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Interesting ... my 99 Sienna definately won't. It could fit if it protrudes over the driver's head, and above the wheel wells, but I don't consider that "completely inside" since it hampers the driving so much.Originally Posted by Mike Weaver
That's what I get for driving old cars!
Member
I'm considering the Prius "Package 1" hybrid, which I can get for under $22,000. My BIL has one that he loves, and he gets 52 mpg in mixed driving. Starting Jan. 1, 2006, there's a $3,000 tax CREDIT (not deduction, CREDIT) for the Prius, so that brings the net cost down to below the base model Toyota Corrolla. And California will allow the Prius in the car pool lanes with a single driver.Donnie is right, it costs too much to buy the hybrid counterpart for most vehicles. You would be saving natural resources, but at a greater expense. The car companies are using the hybrids as a way to make money, not to save the environment. I would love to have a hybrid, but not at a 10-15% premium. It would take many years to recover the costs, even if gas was $5/gallon.
Your best bet is to buy what you want, and if it does not haul 4'x8's, then purchase a trailer. This way, you can also haul equipment.
my $.02
Moderator
I will support you on this...our Prius (a 2002) has paid for itself in fuel savings, even if there wasn't the tax credit at the time. (It was about $2000 at the then, but I don't recall the specifics) This particular vehicle, as you point out, is actually reasonably priced...and huge inside when compared to a similar "small" car.
Now, justifying the higher cost for the Highlander Hybrid Limited I just ordered doesn't work out from an ROI (return on investment) perspective, but we will still enjoy miuch higher mileage than we can get with a similar size SUV, lower emissions, etc. It was a hard decision, but we tend toward the "eco" side of things and that philosophy entered into the final word.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Member
Beware the new Tax credit for hybid's only lasts until the maker sells 60,000 verhicles. Toyota will proably pass that just after the first of the year so they won't be eleligable for any discount. Also note that 3000$ is the max, but it's a calculated value not a flat one. It's based on the price difference and mileage gain over a similar packages in 2002 that were not a hybrid. This could mean your tax savings could be a lot less.. check out this article.
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Among the new federal tax breaks:
-- Hybrid cars.
Tax credits worth up to thousands of dollars will be available to those buying hybrid cars fueled by gas and electricity as well as other vehicles using alternative power sources. Some of these vehicles aren't yet available to the mass market, said Mark Luscombe, a principal with CCH Inc., a tax information provider in Riverwoods, Ill.
This tax credit essentially will replace the $2,000 federal tax deduction on hybrid purchases.
The size of the credit will depend upon the vehicle's weight, fuel economy and lifetime fuel savings, and consumers likely can count on manufacturers doing the math for them, Luscombe said.
Buy a hybrid car next year, for example, and you may receive a tax credit ranging from $250 to $3,400.
But don't wait too long to make that purchase. The credit may be claimed only on the first 60,000 hybrids sold by each manufacturer, and thereafter it's phased out.
"That means to reward people who are the pioneers, or the first to buy and jump-start the market," Castelli said.
Some say the cap also helps domestic manufacturers that have lagged their Japanese competitors on developing hybrids.
The credit will expire in 2010 for hybrid medium and heavy trucks and a year later on hybrid cars and light trucks, according to CCH. It runs through 2014 on fuel-cell vehicles.
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You might better off buying this year vs next ... though current 2000$ is a income reduction so the amount you save will be based on your tax bracket... You'd think this would be simple but I swear the new rules are a really a "No Tax Accountant Left Behind" goverment program. Think of the career ending tsunami if they ever actually simplified the tax code to a flat tax and all the non-value added labor we could dump!
Mike-in-Michigan (Richland that is) <br> "We never lack opportunity, the trouble is many don't recognize an opportunity when they see it, mostly because it usually comes dressed in work clothes...."
Member
Well, even in a 28% bracket, a $2000 deduction is worth $560, whereas a $3,150 credit is worth ... $3,150.
http://www.hybridcars.com/tax-deductions.html has some information on the credit, with the expected credit for the Prius at $3,150, as analyzed by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (the more detailed article is at http://www.aceee.org/press/0508hybridtaxcr.htm)
I have a dealer looking for one that I will buy early in January. Waiting 4 and a half months to save an extra $2,590 makes sense to me. I doubt I would save that much in gas over those months.
Member
Ok I'll through in my 2 cents. I just bought a Honda Pilot a year ago. I love the car and afterhaving an Explorer, a Tahoe, and a Passat wagon over the past 13 + years this is probably the car I like best.
Now if I were to buy a new/used car today, I'd consider the following:
1. What type of driving do I do most? Commuting to work is 80% of most people's driving. Get something that is comfortable but gets good gas mileage.
2. What to I haul? I'll be putting the trans cooler on my Pilot (wished I'd had the dealer do it) in the fall so I can use a trailer to haul wood and stuff. It's still a pain to haul 10' boards with the back open more than a few miles.
3. Will this be the family car? Make sure it is roomy enough for around town. Consider renting a minivan for vacations.
I like the idea of diesal. Its too bad more manufacturers don't offer then in the smaller size trucks and cars.
my 2 cents...
Mike
Yes, diesel engines will "run" on raw vegetable oil but unfortunately, that is a good way to destroy a fuel injection system, not to mention the fact that your engine warranty is void.
Do not run any engine you care about on raw vegetable oil.
This is especially true with new high pressure fuel systems that operate at extremely close tolerances.
As Dev mentioned, true biodiesel goes through "transesterification" where impurities such as glycerin are removed. Most engine manufacturers now support the use of a biodiesel blend of around 5%. A 20% biodiesel blend is also very common on farms and other local fleets such as school busses. Google "NBB" for more information on biodiesel.
Now, back to the original poster's question.
If you only need to haul a few sheets of plywood, can you do it with a small utility trailer? If not, I would suggest a long bed pickup as a second vehicle. I have many trucks, some of them are quite heavy but about 90% of the time I drive an F-150. Driving a heavy truck all the time gets old.
I just can't get excited about hauling wood and other materials in an SUV or minivan. For now, I would go with what works best for the family. Good luck.
Rob
Guest
Audi A4 or A6 are both very nice well engineered very comfortable cars and the maintainence costs on them are superbly low.
Audi Parts tend to be a tad more pricey than BMW - which is my preference.
You can get superb used cars with about 12 thousand miles on 'em and excellent warranties that cover everything.
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