AOL Media says hybrid owners aren't repeat buyers

[Daox]

I'd have to agree with Jakobnev. I'm totally happy with my Prius. I'm have no plans to replace it anytime soon.

[MetroMPG]

Good point, jacobnev. I wonder how the stats break down, eg: I bet the "retention" stats are quite different for owners who bought hybrids specifically for their better efficiency.

Green Car Reports has a piece up about possible reasons explaining Polk's data:

Study Says Hybrid Owners Don

I liked this one as well: for those concerned with purely financial calculations on whether to get another hybrid (ROI), one major factor against them is the increasing number of non-hybrid vehicles that are offering better and better efficiency.

EG: Just 5 years ago, how many 40+ mpg (highway) vehicles were available in North America? Hardly any, and hybrids/diesels dominated. But look at how many are available now.

[PaleMelanesian]

Now that the Ford Escape hybrid is going away, what do those drivers buy to replace it?
What does the growing family buy to replace the Prius that's now too small?

Hybrids aren't available in all market segments yet.

[MetroMPG]

Anecdotal reports, anyone?

I only know of one person who has bought & sold a hybrid (Toyota Highlander Hybrid V6), and didn't replace it with another (Toyota Venza V6). He was constantly disappointed with its mileage - ie. never achieving the official figures - and that was definitely a factor.

When I asked if he'd ever gotten the "official" figures in any of his previous vehicles, he didn't really know, because he'd never paid close attention to it! (Roll eyes here.) I gently suggested he has probably never met or beat the official fuel economy figures in any of his vehicles due to driving style. He accepted this, but wasn't receptive to the idea of having to change his habits to accomplish it.

Coincidentally, I know someone else who has bought a Highlander hybrid (for its fuel economy), and is currently not happy with the mileage. Similar situation to above. Similar response on my part, and she's also not willing to change her habits.

What's that saying about horses and water? You can teach a horse to fish, but... aw, I forget.

[Frank Lee]

You can hit an ass over the head with a 2x4 and... no, that's not it either. Or is it?

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Now that the Ford Escape hybrid is going away, what do those drivers buy to replace it?
What does the growing family buy to replace the Prius that's now too small?

Hybrids aren't available in all market segments yet.

Prius V, Ford C-max hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Fusion hybrid, Sonata hybrid, Highlander hybrid

[jamesqf]

Seems like there are a couple of obvious problems with this. First, if it's only looking at new registrations, how do they know that all the people are replacing their hybrid? Maybe they're keeping it, and buying something else? (And the big question: why is this sort of data public, anyway?)

Second, if you exclude the Prius, there just aren't a lot of hybrid models around to be loyal to. That is, if I wanted to replace my current 2000 Insight with a similar hybrid, I couldn't, because there is nothing similar on the market.

Oh, and a third problem. The study is only looking at the owners who are buying replacement cars. Now isn't it likely that most of the people - hybrid owners or not - who are buying new cars are doing so because they don't like the car they have? Isn't it likely that the people who like their hybrids - especially the ones who bought them to save money - are simply keeping the one they have? I know I am.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Ryland

It would also be interesting to see how the used market compares, do people keep their hybrid longer on average?

Most all used Prii are sold by dealers or brokers, very few by owner, this is a sad reality the last 10 years or so.

[payne171]

People who buy hybrids for purely fiscal reasons have only two choices: drive it for more than five years or buy a Civic Hybrid. Even the vaunted Prius takes right around five years to break even. If they go past 5 they aren't a part of the study because they aren't buying a new anything. The Civic is a great tool, but not the kind of car that inspires you to buy another one, and there is no "step up" in Honda's catalog until the Accord Hybrid comes back. Lousy driving habits or not, I would bet that most of the people "jumping off the bandwagon" are people who bought a hybrid to save money without ever stopping to do the math on whether it would save them money beyond just at the pump.

On a side note, where is the Hybrid minivan? Please spare me the Prius V. It is a wagon at best, and many would look at it and just see a bigger hatchback. I mean like a Honda Odyssey Hybrid (although minivan prices are getting ridiculous as it is). Let Ford put the Fusion Hybrid drivetrain in their minivan, maybe with an ecoboost engine. Hell I would take a Chevy HHR. Just give me something that can fit a trip to Home Depot in the back with the seats down/out, yet get great fuel economy when it isn't loaded down. come to think of it, just give me one that can get above the low 20s.

[SoobieOut]

Still rather limited choices in Hybrids. Here in Utah you can still drive in the HOV lane with one person in a Hybrid. Also get free parking downtown.

Amazing that my 6 year old Hybrid gets the same mileage as a new model. Not much gain in 6 years.

I think the CNG market has expanded to the point of some serious competition with Hybrids. At least until the CNG prices spike.

You can lead a horse to water, but if he wants a beer, he will drink a beer!