Gas-Sippers Sucking Wind As Year Ends

The days of the red-hot hybrid are over. You remember those days (last summer) when dealers couldn't keep hybrids in stock because high gas prices pressured nervous buyers to pony up for a fuel efficient car. Fast forward five months, and not only is it easier to find a hybrid, but you can even get a deal on one.

The latest study from the research firm, CNW Marketing, shows that the number of car buyers considering a hybrid has dropped to it's lowest point since August of '05. In the first half of this month, according to CNW, 11.6% of buyers indicated an interest in driving off with a gas-electric hybrid. That's a big decline from this time last year, when three times as many buyers thought about picking up a hybrid. Not only that, but the average premium buyers who are willing to pay for a hybrid compared to a comparable gas model, is at it's lowest point since CNW started measuring buyer attitudes on hybrids. The average price premium is now $1,152 - less than half what it was a year ago.





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EL34 - 12/21/2006 2:08:40 PM

-2 Boost

What, nobody wants that Toyote golf cart?

*cries*

1970toyotamarc - 12/21/2006 2:10:21 PM

+5 Boost

CNW has it out for hybrids (and of course Agent009 has it out for Toyota) so I dont put a whole lotta stock in this article. but thanks for the entertainment this morning.

chewy - 12/21/2006 3:12:58 PM

0 Boost

Wait till the revised 08 EPA ratings hit.

SSP350 - 12/21/2006 3:20:14 PM

+3 Boost

A Prius is not exactly a good vehicle to drive during a snowstorm during this time of year. They'll go up again once spring is around the corner.

answer - 12/21/2006 3:42:49 PM

+6 Boost

Wow. A lower price on the cost of gasoline and hybrid sales go down, while large SUV sales go up.

Where do find articles that state the obvious so well Agent009?

chewy - 12/21/2006 7:08:12 PM

0 Boost

CNW has no biases against hybrids, they just looked at regestrations. But of course truth is always biased.

BoLLeH - 12/22/2006 5:03:42 AM

+2 Boost

I would love a hybrid if they all weren't so ugly. =((

truckmen - 12/22/2006 6:12:44 AM

+3 Boost

I would be more interested to purchase the larger Camry hybrid and it would be logical to power the vehicle on the batteries for a few hundred miles before the gas motor kicked in.I talked to a cab driver and he claimed to burn 6L/100km in his Pirus. Not as good as they claim for city driving.I think hybrids should have solar paint to constantly recharge the batteries along with regenerative brakes.I would buy a corola or Civic over a present day hybrid or pirus anyday!They are probably cheaper to run and have better resale in 5 years due to the cost of replacement batteries.New faster charging batteries are on there way very soon from Sony/Toshiba.

lewissalem - 12/22/2006 10:01:27 AM

+2 Boost

Incentives ended on the Prius.