The same mileage as a conventional Toyota Echo, which costs thousands less. Hybrids are a bad investment.
Maybe they are now? But do you really want to drive around in an Echo?
You said: He gets 40 to 45 miles per gallon driving his normal Prius.
The same mileage as a conventional Toyota Echo, which costs thousands less. Hybrids are a bad investment.
I am averaging about 47 mpg in my normal Prius. It is about as roomy as my VW Passat was, unlike the dinky Echo. I am no greenie, I just like the gadgets on it, like touch screen controls for air conditioning and stereo, among lots of other cool stuff on this car. I do have to inform people that I am NOT liberal from time to time, especially with my UNC license plate bracket. In this warmer weather I am averaging around 52 mpg on the latest tank of gas.
That said, you are correct that the cost of the car probably outweighs fuel savings (although with gas prices going up, that may not remain true). I just like this cool car. The technology is really well thought out (not just the hybrid stuff, but the recharging of the battery while coasting and braking, the thermos that holds some of the coolant when you turn the car off, and lots of other stuff).