Reaction to article titled 'Hybrids won't save you any money'

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Dear Alex Law & Auto123,

I am writing to comment on your article, "Hybrids won't save you any money". Your logic is full of holes and you do not provide any evidence to support your argument. In fact, your own suggestion, Transport Canada estimates, debunks your own argument. You mention "independent studies" but fail to provide the names of these independent studies. This is professionally dishonest. Are you making them up or what? Does a hybrid have to pay for itself in the first year to be of any value?

2005 Toyota Prius (Photo: Toyota Canada)

I'll use your example of Transport Canada to figure out gas savings. Transport Canada estimates a 2005 Camry LE, 4 cylinder automatic will consume 1,680 litres of fuel for the average Canadian. A Prius is estimated to consume 820 litres of fuel per year. At $1/litre that equals a savings of $860 per year. The difference in price between the two vehicles is $5540. The Prius has alloy wheels to boot. Ontario will return $1000 of your sales tax, B.C. and P.E.I. will return $2000 and $3000. Factor in the tax rebates and a Prius pays for itself in 5.3 years in Ontario, 4.1 years in B.C., and less than 3 years in P.E.I. Your paragraph, "Most people considering hybrids will be surprised to hear this about costs, since the case of mass hysteria created by uninformed or incompetent media reports leads everyone to think they will save consumers money", is sadly ironic. You sirs, are the "uninformed or incompetent media" of which you speak. Mass hysteria? Gross exaggeration.

Yours truly,

Chris Jones,
Sales and Leasing Consultant,
Ken Shaw Lexus Toyota