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CNN Live At Daybreak
Dollars & Deals: The Hype on Hybrids
Aired November 07, 2003 - 06:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for 'Dollars & Deals.' And this morning, our consumer guru, Clark Howard, has some hints on hybrids. You're seeing more and more of the gas-electric powered cars on the road everyday. Now General Motors is planning to offer hybrid versions of its popular SUVs starting in 2007. So will you save by driving one? Let's ask Clark.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARK HOWARD, CONSUMER ADVOCATE: This morning's question is from Scott in San Diego. You've been looking at hybrid cars. You've recognized they are more expensive, but you're going to save on gasoline. Is the tradeoff worth it paying extra money for the car, saving all that money on gasoline?
Truth be told, unless gas prices get much higher, it's going to take you a long, long, long, long time to make up that additional purchase price in the money you are going to save on gasoline.
That having been said, you know I own a hybrid. I have the Honda Civic hybrid, and I'm averaging 44 miles per gallon in almost all city driving only. I'm really happy about that and I'm saving money every time I go to the pump. And I only have to fill up about every 500 miles. It's been a deal. The car is very quiet, very efficient. I've loved the way it drives, great acceleration.
And the new hybrid that's coming out from Toyota, the Prius, it's coming out in the next few weeks, is unbelievable. The Prius is a big car, about the same size of a Camry, and will average somewhere right around 55 miles per gallon at a cost of about 20 grand.
So the cost of the hybrids is coming down, the efficiency of them going up and they are getting to be roomy, practical vehicles. So maybe not quite yet for a hybrid, but in the next six months to a year, it will make economic sense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Clark will be back next Friday with more 'Dollars & Deals.' And you can e-mail us your consumer questions, just visit our Web site, CNN.com/DAYBREAK. In the meantime, you can get Clark's money-saving tips on the Web. That address is ClarkHoward.com.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 7, 2003 - 06:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for 'Dollars & Deals.' And this morning, our consumer guru, Clark Howard, has some hints on hybrids. You're seeing more and more of the gas-electric powered cars on the road everyday. Now General Motors is planning to offer hybrid versions of its popular SUVs starting in 2007. So will you save by driving one? Let's ask Clark.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARK HOWARD, CONSUMER ADVOCATE: This morning's question is from Scott in San Diego. You've been looking at hybrid cars. You've recognized they are more expensive, but you're going to save on gasoline. Is the tradeoff worth it paying extra money for the car, saving all that money on gasoline?
Truth be told, unless gas prices get much higher, it's going to take you a long, long, long, long time to make up that additional purchase price in the money you are going to save on gasoline.
That having been said, you know I own a hybrid. I have the Honda Civic hybrid, and I'm averaging 44 miles per gallon in almost all city driving only. I'm really happy about that and I'm saving money every time I go to the pump. And I only have to fill up about every 500 miles. It's been a deal. The car is very quiet, very efficient. I've loved the way it drives, great acceleration.
And the new hybrid that's coming out from Toyota, the Prius, it's coming out in the next few weeks, is unbelievable. The Prius is a big car, about the same size of a Camry, and will average somewhere right around 55 miles per gallon at a cost of about 20 grand.
So the cost of the hybrids is coming down, the efficiency of them going up and they are getting to be roomy, practical vehicles. So maybe not quite yet for a hybrid, but in the next six months to a year, it will make economic sense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Clark will be back next Friday with more 'Dollars & Deals.' And you can e-mail us your consumer questions, just visit our Web site, CNN.com/DAYBREAK. In the meantime, you can get Clark's money-saving tips on the Web. That address is ClarkHoward.com.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
