1. Hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular following continued hikes in gas prices, creating long waiting lists and high prices.
2. The most popular hybrid vehicle remains the Toyota Prius, which recently hit sales of 1,000,000.
3. With current gas prices, a Prius is slated to pay for itself in 2.6 years, presuming average mileage. A Camry will pay for itself in only 1.7 years, compared to its gas-only counterpart.
4. With more options available than ever before, you'll need to decide what kind of hybrid you want and what features are important (size, power or strictly miles per gallon).
5. Consider buying a used hybrid to find greater availability.
6. Research multiple dealers who may have hybrids in stock, as opposed to limiting your search.

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• by Tracy C.

• With a hybrid car, it's a green-green situation: more green in your wallet, less impact on the planet. Everyone from celebrities to politicians are driving hybrids, making the movement even more popular.Forbes: Celebrities Who Drive Green (March 7, 2008) With more and more hybrids as well as high-fuel efficiency cars to choose from, you'll need to do a careful analysis of where and how often you drive to determine what vehicle is right for you and the environment.

• Yes, the Toyota Prius looks cool and makes a terrific I-love-the-Earth statement, but is it the right move for you?

1. If you drive mostly highway miles (commuting back and forth to work, for example), it may make more sense to get a fuel efficiency compact car with a manual transmission, which may get you around 36mpg.MSN Money: Hybrid Cars: Do They Make Sense for You?
2. If you drive mostly city miles, a hybrid will often get 50% or better mileage.Cars.com: Top 10 2008 Hybrids
3. If cargo space is crucial to you and your family, a hybrid may provide less of it, unless you move into the SUV hybrid market, which will guarantee less impressive mileage (usually around 20-30 mpg).Edmunds.com: What You Should Know Before Buying a Hybrid
4. The comparisons between some of the new mid-size and SUV hybrids and their traditional counterparts may prove somewhat negligible, so do careful research on exactly what hybrid technology is in place and what difference it will make.Edmunds.com: Hybrid Buying Guide
5. Despite their often higher cost, recent studies show hybrids will pay for themselves due to continually rising gas prices and government tax credits, provided owners drive them for at least a few years.CNN.com: Hybrid Cars Will Pay for Themselves Over Time (August 22, 2006)
   • • As of June 2008, it's estimated that a Prius will pay for itself in 2.6 years, while a Camry Hybrid will do so in only 1.7, compared to a gas-only Camry.KickingTires.com: Gas-Saving Moment of the Day: Buy a Hybrid (June 3, 2008)
6. Consider, too, that gas prices seem to be going only in one direction: up. According to the New York Times, it was reported that gas could go to $7 a gallon in the near future.The New York Times: Big Vehicles Stagger Under the Weight of $4 Gas (June 4, 2008)
7. Bear in mind you'll pay an average of 20% more for a hybrid vehicle versus its contemporaries, though you may get a few more bells and whistles for paying that premium.Edmunds.com: What You Should Know Before Buying a Hybrid
8. Try using HybridCars.com's gas mileage impact calculator to compare the mileage you get in your current vehicle versus several hybrids that are available.HybridCars.com: Gas Mileage Impact Calculator Then, determine how much you'll actually save.
9. Are you willing to wait? As hybrid popularity soars along with gas prices, many dealerships are unable to meet demand, forming waiting lists for hybrids that range from a few weeks to several months.The Boston Globe: Demand for Hybrids Outpaces Supply (June 9, 2008)
10. Especially if you want a particular make and model, you may need to be patient. The average wait time as of June 2008 for a Toyota Prius was between four and six months, nationwide.KickingTires.com: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrids Beyond Elusive (June 11, 2008)

• There are hybrid SUVs to choose from, new and used models, and cars that may come with certain luxuries like high-end stereos and plush interiors. Do your research carefully before heading to the dealer.

1. Consult the following hybrid buying guides to narrow down your options and learn more:
   • • Consumer Guide Automotive: Consumer Guide to Hybrid VehiclesConsumer Guide Automotive: The Consumer Guide to Hybrid Vehicles
     • Edmunds.com: 2008 Hybrid Buying GuideEdmunds.com: Hybrid Buying Guide
     • HybridCars.com: Buying Guide
2. Then see FuelEconomy.gov's comparison chart, which outlines all the hybrids on the market and their respective specifications.HybridCars.com: Buying Guide
3. FuelEconomy's chart will even break down the exact cost of driving a twenty-five mile distance and what you should expect to spend on fuel in a year's period.FuelEconomy.gov: Comparing Hybrid Cars
4. Once you've narrowed down your choices (midsize, SUV, etc.), look within that category, below.

• Toyota PriusOfficial Site: 2008 Toyota Prius
  • Still the most popular hybrid and driven by celebs like Julia Roberts and America Ferrera, the Prius originally went on sale in 1997.Forbes: oped-cx_apa_0307celebs.html Celebrities Who Drive Green (March 7, 2008) Expect to pay an MSRP of around $22,000.
• Honda Civic HybridOfficial Site: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid
  • Increasingly popular, the Civic hybrid will get you 45mph highway and will also cost around $22,000.KickingTires.com: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrids Beyond Elusive (June 11, 2008)
• Lexus GS450hOfficial Site: Lexus GS Hybrid
  • A more luxe hybrid, not surprisingly, the Lexus hybrid is "performance-based" (with the horsepower to prove it) as opposed to strictly focused on better gas mileage, a fact reflected in its significantly higher price, starting at around $55,000. It won the 2007 IntelliChoice award for Excellent Value.

