Green Car Ripoffs - Forbes.com Here we go again about the "payback" period and hybrid premium... They didn't mention resale value and compare the Prius to a Matrix which gets nowhere near the fuel economy. Of course they don't mention some of the other benefits of driving full hybrids that aren't necessarily directly reflected in your pocketbook.
I think they are just echoing the "Union of Concerned Scientists" who want to see more stripped down hybrids. They see hybrids as being loaded with extras like radios and air conditioners. The irony is "Forbes", the symbol of excess, runs an article about hybrids having too many frills. Understand I'd prefer to order exactly the accessories I want. I would have bought accident avoidance and lane following in a heart beat but not with an overhead of $8,000 of 'eye candy.' So instead of adding $2k to the car I wanted, Toyota sometimes sells them to ... Forbes buyers. Bob Wilson
Resale? Have you guys checked out the prices on a two or three year old Prius? It isn't something you want to see if your looking for a used one. But if you have a newer Prius it gives you a nice warm feeling knowing the future value of your Prius isn't going to drop like a rock.
$23,000 for a mid-size, four door, hatchback is a rip-off? i don't think so spending $31,000 for a V is
Went to Kelly Blue Book website and repeated an old exercise. Private party resale value of Prius 2001-2009, assuming 7k miles on the 09 and adding 14k for every year older. Always "good condition", not changing their default settings for options. That gave a depreciation rate of 12.7 cents per mile. I did not repeat that with any 'comparable' vehicles (domestic or foreign) but I doubt that one could find many equal or lower depreciation rates over a decade. The situation has been consistent over the years: Prius has low total ownership costs compared to conventional cars. Major differences: maintenance, fuel costs, and depreciation. Boring. Won't sell glossy magazines.
I had no idea keyless entry is still considered a luxury feature despite the fact it has made it down to the lowest levels of automobiles (Yaris, Accent, Aveo, Fit etc)
