Crunching the numbers... for the frugal, like myself

From one fiscal conservative to another.....congrats!! I've never looked back and now feel the freedom to go anywhere, anytime....as I don't feel like it's costing me $100 to fill up. Freedom!

 

There is a used 2010 on the Toy lot.. it is a II.. they are asking 26K

Good luck Judas.. I can totally relate.. I am in the process of research and saving.. looking at the spring of next year and see if I'm gonna pull the trigger on the PHV

 

Your post made me laugh out loud. Just joined this group a couple of days ago because I am pulling the trigger on a Prius tomorrow. Everything you said applied to myself; particularly the no car payment part!!! This is scary dammit! But I want one sooooo baaaadddd.
Here are my rationalizations:
I drive about 15-20K miles per year as part of my job, and I am self employed. I do get reimbursed for mileage from my customers. However, I figure I will be making money on mileage reimbursement at .51/mile. I also need a more comfortable interior since I spend so much time in the car (currently own a Mazda 3, 2006, 110 K miles). So the car will pay for itself right???

:humble:

 

A lot of us rationalize the purchase knowing we are reducing air pollution, strengthening national security and foreign policy flexibilty and pushing technologies that enhance our lives while saving soldiers lives.

 

^I can drink to that (the only caveat is the waste that's created by manufacturing the batteries and, later down the line, the fallout surrounding their disposal...sorry, you know me, had to raise a point of contention, etc. ).

 

No worries, Vinnie.

I will say though that the extraction damage created from battery materials is sometimes less than that of fossil fuels. You don't hear too much about tankers blowing up and dispersing nickle throughout the ocean or Montana rivers. lol

Since batteries have a $200 bounty on them I doubt people will be throwing them in landfills and most of the materials are recoverable and will be reused.

Hybrid Battery Toxicity | Hybrid Cars

There was a great video by Toyota that shows how the batteries are recycled but now I can't find it.

 

^Nice on the recoverability/recyclability (my own concoctions, apologies)!