Do you own/drive a hybrid?

KonnubialKat

If so, what make/model?  Just wondering what your experience has been driving one.  Would you recommend your car?  We're in the market for a new(er?) car and would appreciate hearing from 'real' owners as I'm a bit skeptical of online reviews.  (If that makes sense since this request is online! )

Thanks in advance.

Read2Me

We've had a Honda Civic hybrid for almost three years now and we LOVE it!  It drives no different from a regular car (except being much quieter) and the amount we have saved on gas has been huge!  If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

NikCole

My dad has a Toyota Camry Hybrid and loves it. He got it because he's a realtor and drives all over.

battybtags

I have a Toyota Prius. I went in wanting a RAV4 (almost 4yrs ago now)-DH came with me and I test drove one. DH was like "let's take out a prius just to see what its like" so we did and I thought it was the coolest thing. Its so high tech and drives like a normal car- very quiet. The pickup isn't the best, but its not bad. Its pretty roomy too-from the outside it looks small, but its very roomy inside. The mileage is great-I'm so glad I got it! If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask! Definitely go drive some though!!

jess!ca

We have some Civic hybrids at work.  They are just like regular Honda Civics.  DH drives a Prius for work.  He loves it.  The only part he thinks is weird is the view out the back window, but that may be different now since his company's model is several years old.  Both are average cars -- not too fast normally -- so they drive almost the same other than being quiet like pp said.  I have also driven a big SUV hybrid and they, like the sedans, are much like their non-hybrid counterparts. 

pmpkn219

My mom drives the Camry hybrid (I think the first year they made it). She LOVES it to death. She has an hour+ commute, mostly highway but sometimes sitting on the highway- she has saved a lot on gas.

I personally hate driving it though. It's fun when the gauges light up blue (your reward for optimal fuel efficiency!) but the car feels sluggish, from a stop. Like when you're at an intersection without a light, wanting to pull into traffic, it feels like the car can't get out of its own way. I think it's because it tries the electric motor (from a stop), realizes you want more go, and has to switch to the engine- that isn't a slow process really, but it's not instant, you can Definitely tell.

Maybe I'm an evil/bad driver, but I would get so frustrated driving it on a regular basis. I'm also used to my super small and rather torquey Focus, which can dart into oncoming traffic in a split second. And to me a newer Camry is a "big" car, I know how skewed that sounds!

On the plus side, this one has over 100k on it and no fancy battery issues, and the brakes are holding up super well. It was just checked and still nowhere needing to be replaced (which may be costly, since they've got the Regenerative braking system). My mom did need to replace her fob that lets the car know it can turn on, since she always leaves it in the car, and that kills its battery (always communicating with the ECU "I'm here, I'm here...") It was only $6 to replace the battery though!

It likely could be a great car, but I think with any of the hybrids I'd want to take them on a good long test drive, into various traffic situations, to be sure what I was getting into... more so than any old "regular" car.

KonnubialKat

Thank you for your responses.  DH and I have a lot of homework to do.  Mostly though, we just have to get out and drive some cars!