Re: Hybrids Not The Answer - Yet.

[Stephen A. Lawrence]

Jed Rothwell wrote:
Zell, Chris wrote:

Consumer Reports claims hybrid gas mileage is 19 mpg lower than the EPA
says and are among the worst in mileage exaggeration.

http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023460

But they are the best in mileage! According to the Consumer Reports list 
on this page!

I think it's also worth noting that CU admits that they made a *mistake* 
in their comparison of hybrids with other cars.

The added the extra depreciation _and_ the extra initial purchase cost 
to the cost of owning a hybrid, and so concluded that overall the hybrid 
was more expensive.  In a response to a letter in a recent issue they 
stated that by erroneously double-counting the higher price they skewed 
it toward conventional vehicles; without the double-counting, the 
hybrids came out cheaper.

I don't have the details but I might be able to find the issue if anyone 
cares.  (And if I actually saw this in someone else's letter to Vortex, 
rather than in CU itself, then I will apologize and will feel intense 
embarrassment as penance.)