Insanely Awe-dical

I'm looking at what kind of car to buy. Not being much of a car nut, the most important things to me are simple. I want a simple car with good mpg, that doesn't look stupid (read: box-like), and something that will be an effective investment.

My thoughts lead me directly to hybrid cars. Yes, the price tag is a little higher, which is why other Toyota options sound inviting (Echo at 10k w/a 41mpg or a Corolla at 13k w/40mpg).

This goes back to a discussion where I had with my brother. Is the higher mpg going to save money in the long run?

To be fair, let us compare a Civic and its hybrid brother. Hybrid pulls 58mpg at a near 20k price tag, while the gas-guzzler goes 33mpg at a 13k price tag.

Only considering gas usage/prices, making a car lifetime of 125k miles, with a static $2.75/gal gas price, the diffrence is $3,303 and 1201 gallons (90 refills). Considering the price tag, it doesn't quite seem worth it.

Of course, there are other major pros: less parts that may fail in a hybrid engine, a solid extended warranty for Hybrid-components (an even better one in CA), $2000 fed tax write-off (in 2005), environmentally-friendly (mostly karma/personal conscious), and possible carpool usage.

I digress.

Honda's Insight was ruled out due to 2-person max occupancy. The alternatives are the Honda Civic Hybrid (58mpg at 20k) and the Toyota Prius (51mpg at 21k).

What is the warranty for Prius?

Toyota says: Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. The HV battery may have longer coverage under emissions warranty. Refer to applicable Owner’s Warranty Information booklet for details.

However DriveClean said,

PZEVs and AT PZEVs meet the ARB's most stringent tailpipe emission standard (super ultra low emission vehicle), have a 15 year/150,000 mile warranty and have zero evaporative emissions.

This chart clearly displays the new '05 Prius as an AT PZEV.

This chart also includes the cars that will be eligible for single-occupant carpool lane usage IF the federal legislation goes through (Arnold has already signed state legislation, so still waiting on the feds).

Lots of thinking to do, but still very coool to look this stuff up.