[Emmet Fitzhume]

If you wanna save on gas $$$, there are plenty of ways to do so starting with:

1. Purchase a simple compact car with manual transmission.

2. Drive the speed limit at a steady rate, and refrain from going over 65 MPH on the interstate.

3. Clean your fuel system regularly, and get brakes and tire pressure to standard.

4. Carpool if possible, and take turns with your driving shifts.

5. Ask yourself before leaving the house, "Is this trip (to the store, movie theater, office etc.) REALLY necessary?"

You don't need a hybrid to save money, just a little bit of discipline with maintenance and driving habits.

[Spktyr]

A better option, perhaps, would be to buy a motorcycle.

Then you can stomp all but the fastest cars, use the HOV lane, and still get better gas mileage than even the most economically driven hybrid.

[gondramB]

"
You don't need a hybrid to save money, just a little bit of discipline with maintenance and driving habits."

Hybrids have some built in disadvantages - like carrying around all those batteries and the extra heavy metals and energy used in construction.... but in principle I like the idea of recapturing my breaking energy. But I'm not gonna buy a new car to do that. I buy only used cars and save more energy by them not having to manufacture a new car than I would in the life of a hybrid.

[miliantnutcase]

Yeah, people always want a more fuel efficient vehicle, but what they don't due is proper maintenance to their existing car. I ask "When was the last time you changed your fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve? Are you over a 100k miles? Then change your plugs and wires". Amazing how a mature or older car can run like new and get a drastic improvement in mpg.