Hybrid owners, or knower abouters... Need your help!!!

[DisGirl819]

I have a new Honda Insight. Its quite roomy, Fits my family of four fine. I get about 45 mpg most times, more on the highway. I love my car. Oh and I got a Honda b/c I know they are more reliable. I can't attest to repair cost, but the only thing that is more is the hybrid battery which I have heard can last a very very long time.

 

[idofabric]

I have a 2006 Prius, replaced a Ford Explorer. I do a ton of stuff with the school and theater and haul a bunch of stuff. I can get a much in the Prius length wise as the Explorer, but the hatchback makes me get a little less height wise. With the front seats all the way back my son, 6'1" has leg room.We took it to Disney, me, SIL, both of us Pooh size, DNiece in a car seat, DS-6',his football tackle friend and the guys laptops out, DN had a personal DVD player...4 suitcases, 3 other bags, and a bigish ice chest...Then we bought several large bags of stuff. It was not roomy, but was as comfortable as the old Explorer, or so the guys said.
After 5 years I get up to 53 MPH on the way to WDW, going with fast traffic, over 78...
DH has a Camery Hybrid, and he only gets about 43-45 MPH, it just went over 100 thou miles a few days ago. We had to replace the water pump.
I am amazed at the room in my Prius, and I do love it. DH has leather seats, that are heated. It is a little more comfortable then the Prius, but both have taken us to WDW a ton of times. He has a sun roof...
The very best milage I got was 101.3 MPH, going downhill right after I filled up. I did take a picture!

 

[clutter]

I love my Prius, but I don't think its a "money saver" - by the time you pay the increased purchase costs (I have an extended warrenty for longer than I keep any care so I don't need to worry about repair bills - mine is a little older than a year and I've only needed to change the tires) you've spend a lot of the savings you'll have on gas. I get 55-60 MPG in the summer - about 45 in the Minnesota Winter.

The other thing you need to know about a hybrid is you have to drive a hybrid differently if you want to get the good gas milage out of it. Its a Zen sort of driving not everyone enjoys. If you aren't going to change your driving style to make use of the batteries, don't bother with a hybrid.

I've been driving in a Prius (third one) since 2004. I started because some of the savings can't be calculated with dollar values: I got an HOV exemption for carpool lanes and cut my commute time by 20 minutes each way.

I don't drive zen, too much. My driving is mostly highway (40 miles rt each day) and a little city. Then lots of suburban driving evenings and weekends. (for some reason, there are a lot of lights that involve going up a hill after stopping. Gas mileage killer!) I'm the opposite of Crisi - I get 48 - 51 mpg summer and 45-48 winter with the winter grade gas.

We get a lot of comments about the back seat being more comfortable than expected.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Thanks everyone!!

I probably should have specified to start with. This will be a new to us car. We can't justify buying new. Anywhoo... I have been looking specifically at the prius, and the honda fit, and debating on the escape hybrid. I thought the fit only came in hybrid But maybe I'm wrong. I really like my civic, and may end up getting a 2 door newer model. DH says if we get another civic it has to be 2 door, but we will see. We don't plan on having kids from several years, but do have nieces and nephews. We do both city and highway. I drive about 20 miles to work each way, and it is mostly city, but we take my car on all of our trips. Thanks everyone for your help. I would like to clarify just to make sure I understand everything that's been said.

After comparing repair bills, and gas cost, and intial extra cost for a hybrid. A hybrid, and fuel effiecent car, basically equal out?