, the neighbor does have more coverage) pays $140 per month. So as of right now, I'm losing $50 per month solely based on insurance. Today, my wife's car is worth approximately $3000. The new Civic Hybrid cost $25,000, a $22,000 difference. Ignoring the insurance (and the fact that Honda recommends you replace the $2000 battery every three years), it would take just slightly more than 50 years and 3 months for the hybrid to pay for itself in fuel economy.
Neither car is going to last 50 years, I'll be surprised if gasoline is around in 50 years, so remind my why hybrid vehicles are a good thing? Oh right, they make you FEEL like you're doing something good for the environment, and FEELINGS are important.
The best thing you can do for your wallet and the environment is to drive an old gas guzzler.
Sorry to get off topic, this concludes my rant for the day.
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Then I'll buy a 500-gallon tank and fill it up!! Hahaha!! 
2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4
