Are you considering buying a hybrid car?

Maybe you’re tired of paying high prices at the gas pump or sending U.S. dollars to the Middle East. Or you could be concerned about the environment and the fact that oil is a depleting resource - one that definitely won’t last forever.

Well, whatever your reasons are for looking in hybrids, fuel economy is not the only thing you need to consider. You also need to take a look at the final purchase price, the tax benefits and the cost of insurance, repairs and maintenance.

Fuel Consumption

Hybrids get much better mileage than conventional gasoline vehicles, but you should remember that the average driver gets only about 75% of the fuel consumption estimates given for a new car.

In a recent rating of fuel efficient automobiles 3 hybrids came out on top:

1. Honda Insight 60 mpg city, 66 mpg highway
2. Toyota Prius 60 mpg city, 51 mpg highway
3. Honda Civic Hybrid 49 mpg city, 51 mpg highway

Purchase Price

Hybrids do come with a higher sticker price than similar gas models. In most cases the extra cost is somewhere between $1500 and $3000. Manufacturers do say that the price of hybrids will come down in the future as they ramp up their production.

Tax Benefits

For many buyers, state and federal tax benefits can reduce or sometimes even eliminate the extra cost of buying a hybrid car. Check with your car dealer - they’re up-to-date on the latest in tax benefits and rebates.

Insurance and Other Costs

Hybrid cars can qualify for car insurance discounts from many insurance carriers. Some are now giving 5% to 10% discounts for hybrid drivers. That can be a significant discount.

Something to keep in mind is that repair costs on hybrid cars may be more expensive than conventional gas powered vehicle repairs. Not many local mechanics have the training or tools to handle the new hybrids, so you’ll have to return to the dealer for service and maintenance. That situation is likely to change as hybrids become more maintstream.

One maintenance item that you’ll save money on is brake pads. Since hybrids us a regenerative braking technology, their brake pads last much longer. Prius customers have reported driving as far as 85,000 miles without a replacement. Most gas car brake pads last about 15,000 miles.

The warranties on most hybrids are generous - probably to help people overcome their fear of something new. Toyota, Honda and Ford all offer at least 8 to10 year warranties on hybrid-specific components. Toyota, for example, reports their battery back will last for more than 180,000 miles. That would be over twelve years of driving for the average car owner.

Consumer Reports has issued their highly regarded “Recommendation” on hybrid vehicles. Here’s the list - not ranked in any order:

• Toyota Prius
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Honda Accord Hybrid
• Lexus RX 400h
• Lexus GS450h
• Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The hybrid vehicles that were not on the Consumer Reports list were:

• Honda Insight
• Ford Escape Hybrid
• Chevy Silverado
• Mercury Mariner
• GMC Sierra
• Saturn Vue