V6 or Hybrid?

[EternalEnigma21]

I'm probably going to buy my wife a new car, that I will in turn adopt in about a year for a commuter car...

Camry is what I'm leaning towards and she loves them and doesn't care about the drivetrain...

So... I can get a 268 HP V6 that would avg. 26-27 mpg overall, which is really good for a V6, and the car is fast... but in traffic it really doesn't matter...

OR I can get a Camry Hybrid for roughly the same price and get 36-38 mpg overall, 190 hp (although its just slightly faster than a 4 cyl. because of the added weight) and get green! 1300 dollar tax credit, clean consience and much less cash spet in gas... but it completely loses the chick magnet factor (unless you like the hairy pit chicks lol)...

Put in this situation what would you do and why?

btw.. the car will be one that we plan to keep until it dies no matter what and just rack miles up on...

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I go with the gas mileage. As long as they look the same, you're good to go.

[724Skinsfan]

Cool wife. Exactly how many chicks is she going to let you pick up in either car?

How long have the Hybrid's been on the market. Long enough to establish a decent maintenance record?

[ArtMonkDrillz]

What's the cost difference between the two?

[That Guy]

my dad's had a 3cyc hybrid for 4-5 years and had no problems with it (50-60mpg). eventually you have to replace the battery packs (he hasn't yet).

he bought it cause it lets him drive in the HOV lane regardless of the number of passengers, and that takes his trip into DC down from 90minutes to about 17.

[Hog1]

How reliable are the hybrids, as they are fairly new in production? How good is the warranty if they are not? What kind of "normal wear and tear" maintenance are involved in a Hybrid vs V-6 model?
And don't forget to smell the roses

[BDBohnzie]

I was going to ask AMD's question...what is the cost difference? So I looked at the website, and it says LE V6 starts at 23,540, SE V6 starts at 24,815, and the XLE V6 starts at 28,020. The hybrid starts at 26,200. With the 1300 tax credit, it's like it starts closer to 24,900, or the cost of the SE V6.

And looking at their model comparison..it seems that the hybrid comes equipped closer to the SE and XLE than their lower end models.

I couldn't see myself buying a hybrid, however if money is an issue, I would get it. Just be sure to get the moonroof and upgraded audio system. I mean, it'll be yours in a year anyways...

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

I was going to ask AMD's question...what is the cost difference? So I looked at the website, and it says LE V6 starts at 23,540, SE V6 starts at 24,815, and the XLE V6 starts at 28,020. The hybrid starts at 26,200. With the 1300 tax credit, it's like it starts closer to 24,900, or the cost of the SE V6.

And looking at their model comparison..it seems that the hybrid comes equipped closer to the SE and XLE than their lower end models.

I couldn't see myself buying a hybrid, however if money is an issue, I would get it. Just be sure to get the moonroof and upgraded audio system. I mean, it'll be yours in a year anyways...

If I'm correct a 1300 tax credit does not equal a 1300 saving on taxes. It is just an amount that you do not have to pay taxes on. So if you pay around 25% in taxes then you would save about $325.00 on your taxes. Can you claim that amount every year or just the year you purchase the car? It is a sales tool whish is misleading if I'm correct. Have you looked up the safty rating on these cars those hybird do not look like they provide very much protection in case of an accident.

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by firstdown

If I'm correct a 1300 tax credit does not equal a 1300 saving on taxes. It is just an amount that you do not have to pay taxes on. So if you pay around 25% in taxes then you would save about $325.00 on your taxes. Can you claim that amount every year or just the year you purchase the car? It is a sales tool whish is misleading if I'm correct. Have you looked up the safty rating on these cars those hybird do not look like they provide very much protection in case of an accident.

actually a deduction (which is what it used to be) allows you the 1300 in decreased taxable income, and I believe a credit comes off the bottom line...

I've heard there are stipulations... you cannot lease a hybrid car... only 1 time credit the year you buy it... you cannot sell the car within that time... some other things....

from what I've heard its actually a 1300 dollar difference in your pocket...

the safety ratings on the car are top notch with all of the VSC 7 airbags, and the fact that it is still a camry....

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

If I'm correct a 1300 tax credit does not equal a 1300 saving on taxes. It is just an amount that you do not have to pay taxes on. So if you pay around 25% in taxes then you would save about $325.00 on your taxes. Can you claim that amount every year or just the year you purchase the car? It is a sales tool whish is misleading if I'm correct. Have you looked up the safty rating on these cars those hybird do not look like they provide very much protection in case of an accident.

I am pretty sure it is a credit not a deduction as tuna said.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

I just asked about the prices because I remember reading a year or so ago that in a lot of cases the amount of money you save from getting less gas is a good deal lower than the extra money you have to spend to get the hybrid. I don't know if that's still the case, and I guess you have to factor in how often you drive the car and all that. The tax credit seems like it would be pretty nice though.

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

I just asked about the prices because I remember reading a year or so ago that in a lot of cases the amount of money you save from getting less gas is a good deal lower than the extra money you have to spend to get the hybrid. I don't know if that's still the case, and I guess you have to factor in how often you drive the car and all that. The tax credit seems like it would be pretty nice though.

hybrid = 1500 more dollars than 4cyl alone

tax credit = 1300 dollars

dont pay personal property taxes in my county = a few thousand more in savings over 5 years

gas = 8 mpg more

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

hybrid = 1500 more dollars than 4cyl alone

tax credit = 1300 dollars

dont pay personal property taxes in my county = a few thousand more in savings over 5 years

gas = 8 mpg more

+ $3000-$4000 to replace the batteries when they go out in 5-7 years. You have to own it that long to make up the additional cost when you buy it in gas savings.


Hybrids are overhyped. You pay WAY too much for the car in the first place (if a Prius was an all-gas car, it would be $11-12K like a Chevy Aveo, but the Hybrid motor knocks it up to $20K for a HATCHBACK). The other models that look like normal cars still cost more than they should because there are people who will buy them for emotional reasons or just gullibility. Many Honda Hybrid and Prius owners have been very angry because their actual MPG are far below the advertised fuel economy. I know someone who has a Mercury Mariner hybrid small-SUV who is documenting his fuel economy and is getting between 20-28 MPG...not much better than a regular gas engine but with the extra sticker price. The Accord Hybrid has been dropped because no one was buying them after early problems with fuel economy.

Also, if you do a lot of highway driving, you might as well save some money and get a better-performing "regular" car and get the same MPG. The Hybrid technology only really helps with stop-and-go city driving. That's when the electric motor works. The technology is still new and not yet perfected, so like a new version of Windows, I'd let others do the debugging. Hybrids are not a solution to any energy issues, they're just a bandaid to make people feel better. No one buys a Hybrid, especially a Prius (slow spaceship for midgets) for the looks or for their lackluster performance. Those buying for financial reasons are second-guessing when the "hidden" costs and sometimes disappointing fuel economy (good but not as good as the window sticker says).

I'd definately go V6. MUCH better performance and a better driving experience, less markup so you can get a better car for your money and you won't have to take out a loan to replace the batteries.

[EternalEnigma21]

either one is getting decked out with navigation and leather and sr and everything... you have to compare the hybrid to the XLE because the eqiupment is very similar...

the difference in price upfront is negligible... its a thousand more for the V6... the hybrid is only 1500 more than the 4 cyl....

they offer 100k mile warranties on all of the hybrid parts including the battery...

[BDBohnzie]

if that's the case, get the hybrid. less on gas, tax credit, etc etc.

Just don't ask me for a ride to work when your hybrid gets stuck in the snow (once every 4 years) and the V6 would have blown right through that snow bank