Interest Waning in Hybrid Cars as Fuel Prices Drop

But didn't your other article today mention that hybrid sales were up 24% in December, and 22% for the year in the U.S.?

So what?

Okay folks, here we go again... I love it!!! The fossil fuel gluttons just can't let go, can they!!?

First off, this is not to say the article is not true, but look at where the report is coming from... 'Detroit News', come on, is there anyone who is more opposed to fuel efficent, import cars anywhere in the US? I don't think so!

Secondly, as more hybrids are sold and produced, the cost to buy one will come down as well, as it is already. So, the price consideration by consumers, is probably in line with, or just slightly higher, then the cost to buy a hybrid, so again, no big deal.

A third point, and this is the one that sets me off the most, is that lame a** remark I keep hearing about 'the cost is never recouped in the fuel economy'. No sh*t!!! It's a good thing that the people that are buying hybrids are not buying them for that reason then!!! A little savings at the pump is just an added benefit of owning a hybrid, it's not the driving factor for consumers to purchase them. They buy them for global responsibility, the lack of emissions, the use of recycled materials that it's produced from, etc... The US is the number one contributor to global warming, and 70% of it comes from our automobiles, so hybrids, flex, and alternative fuel vehicles are just a small gesture we as a nation can do, to help reverse the effects of what we have caused.

<<<NEWSFLASH>>>

This just in... Fossil fuel cars are on their way out!!!

Fuel prices may be down now, but do you think they will stay that way? Do you think that they will not rise, and/or surpass the rate of inflation? Do you think that oil execs and companies are going to take a pay cut? The answers are, No, No, and No! Fuel prices will rise, that's the way it goes.

As necessity is the mother of invention, we will see hybrids and alternative fuels take the place of fossil fuel cars for the mass market. Good ridience!

Slow news day, 009? This CNW report is old news, just recycled every few weeks so that hybrid haters can have something to post. So CNW's reserach indicates less people are interested in hybrids, huh? That doesnt seem to be reflected in sales numbers. Prius was up again last month, and finished the year with almost the exact same number of sales as last year. This in a year when Toyota also released 4 other hybrid models. The press has clearly died down on this issue, leading to less perceived interest in the public at large. Yet sales continue to climb, and more and more models are introduced. It is possible there will be a levelling off this year, which should just be a temporary bump until the next generation hybrids are introduced. I'm sure the mpg and emissions numbers, not to mention power increases, will blow people away. But I'm also sure 009 and his diesel lovin, hybrid hatin cronies will still not be convinced.

True. Unfortunately, you are still stuck driving a hybrid. (Can't wait for the GS 450h comments to roll in)

I drove one of those last week and it was Lexus-like.

"Half a truth is often a great lie."

-Benjamin Franklin

CNW is certainly not the last word on this issue.
For an opposing view....

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/01/04/032936.html

Hybrids continue to register high on the radar in this survey, so I dont know who CNW is interviewing.