[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by theunchosen

. . .because I would rather have a 300 HP engine if I am going to shell out 20K.

Whereas I don't want a 300 HP engine at all. The Lotus Elise does quite well on 189 HP, my old Sprite had around 70 IIRC...

You pay lots of money for neat gadgets. Not for economical ones. It's a self-defeating purpose. a 23,000 USD BASE normal car with slightly better fuel economy.

And of course a hybrid power train couldn't possibly be considered the sort of neat gadget that people would be willing to pay extra for, now could it?

I buy used period. If I want fuel economy I go get an 88 CRX for like 1200 at the scrapyard and bring it to driveability with another grand. Then I get the CRX designed for maximum fuel economy and I get to change whatever I want to increase that if at all possible. There is really no point to pay 10x that for less gas mileage if your argument is economics.

But that's just what I've been saying: the argument for buying a Prius (or an Insight, in my case) is NOT economics, any more than it is for buying a BMW or Lotus, so why make a big deal about the payback period?

I do go along with the buying used, though. That's how I bought the Insight, and every other car I've ever bought, including the CRX I had just previous. Though I do get one thing from the Insight that I never had with the CRX: I never worry about passing the annual smog check :-)

I know your answer. It's not just about economics you want a decent interior and other creature comforts that modern cars offer over the 88 CRX.

Sorry, but that's not MY answer, because I don't really want most of those "creature comforts". I'd be happier if my Insight didn't have e.g. power windows, or a remote door lock that I never use.