MrktMkr1986
EDIT: Go for a hybrid if you want a tax break!
He said he wants to spend under $20000. The only way he gets a Civic Hybrid or a Prius is if he goes used, and the tax break only applies to new hybrids.
BlazinXtreme
And as I can see the TDI will go 800 miles on a tank :wow:
800 miles on a tank and, as you claimed in your first post, $32000. That makes it the longest range on any production car, and at a price higher than all but the nicest Volkswagen Passats. Before buying
ANY car, I'd get your facts straight.
Truthfully, a Jetta TDI shouldn't set you back more than $20000 and at most $25000 (I don't have new model pricing yet, I'll admit, but the cheapest old model diesel went for $19900 base and topped out at $22800 - for a wagon - plus options). And even if you opted for the five-speed manual transmission and somehow got the EPA's fuel rating, which has been unanimously decided to be completely impossible, your maximum range is 667 miles.
But I drive on average 2500-3000 miles per month so I would be saving a ton of money I think.
You wouldn't. Here's my infamous breakdown, the shortened version.
Let's pretend you can find a used Prius for $16500 (a first-gen model). EPA rates the Prius at a combined 48.5mpg. At gas's current price of about $2.10 per gallon, the Prius will cost you about
$1402.89 a year to drive. Meanwhile, EPA rates your Blazer at 17.5mpg combined, meaning your Blazer's costing you
$3888.00 a year excluding depreciation and, let's be honest, that's another big factor if you're driving a Blazer. But I digress.
For that same $16500, I could recommend to you a 1997-2001 Audi A4 1.8T. I'll recommend a 1999 because it's the best compromise - not too old but still has Tiptronic and side airbags. A 1999 A4 1.8T automatic is going to list for around $9500. With the automatic, EPA rated the 1.8T at a combined 26mpg, or
$2616.92 per year for you.
Now you may be saying "the Prius is still way cheaper per year!" Well, yeah, it is. But remember, that Prius cost you $16500, compared with the A4, which cost $9500; in other words, the A4 saved you $7000 initially. That means it would take the Prius around five and a half years to recoup original costs.
The kicker is that
ten years after production, Priuses require a whole new hybrid battery, which Toyota lists for $2500, bumping the A4 back up to the plus side of the value equation (since the Prius you're buying would likely be a 2000 anyway - and the A4 would become the worse value in 2010, which is exactly when you'll need that replacement battery). Now, Toyota does cover this battery under warranty, but that warranty is only fully-transferrable to family members, so unless you're related to someone who owns a Prius, you're screwed - prepare to pay the full $2500.
But the
real kicker is standard features. Despite the A4's obviously better value, it comes standard with automatic air-con, a power sunroof, a 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic or 5-speed manual, a power driver seat, a CD player, leather (usually heated), front side airbags, and alloys. 90% of A4s come with all-wheel drive, a feature that comes in handy where you and I live. The Prius came with only the CD player and the alloy wheels - none of the rest of that stuff was even offered (except side airbags, which were optional), all-wheel drive included. Not to mention the superior handling and better acceleration and braking.
So to sum up: the Prius is a crap value and therefore fails at its sole life goal, which is to provide a green alternative to the average car. Basically, it's ****.
The A4 is just a dummy car - the comparison works with practically anything that isn't an SUV. I put the A4 in there because I love it as a used buy. The Prius does save you some money, but not in the long run. Only a fool would be tricked by the hype.
Driving 32,000 miles a year, anything's cheaper than your Blazer. If you're serious about lowering your fuel costs, I don't think you need to narrow your list to diesels and hybrids - even the automatic, all-wheel drive A4 saves you nearly $1300 a year.
.
. Plus I live right next to a fuel station that carries diesel, even though it's the same price as gas right now. 
