The King is dead: Hyundai Ioniq (58 MPG US EPA combined) beats Prius ECO rating (56)

[Natalya]

CBA of a hybrid versus some econo box almost never favours the hybrid. Unless the hybrid is really old.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by bobdbilder

With a pump price of USD0.44 per litre

I had no idea gas prices were so low in Malaysia!

Conversion for U.S. comparison, that's $1.56 / US gallon.

Average price in Canada today is just under USD $4/gal.

[Ecky]

Considering I can get a 5-6 year old gen2 Insight for ~$4500-5500 around here, and a 2nd gen Prius without crazy miles for $3-4000, I feel I'd have to be crazy not to get a hybrid. What are really expensive right now are trucks and SUVs.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by bobdbilder

With a pump price of USD0.44 per litre, it just does not make sense to buy them.

But it somehow makes sense to modify an engine and/or vehicle, likely spending quite a bit of money to increase power? Where is the return on investment on that? I'm referencing your Knight vehicle. To a lot of people that doesn't make sense, but it also didn't stop you from doing it.

[bobdbilder]

Most countries with a National Oil company have low gas prices. Socialism does work So it puzzles me how we can get it here before you guys, Because it actually makes sense when rivals don't have anything to offer. Though personally I think the Chevy Bolt range extender is awesome if they can get the price right. Too bad about the Vauxhall/Opel Ampera.

[bobdbilder]

Originally Posted by Daox

But it somehow makes sense to modify an engine and/or vehicle, likely spending quite a bit of money to increase power? Where is the return on investment on that? I'm referencing your Knight vehicle. To a lot of people that doesn't make sense, but it also didn't stop you from doing it.

This was my car bought used, when I was a Sales Rep. I get paid to drive and modified before I become an ecomodder. Mods are only a single cam and 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. Sales Reps are paid commission as a percentage of sales. We could claim mileage and get a monthly allowance, So my job pay for those anyway . It gets about the same power of a Toyota Altis/Elise Sport. They are not really expensive and it makes travelling really fun..

[Vman455]

Originally Posted by bobdbilder

This was my car bought used, when I was a Sales Rep. I get paid to drive and modified before I become an ecomodder. Mods are only a single cam and 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. Sales Reps are paid commission as a percentage of sales. We could claim mileage and get a monthly allowance, So my job pay for those anyway . It gets about the same power of a Toyota Altis/Elise Sport. They are not really expensive and it makes travelling really fun..

Hold on--you also list head work and cat removal, along with some other things, in the car's profile.

Also, you can make the same argument of mileage reimbursement paying for the car to justify buying a hybrid, while keeping more of that reimbursement because of the lower fuel costs.

[bobdbilder]

The car has done 330,000 km after owning it for 7 years before rebuild. You would need to replace piston rings and bearings and balance the shaft after such mileage. Where I come from it is really not expensive. Just about USD 3,000 for everything excluding cam and manifold which were done much earlier. You cannot compare labour charges and parts with those in Western countries. Its a locally made car under license from Mitsubishi. It now clocks at 470,000km.

After 7 years I the loan is finished and I own the car. A 2011 Insight goes for USD 8,000 ends up of 7 years totals incl compounded interest to USD 9,000

The difference before counting fuel costs alone is USD 6,000.00 or simply 13,600 litres (3593 US gallons) of petrol at USD 0.44 per litre.

So ontop of the loan as cost, you then compare with fuel usage. Assuming you travel 50,000 km per year. A 53mpg car (4.4l/100km) would consume 581 gal (2200l) or USD 968.00 a year if price does not change.

A 39mpg car (6.03l/100km) at the same distamce would consume 796 gal (3015l) or USD 1,326 a year.

The savings of the Hybrid is USD 358 per year. Remember the USD 6,000 difference? That would be nulled in 16 years. Not counting the cost of replacement batteries of a 6 yeasr old hybrid or a clutch plate assembly in my car or count for inflation.

So you can see, unless gas price increase and loan rates drop, it is not viable to buy a hybrid whether new or used where I come from.

Full Service *2011 Honda Insight 1.3 Hybrid Auto - Cars for sale in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur

[Daox]

So, you're just saying its not wise financially to buy a hybrid to save money. Weather it is worth it is a different topic. To you it was worth it to spend more money on porting and polishing, lowering springs, and the other mods to have a more fun car that gets worse fuel economy and costs more to drive. Financially, this does not make sense and is not wise. To some here it is worth it to have a car that burns cleaner (or doesn't burn at all), or one that simply uses less fuel because it helps reduce foreign oil dependency. There are many motivations, and if it is 'worth it' is completely subjective. Your own modification is proof of that. I'm not saying you're wrong in how you choose your car or your mods, I'm just saying that weather or not something is worth it is very subjective, and you're taking a very narrow view of why a hybrid is or isn't worth it. Less and less these days is a 'hybrid' going to only be about fuel efficiency and saving money. There are more and more performance hybrids being released by companies. Is it worth it to buy a performance hybrid? Its never worth it to buy a performance car if you're looking to save money. But, they still are popular vehicles.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by bobdbilder

Most countries with a National Oil company have low gas prices. Socialism does work So it puzzles me how we can get it here before you guys, Because it actually makes sense when rivals don't have anything to offer.

How does having no rivals drive prices down?

Your low fuel prices are mostly due to the fact that Malaysia is a net exporter of oil. That, and extremely low taxation (not to exceed $0.13 per liter) that often results in a subsidy instead.

Mexico fuel prices are much higher than the US, and they have a nationalized fuel system. Your low fuel prices are despite having a nationalized fuel infrastructure, not because of it.

Your example of a hybrid not making financial sense is particular to your region, and isn't the norm most other places. Malaysia has the 3rd lowest fuel price in the world. With higher fuel prices, the payback period for a hybrid is greatly reduced.

Furthermore, not everyone finances a vehicle (I don't), and interest rates in the States are 2% if you do take out a loan.