‘Going green’ pays off at pump

By Tiffiny Woo

Published: June 27, 2008

My first car was a 1999 Mercury Cougar. I bought it used when I graduated high school; that was back when everyone complained about paying $1.42 for a gallon of gas. Like most people between the age of 16 and 23, I considered a V6 engine and sporty look more important than functionality.
For the most part, I was right. That car served me well as I commuted back and forth to Troy University each day.
Now, I drive 60 miles round trip to work here in Eufaula, and when gas prices settled into the $3 per gallon price range, I knew it was time to trade in the “Woogar” for something more economical.
I decided that, if I was going to give up my sporty car, I was at least going to get a car that was great on gas mileage. So, I set my sights on a hybrid car. All the reviews said they get the best gas mileage around, but, to be honest, I had my reservations.
Would I have to drive a car that looks like a pod? Would a hybrid cost more than I could afford? Do hybrids really get the gas mileage that the experts claim? And, of course, would I have to plug it in? These were just some of the doubts I had about buying a hybrid vehicle.
So, I did what every self-respecting adult would do when faced with their first significant financial decision in life: I convinced Mom to buy one first!
Luckily for me, my mom already had her sights set on a Toyota Prius (the car most people think of when they think of hybrids). It wasn’t my first choice for cars because it kind of does look like a pod, but Mom has always loved being different. Plus, she wanted all the bells and whistles on it: backup camera, GPS, Bluetooth, keyless entry, push-button start – all those high-tech features that serve to remind you you’re driving the “latest in automotive innovation.”
It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with her hybrid, and that was proof enough for me.
As it turns out, not all hybrids look like pods (though Mom’s Prius is starting to grow on me), and there are plenty of models out there that are decently priced but don’t come with all the upgrades. The upgraded models run in the price range from a cheaper luxury sedan to higher end models. I chose the Honda Civic Hybrid because I like the sleeker lines and it was in my price range. I have to say, I love this car!
Why? Let me count the ways.
First, hybrid cars really do deliver when it comes to fuel economy. The difference between 33 and 43 miles per gallon may not seem like a big deal on paper, but it definitely makes a difference at the pump.
I average 42 to 45 mpg in the city. On the highway or Interstate the car easily gets 51 mpg.
Second, I don’t have to break a $100 bill every time I fill up my car. I can make the long commute to work for a whole week for about $35 and still have fuel to spare for the weekends.
With my old car, I was filling up at least twice a week for $36, and gas was about 50 cents cheaper then.
Most people, especially SUV owners, are spending between $50 and $80 each time they fill up the tank – sometimes twice a week for commuters.
I wish I had this car when I was in college. Although gas was a little cheaper, it would have helped me stretch my meager college student wages out a little farther.
Finally, Uncle Sam is giving me a sizeable income tax credit on my taxes next year just for purchasing a hybrid vehicle.
The question I get asked most often when I tell people I drive a hybrid is: do you have to plug it in? The answer is no.
It’s true that you have to plug in electric cars that run only on battery power. Hybird cars are powered by both a gasoline engine and an electric motor that runs off a battery (not the kind under your hood). The battery is charged using energy produced during braking.  But operating a hybrid is, basically, like operating any other vehicle.
Sure, my V8-engine-loving family members and 4x4-dual-suspension-pickup-driving friends teased me about “going green” at first. It’s hard to hold a grudge though. I just smile and wave when I pass them at the pump.
After all, gasoline just went up to $3.89 per gallon.