I know many of you drive used economy cars and drive them into the ground..and I commend you. This is certainly the most eco-friendly and cost-effective way to go. You win, hands down.
Having said that, I've also heard (on other sites) that a Prius is a waste of money due to the fact that it costs $6000 more than a comparable sedan with a conventional engine.... below is my counter argument.
Energy costs are a tax on productivity
It doesn't matter if you get 10 or 60 MPG... every dollar you spend on gas is money out the window. The only value to gas consumption is that it propels your little box to and from work and wherever else you need to go. But other than that it holds no value to you - just pure consumption.
While hybrid cars are a premium over conventional cars, they hold their value better
Why? Because that big gnarly battery under the back seat is an asset. Yes, it's a depreciating asset, like any car component, but the rare earth metals used in it's production and eventually sold to be recycled become more valuable each year, offsetting the depreciation.
So while my model year 2010 car may cost more upfront than a model year 2010 comparable sedan, that money is spent on an asset, whereas the -20mpg the conventional engine burns with every tank goes towards pure consumption.
Any thoughts?