Hybrid Cars

About a year ago I estimated that hybrid cars would only make sense if gas went up to $5-6 per gal. Now the Columbus Dispatch (22 May 2008) has reported updated estimates. They find three models where you are ahead at $4/gal., which is the current price. One of these is the Honda Civic. However, the comparison is for the top-of-the-line Civic. If you buy a low-end Civic (we are very pleased with our current one) the hybrid only saves you about 1,000 gal. over 100,000 mi. The price difference is about $7,500. So the hybrid still doesn't make sense economically.