I too have read articles stating that it is very hard to recoup the premium price on a hybrid unless you drive it a lot and keep it for a long time. I think the car had to be kept for over 7 years with the national average of miles driven on it before you would recoup the additional money spent on it.
Of course, here we are thinking about what is good for us instead of what is good for the country and for our children. Less oil consumption means less reliance on the middle east and a cleaner environment for our kids and grandkids.
Regarding HOV lanes out here, they are pretty much all around me. I have one on I-270, another on the Dulles toll road, another on I-66 going into and out of downtown DC, and there are plenty more. There is mention of making the HOV lane a toll lane and/or allowing hybrids to drive on them solo. If that is the case, the wife and I will both be buying a hybrid.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better.
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