Better Gas Mileage or Surviving Crash Impact – You Decide

This time last year, while the financial and housing crises quietly percolated, gas prices hovered between $3 and $4 a gallon, depending on where you lived in the country. And while we all complained about those prices, we weren’t really doing much about it. Jobs losses weren’t what they are today. The economy seemed in good shape. Most of us were comfortable in our jobs and collecting our paychecks, and driving our big ol’ gas guzzlers.

Fast-forward a year. While gas prices are roughly half what they were, the economy struggles to recover from The Great Recession. Americans are looking to cut costs and corners everywhere. Instead of replacing our gas hogs, we are repairing them. But some of us are replacing our cars. Sales of new cars are dismal, but still existent.

So we are in the dealership, perusing the selection. What is one of the top factors in the selection of this new vehicle? Reliability? Now more than ever, but not the top. Amenities? Maybe, but in this age of frugality probably not so much. Gas mileage? You bet. In fact, consumers are putting fuel economy above safety. In a recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test of subcompacts showed that “driver death rates in mini-cars are more than double the death rates in midsize and large cars.”

Another quandary that we Americans face in these hard times. On one hand, we need vehicles that are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. On another hand, we want to keep ourselves and our families safe. On another hand we need to save money and live on tight budgets. And yet on another hand, we’re being asked to give a hand out to the car companies themselves. That’s a lot of hands out.

So, if you are among those looking for a new vehicle, which do you prefer? Comment here!

Do I hybrid or not? What is a full vs mid-hybrid vehicle?

Ah, the question I get on a weekly basis. You may not have known the difference because you’re just now in the market for a new car. However, before you think about purchasing a hybrid vehicle, consider reading this post.

First of all, one of the most important things to understand is if you are dealing with a full or mid hybrid. A full hybrid has both a gas engine and electric motor. As a result they work in combination and can work in unison. Mid-hybrid vehicles have a gas engine and electric motor too. However, the mid hybrid’s electric motor supplements the gas engine’s load and, as a result, creates a more fuel efficient vehicle. So the next question, which is better? Full or mid? The answer is, if you care about fuel efficiency—both the full and mid hybrids are basically equally efficient.

So, let’s talk about this further—–is getting a hybrid worth it? I always look at this from the consumer’s perspective. If you are a consumer narrowly focused on purchasing a hybrid to accelerate the trend of fuel-efficiency, despite the costs, then I think you are the right customer for this type of vehicle. If you are a consumer interested in saving money, then I personally think you should wait –the technology is not quite there yet.

If you compare the current pricing of hybrid cars versus gas vehicles, given the average life of a vehicle, the consumer generally will not be able to recoup the difference. Also, repairing a hybrid is much more expensive and often an element that is not considered during the purchasing process. Have you asked how expensive it will be to replace the battery of a hybrid?

I am personally excited about the trend in electric cars and more fuel efficient vehicles, but making this purchase at this given time depends on what type of consume you are. So, do you hybrid or not? That all depends on you….