What are the pros and cons of a Hybrid?

Hybrids emit less pollution, with some models classified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles by the California Air Resources Board. Each gallon of gasoline not burned prevents the emission of 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, which many believe contributes to global warming.

The government also gives you tax breaks ranging anywhere from $650 to $3,150 depending on the model. Hybrids also tend to have excellent reliability.

There are also some cons for the hybrids.

In our analysis, only two of the six hybrids we have tested recovered their price premium in the first five years and 75,000 miles of ownership (see Hybrids vs. all gas). The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid provide a savings of about $400 and $300, respectively, over that period. But that is only if buyers are able to take advantage of limited federal tax credits. Extra ownership costs over five years for the other four models ranged from about $1,900 to $5,500, compared with those of similar all-gas models.

Another problem to consider is what if your hybrid breaks? How many mechanics do you know have the capabilities to fix or troubleshoot a battery pack or other hybrid component? Given the probability of a part breaking within 5 years is low, but it should be taken into consideration.

To charge the battery you need to do a lot of in town driving. It is the braking of your car that does the charging. Long drives will not charge the battery. the MPG is not as high as you would think; 35 to 40. You also have to be careful when shutting the car door; you may think it is closed all the way because the inside car light is off but if it is not really closed the battery will drain and the car will not start and you have to call out a service person to start it or put it on a charger for 6 to 8 hours. The best thing is that you're not putting out as much pollution because the car is not running on gas all the time. One other thing the car is very light and the wind can blow it around very easily and it will slip on ice and snow as well. Basically you have to decide if the car fits your driving needs.

I was actually just talking to my fiance the other night about buying a hybrid the next time I buy a car. They are much better for the environment than Reg. cars, they do not produce as much exhaust as a regular car, Which in time will reduce the amount of environmentally harmful gases in the atmosphere, and in turn will reduce global warming.