Yeah but is that even possible? It seems like they have it set in their minds about dollars and cents and that's as far as they go with it. I can understand a bit. They don't have the pleasure of driving a Prius and seeing that it's much more than dollars and cents. I think you can talk to them until you are blue in the face and it won't change how they feel about it. Same thing about couponing and people thinking it's a big waste of time.
those who talk in dollars and cents probably won't consider any $30,000 (US$20,000) vehicle anyway. They'll be driving subcompacts like the Yaris, Aveo, Accent, Rio etc to get them from point A to B. That's why there are different types of cars for different people. For some, luxury is a must hence a Lexus, for others, geekiness and technology favour all other choice and thus the Prius =)
I'm willing to pay a "premium" if in the long run, it saves energy and is good for the environment and my health. I buy flourescent light bulbs even though they are more expensive, I pay a premium to buy food that is good for me, and I pay a premium with my time by exercising 6 or more hrs per week. However, these premiums are actually investments since they may save in the long run. There's a calculator http://www.hybridcars.com/calculator/index.php that will calculate how much a hybrid will save you compared to another car. Since the Prius will become my regular car, it will save me $1482 per year in gas. If I keep the car for at least 4 years that is almost a $6000 savings. I plan to keep the car for a long time so I should save even more. The media needs to focus more on the benefits of buying a hybrid and how to compare your current vehicle and the hybrid that you are considering There are a lot of different factors to consider (even more than gas savings) and sadly many people aren't capable of comprehending these benefits.[attachmentid=1825] Andy
