71mpg VW Diesel Hybrid Prototype

[Coveted]

at 70mpg, compared to 25 mpg of a cheap compact.

25000$ = 6250 gallons @ 4$ a gallon
I figured this by, the car costing 25000 (it will be more)
and the difference in gas mileage.
I figured the difference between most small cars and 70 mpg = 45 mpg
so 45mpg x 6250 = 281,250 miles
you'd have to drive 281,250 miles before you even save a penny.
Not counting anything else.
So the car is shot before It saves you a penny.

Now an older used car, such as a CRX HF in stock trim getting 50+ mpg at a cost of sub 5000 for a stock and nice shape one.
Makes a ton more sense.
after 31,250 nmiles your already saving money, infact saving huge amounts of money, because the car has payed for itself, so every gallon after that is gaining you 25 miles, or basically cutting the price of gas in your eyes, down to 2$ a gallon , if you were driving a regular 25mpg car.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

You are also assuming the used car is free and never breaks down in the time it would take to see 281k miles in the hybrid. Yes, a CRX HF is a great car if you can find it, but most people do not fix their own stuff-and it has not been made for 17 years! Most have been swapped to B16/B18 engines over the years and do not have their original D15 engine. A better comparison would be against another comparable non-hybrid car, like the Toyota Yaris. It sells new starting around $11k, and is rated at 29 city. Assuming the Pious is ONLY $25k, you have to make up $14k with a MPG difference of only 11mpg city (which is the best figure to use). That too is ludicrous. I have seen new Pious's for sale for $32k!!! You will NEVER recoup that difference. If the VW really did get 70mpg, and only cost $20-25k, it may make sense for someone who does a lot of city driving. Then you also have to factor in the cost difference of 87 octane unleaded versus diesel, which is more expensive.

Now, an $11k car makes sense if it saves you an amount comparable to the monthly payment or higher every month. I get 19.41 mpg out of my truck right now, and it is nearing the 300k mark, so reliability in the future will be questionable (although it has been excellent so far). The improvement in mileage over the 2,500-3,000 miles a month I drive represents around $200-250 a month (@ $4 a gal), or about the same as the payment on an $11k car with good finance rates. So, In essence, I get a new car for "free". Can I save more with a reliable old Sentra/Civic/Tercel/etc.? Yes. Will I find a suitable car that does not have real issues? I don't know. I also have 2 project cars already and really don't want to add third. My life is complicated enough as it is with a full time job, fixing up a house, building 2 cars, maintaining the truck (car #3), and going half time to college taking courses in Calculus, Differential Equations, Physics, and Chemistry. Plus, I will be commuting to Tampa in a year or two for university, about 30+ miles one way, 4x a week. That adds 1200 miles a month to my already hefty amount of driving, none of which is done in a situation where I can afford to break down.

 

[85_SS]

From my observations of my cars and friends and relatives cars - new cars break down MORE often than older cars (mostly due to all the crap on them), so I'd throw out the argument of older cars maintenance being a huge issue. I agree that most people don't do their own work, but most of the guys on this board do, so that should be taken into effect for at least part of the comparison.

My Saturn has almost 250K km on it now (100K by me), gets 40+mpg and cost me $1500. No new car can beat that IMO. There is no excuse for the mpg that MOST new cars/trucks get these days. I just don't get why a Corvette has mileage comparible to most family cars... Cars that get great mileage have been around for years, many of which got better mpg than today's "great mileage" cars, which are not impressive whatsoever.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have had 5 speed Sentras that were also excellent, with 32 city/50hwy. I also do all my own work, right down to painting every car I own.