• Toyota Camry HybridOfficial Site: 2009 Toyota Camary
  • Roomier than the Prius, the well-liked Camry gets an average of 39mpg between city and highway miles and starts at around $25,000. It was one of Edmunds.com's top picks for 2008.Edmunds.com: Hybrid Buying Guide
• Saturn Aura HybridOfficial Site: Saturn Hybrid SUV & Hybrid Car
  • New in Spring 2008 as part of Saturn's "Green Line", the Aura gets 32mpg highway and starts at $24,550.
• Nissan Altima HybridOfficial Site: 2008 Nissan Altima Sedan
  • The Altima hybrid was voted Motor Trend's #1 midsize hybrid in 2007 and gets an average of 35 mpg. MSRP is just under $26,000, but the Altima is only available in several states. It was also one of Edmunds.com's top picks for 2008.Edmunds.com: Hybrid Buying Guide

• Lexus RX HybridOfficial Site: Lexus RX Hybrid
  • The ever-popular RX model, one of the first luxury sedan-SUV crossovers, in its hybrid version combines a V6 engine with low emissions, similar to a compact car's. MSRP is just under $43,000.
• Ford EscapeOfficial Site: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  • Known to be the most fuel-efficient hybrid—the "guilt-free SUV", the Escape gets an average of 34mpg and starts at under $27,000.
• Chevy Tahoe HybridOfficial Site: 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  • Starting at around $50,000, the Tahoe hybrid, new in 2008, can seat eight passengers and is full of luxury details. It's what John Kerry is driving these days.Forbes: oped-cx_apa_0307celebs.html Celebrities Who Drive Green (March 7, 2008) It was also one of Edmunds.com's top picks for 2008.Edmunds.com: Hybrid Buying Guide

• Because of increasing demand, buying a hybrid car may differ slightly from how you typically go about purchasing a new vehicle.

1. See HybridCars.com's specific tips for buying a fuel-efficient vehicle to understand the the facts and vocabulary you'll want to master before negotiating with a dealer.
2. If you aren't willing to wait for a hybrid, you may pay more than the sticker price for it due to current demand.
3. Even used hybrids are getting more and expensive as demand grows along with gas prices. Unlike well known gas-guzzlers which are getting much less in trade-in value (many SUV owners now owe more on their cars than they're worth), hybrids are surging in value.
4. But, you are likely to get some kind of tax break, depending on where you live, as well as additional benefits like the privilege of driving in high-occupancy vehicle lanes regardless of how many people are in your car.
5. Also be sure to check with your insurance carrier to see if any discounts apply, as a few major companies have rolled out incentives for hybrid driving customers.
6. See Mahalo's guides to how to buy a new car, how to buy a used car, and how to lease a car for further instruction on negotiating with the seller.

• If waiting lists are too long, or a hybrid is simply out of your price range, there are other ways to make less of an environmental impact and save gas as well.

1. Consider waiting a couple of years, during which time prices are likely to fall and more models will come on the scene.Edmunds.com: What You Should Know Before Buying a Hybrid
2. Fuel-efficient, gas-only vehicles continue to impress experts, as cars like the Honda Fit and Ford Focus qualify for zero-emissions standards, get around 35mpg, and can cost around $10,000 less than the average hybrid.MSN Money: Hybrid Cars: Do They Make Sense for You? Official Site: 2008 Honda FIt Official Site: 2008 Ford Focus
3. And a used fuel-efficient vehicle can be even better for the environment than a hybrid, when you factor in the energy costs of production.Autopia (Wired): Go Green: Buy a Used Car. It's Better Than a Hybrid. (May 19, 2008)
4. If better gas mileage is the motivation for buying a hybrid, be sure to check out Mahalo's guide to how to get better gas mileage to learn how to drive green in the car you currently own.
5. Be sure to keep current with car maintenance and try removing your roof rack so that whatever car you drive is both efficient and aerodynamic.Forbes: How to Drive Green Without Buying a New Car (March 26, 2008)
6. Try easing up on the gas pedal. Studies show that driving slower by even five to ten miles per hour will generate higher fuel efficiency, no matter the type of vehicle you choose.Forbes: How to Drive Green Without Buying a New Car (March 26, 2008)

• As popular as hybrid cars seem to be at the moment, they are unlikely to fall out of favor anytime soon, at least unless gas prices plummet. With luxury makers like Porsche, BMW and Cadillac soon to enter the hybrid market, choices will continue to grow for consumers looking for fuel efficiency as well as performance.FuelEconomy.gov: New Hybrids While the cachet remains strong to "drive green," it may become less of a statement of pride and more of a way of life, evidenced by the Ford truck's recent fall from grace, losing its first place position as the United States's top-selling vehicle, a position it has held consistently since 1992.The New York Times: Big Vehicles Stagger Under the Weight of $4 Gas (June 4, 2008) Good luck finding the hybrid vehicle of your choice and enjoy savings at the pump and throughout the planet.