Let's list our hybrid experiences

That's a keen observation. It's easier for the hybrid-hater to try to tear-down the choice (a hybrid) that irritates him with its hard-to-deny rationality... because to allow that to go unchallenged is to hold a mirror up to his irrationality in preferring something he likes, but cannot justify.

If you can't justify what you like as being reasonable, tear down what you dislike (but is reasonable) by calling its reasonable-ness a sham.

 

First hybrid exposure was my Dad buying a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid brand new. It was an OK car. 2 battery replacements, and the transmission had to be replaced. He drives it hard, but the Honda IMA system really is pure junk.

I knew my next car was going to be a hybrid or EV, but a few years ago the only EV worth mentioning was the Tesla roadster and out of reach. I knew I wanted a Toyota hybrid and the Prius was the obvious choice. I bought it online sight unseen 2000 miles away. Drove it home and now at 115K miles it works exactly the same as the day I bought it. No repairs. The only maintenance items have been oil, filters, and ATF. I have replaced the tires a few times because I do winter/summer swaps for the Rocky Mountain snow. I drive the car hard. I mash the pedal off the line, but I brake slowly and try to coast when possible. Currently reads 50.7mpg with sticky winter tires. With less sticky tires I was getting 55mpg's and that includes the averaging of my 2K ft vertical elevation change up a mountain to get home every day where I get 8mpg to 16mpg for 2+ miles. Everything else is original, and nothing has been done. I was assaulted for driving my Prius once, but the police arrested the scumbag and I got over $2K in damages without doing anything.

We then bought an RX400h which was lovely, and sold it about a year ago for an RX450h after the 400h was rear ended by a gaggle of highschool girls in a crummy sedan.

A few months ago we bought a brand new Prius C with only 11 miles on the clock.

All of the Toyota's work flawlessly and can't praise them highly enough.

My next vehicle will either be a Tesla S, Tesla X, Tesla Roadster, Fisker Karma, or a BMW Isetta. I was very close to buying a 1957 Isetta this weekend but was outbid at the last second. The Karma would be fun but the Prius would be the normal transportation. If I get a Tesla, that would become the daily driver. I enjoy unique and interesting vehicles!

 

In 2001 when I returned from living in Spain, my 1989 Honda Civic was still running fine, but I wanted the latest safety features. (ABS and air bags, which my Civic did not have.) But I didn't want to give up the station-wagon body style, and Honda had quit making a Civic Wagon. A friend bought a 2001 Prius, and I was intrigued by the technology, but still wanted a wagon.

In the fall of 2003 I began reading reviews of the 2004 Prius and I was intrigued. It had the body style I wanted and the technology I found intriguing. I placed my order in November of 2003 and took delivery in January of 2004. I loved the car. I do not drive enough miles for the "gas savings" to pay for the "hybrid premium," but that was never my motivation. I wanted the hybrid technology, the occasional electric mode, the SULEV rating, and the reduced carbon footprint of burning less gas. It was also a step up in performance from my Civic.

I never had any serious problems with the Prius. Over the years I had some minor problems. Dead 12-v. battery at about 4 years and again at about 9 years. Broken cruise-control stalk (fixed under warranty). Dead fob battery at about 5 years and again a week ago. Mysterious error message once when the door was ajar. Maybe a couple of other minor repairs. Couple of flat tires. The car has never left me stranded, except for the flats.

I was the first member of Prius Chat to install the Coastal EV switch on the cruise-control stalk. (Others had installed an EV button earlier.)

The ability of the Prius to drive pure electric for short distances was what got me thinking about and wanting a BEV, and lead to my purchase, seven (?) years ago, of the Zap Xebra. From then on I drove the Prius only when the Xebra could not do the job: Snowy roads and trips of over 35 miles. Now I drive the Prius even less, as the Tesla can do freeway and has a range of 245 miles. I don't take the Tesla to the airport and it cannot haul recycling to the recycling center, and it cannot make the long trip to Canada that I do every summer. Those remain jobs for the Prius.

A conventional (non-hybrid) Civic or Corolla would have cost me less per mile, but the Prius was well worth the money and more for the fun, the occasional EV mode, the SULEV rating, the reduced carbon footprint, and the faster acceleration than those economy cars.

If I had to buy another gasoline car for my road trips right now, it would be another Prius. But I'm hoping that before mine dies there will be a BEV (most likely a Tesla) capable of making the longer drive. A 400-mile range would probably do it, though 450 or 500 would be more comfortable as a buffer. Either that, or a few superchargers in a couple of small towns on the secondary roads to my hiking destinations.

 

The cars should be compared to a similar car, like a VW Jetta or Honda Accord. You can always buy what you need instead of what you want.