As gas prices remain steady at well above $3 per gallon, some
South Valley residents
– and car dealers – are thinking hybrids are the way to go
by Ansel Oliver Special to South Valley Newspapers
James V. Simoni bought a hybrid car thinking he would cart his daughter and her high school friends in a carpool. Eventually, he thought, he’d just let her have it so he could get his dream sports car.
Now the Morgan Hill resident who works as an attorney in Gilroy isn’t so sure he’s ever going to give up the hybrid. He can cruise along the freeway in the carpool lane, and when he goes to court in San Jose, he can park in the city garages for free.
When gas prices hit a plateau several weeks ago, increasing sales of hybrids also slowed. But now that gas prices seem to be staying well above $3 per gallon, most new hybrid cars are again selling before dealers can receive them.
Generally, hybrid cars cost an average of $2,000 to $3,000 more than similarly equipped vehicles that run on gasoline. Although it may take five years to make up the difference in gas savings, financing and insurance, other perks – including a tax credit for new owners – are contributing to high sales figures.
A state bill signed into law in September 2004 allows for some alternative-fuel and hybrid cars to travel in the carpool lane on California’s freeways. For hybrids to obtain the privilege, gas mileage must be rated 45 miles per gallon or greater.
“When (the law went into effect), I was getting 20 phone calls a day,” said Rachael Jefferson, salesperson at Gilroy Toyota.
The Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and hybrid Honda Civic are the only vehicles that are widely available that meet the qualifications, according to the AAA.
“The Civic hybrids are moving as fast as we get them,” said Mark Baines, Gilroy Honda sales manager. “I’m even buying used hybrids out of state just to have them on hand for people.”
The Ford Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV, used to sell at a similar rate, but the factory has increased production and there are more available to test drive, said Scott Lynch, dealer for Bob Lynch Ford Lincoln-Mercury in Gilroy.
“These vehicles are designed for city driving; that’s where the greatest efficiencies are,” Lynch said. “(The hybrid) does have better gas mileage than the standard one on the highway, but really, the significant savings are in the city – because that’s when it’s running on battery power. That’s an important thing for consumers to realize.”
People who buy hybrids are generally “looking for long-term gas savings,” Lynch said. “Certainly they’re more environmentally friendly.”
Dealers need special training to handle hybrids, and a body shop needs special training to repair one that’s been in an accident. Many car companies are racing to introduce their hybrids, similar to the competition several years ago to create new SUVs.
Vince Strangis, director of sales for Gilroy Chevrolet Cadillac, said he used to carry the Chevy Silverado Hybrid Pickup, but its sales weren’t as robust compared to smaller vehicle hybrids. But while he waits for General Motors to produce a more competitive hybrid, high gas prices are still on the minds of consumers, Strangis said. Many GM cars get 30 or more miles per gallon, including 12 models at his dealership.
Some hybrid owners have reported higher costs for repairs, and smaller engines can mean slower acceleration. Jocelyn Herndon, who drives throughout the South Bay, said she and her husband’s Civic hybrids aren’t made for drag racing, but otherwise they feel like regular cars.
Simoni, the Gilroy lawyer, said he recommends his Toyota Prius for all types of driving. He was enthusiastic while describing the car’s features, such as ample passenger space and generous cargo room when the back seats are folded down. He said the features make it a “21st century car,” as opposed to a sedan that was simply turned into a hybrid.
Simoni recommended a hybrid for its carpool-lane access to an associate who commuted to Oakland almost every day.
“We now see that associate more because they’ve cut a half-hour off their commute time,” Simoni said.
For more information on hybrid cars, go to www.hybridcars.com.
Ansel Oliver is a Sacramento-based free-lance writer. E-mail comments to kn******@**********rs.com.
