The best way to start off writing this The Post, I thought, was to ask several people (proud new owners, prospective buyers and just the general public at large, across gender, age group and preferences, randomly selected) the same two questions:
(i) What are the TOP FIVE reasons to buy/invest in a hybrid as well as
(ii) the TOP THREE reasons they would not consider buying a hybrid.
(TIP # 1: You can ask and answer these yourself to, it helps to provide some perspective)
Most frequent responses regarding reasons to buy:
- Easy to drive, handling and ease of parking
- Fuel efficiency
- Doing my part/good for protecting the environment
- Reduction in fuel emissions
- Reduced engine maintenance costs
- Value, Economical, Purchase price
- Costs to operate
- Cutting-edge technology
- Proclaimed longevity
Most frequent responses regarding reasons NOT to buy:
- Added cost to purchase a hybrid vehicle
- Do not like the selection of hybrid vehicles currently available
- A follower, not a leader when it comes to new trends
- Preferences for larger automobiles (for safety reasons)
- Larger vehicles are not yet available in hybrid versions
- Insufficient track record
- Driver and passenger safety concerns
- Lack of storage
The range, scope, and depth of the answers received surprised me in some cases, not in others. What are your reasons?
(TIP # 2: write them down, sort and prioritize them, it helps later, when you get to the point where you might be stuck between two or more choices, or are trying to compare selection criteria).
Here is another example of a typical response received on the question of to buy or not to buy…
1. IN YOUR OPINION OR FOR YOU PERSONALLY, WHAT WOULD THE TOP FIVE
REASONS, CRITERIA, INCENTIVES OR MOTIVATORS BE FOR YOU TO INVEST/
BUY A HYBRID VEHICLE?
· Is no more expensive to purchase.
· Is no more expensive to operate (fuel).
· Is no more expensive to maintain.
2. WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE DETERRENTS, ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT WILL
CAUSE YOU NOT TO INVEST/BUY A HYBRID VEHICLE?
· None of the vehicles existing today is attractive.
· None of the vehicles is spacious enough.
· None of the vehicles has enough power for a full load in mountain roads.
3. IF YOU WERE TO BUY A HYBRID TOMORROW, WHAT WOULD BE THE KEY
ELEMENTS THAT YOU WOULD BE LOOKING FOR - LIST AS MANY AS YOU WANT...
Style, first, everything else is secondary.
Reliability is second, everything else after.
Also talking with owners of Hybrid vehicles to get the ‘facts’ and inside scoop, going for a test drive yourself and comparing features and performance according to some pre-set criteria can all help you to make up your mind on what to buy.
If you are considering a hybrid, maybe getting this information, was your way of figuring out if the value-proposition held anything for you specifically. We wish you well in your selection endeavor and musing on purchasing a hybrid (or not!)
As gas prices keep soaring, with no relief for consumers on the horizon anytime soon and fossil fuels not a sustainable, renewable energy source, the sale of hybrids seem to be in a positive correlation. The higher the gas prices go, the higher the sales tend to be for hybrid vehicles as people try every which way to break free and save a couple of bucks!