I found this because it was listed as a feature article on the finance.yahoo.com homepage:

http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/050902/17184.html

It's yet another re-run of lies and half-truths like we've seen ever since hybrids first came out. These only get more and more funny as fuel prices go up because he seems to write the article from the perspective of "Ignore fuel prices and ignore the environmental benefits, don't buy a hybrid." I'll list a few of my favorites:

This is literally the VERY FIRST "hybrid" listed in the article. That's right, the one that has the least effective hybrid system and lowest gains over it's non-hybrid is how they start the article. We're off to a bad start already here.
This is one of my favorite lies. All hybrids use NiMH batteries. They are totally NON-TOXIC, unlike the 12v lead-acid batteries that have been use in cars for the last 80 years or so which are 100% dangerous and toxic. It's not an unexplored issue because it's not an issue at all. The author just made that one up out of thin air.
Last time I checked, the Prius had class-leading resale value, regardless of mileage. I guess he didn't even bother to do any market research at all for this one.
There you have it. I'm sure he'll write a review next week about how getting the Hemi makes perfect financial sense on a Dodge Ram so you can have a higher towing rating, but of course his analysis is hybrids are not sensible.

How much longer until we get any articles that don't contain outright lies and half-truths?

 

The corporate press is not much more than a voice for the bank, oil and car industry. Don't expect anything progressive from them other than the odd journalist who tells the truth and probably gets demoted or fired for doing so. Right-wing pressure is at an all time high to keep the economy growing and spreading, getting people into denial over the serious nature of oil addiction is the key. That's why you'll see so much 'spreading ignorance' passed off as journalism and news, it's not new... just more obvious.

 

So he's a gear head with a personal vendetta against techie stuff.

I'm sure he was one of them writing about how EFI was over-rated & carburators are the wave of the future.

 

I still maintain the lowest common denominator is not politics, but the obsession of some people with size and power. Well, at least motorcycles have "sex appeal" so there might be a little hope....

 

hmm...he mentions the tax break, but leaves it out of his financial calculations. Don't want this guy doing my taxes or even balancing my checkbook.

 

I think this will continue until a good amount of people know the truth and start lauging at the reporters that are clueless.

 

My own 9 reasons not to buy a Hybrid:

1. You are devoid of even a below-average IQ.
2. You and your Pickup are SoulMates.
3. You never drive your own self around anyway (trust fund/rich family/celeb).
4. You can't afford a car at all.
5. You live and work in downtown and are age 23-35 and childless.
6. Your spouse won't let you.
7. You are a stubborn old goat and cannot accept change.
8. Your VCR has been flashing "12:00" since 1993.
9. You have 12 kids.

If you are in ANY of those above groups, DO NOT buy a Hybrid - save it for someone who NEEDS one !!!

 

Yes... but we must remember that it takes NO credentials to call yourself a reporter. All you have to do is get someone to print what you write. Who cares if it's true? ha ha!

I just don't understand why these lam-o-riffic "reporters" never get called out on the carpet when they do these anti-hybrid hatchet jobs. They just REFUSE to do any research whatsoever before they start writing negative commentary that they pass off as fact.

Think about this: How much is the resale value of a big GM SUV? What's the likelihood of getting 80,000 trouble-free miles out of a big GM SUV? I dare say that a HCH or Prius II will fare better in these respects than anything GM has to offer.

Also: People who buy hybrids don't buy them because they're too cheap to buy gasoline!! For crying out loud, I would dare say that most hybrid owners could care less if they see a fast ROI. I bought mine because it's just the right thing to do. And gasoline was only $1.35/gallon when I bought mine.

 

Agreed

Most folks dont care how big it is on the inside if the outside dosent look big also.

Schwa is too funny.

 

Agreed, with the exception of #5. There are quite a few childless 23-35 year olds on the board, myself included, who work downtown and drive a hybrid or other fuel-efficient car. With the amount of driving I do for my job, I definitely need a hybrid.