I've been mulling over replacing my car for quite a while now. Serving for many years since 1997, my Honda Civic is still chugging forward despite showing some signs of aging. For a 10-year old car, it has held up pretty well. But I do think every now and then about getting something shinier and prettier.
Which is how I have come to eye the Toyota Prius. Yes, it makes a case for greenwashing the product to the point where it hides its environmental impact. At the end of its useful life, I doubt that the batteries can be recycled as well as metal can be. Then again, will the reduced consumption of gas over its lifetime offset the impact at the end? And will the product enjoy the longevity of a car that is far less complex? One of my coworkers had the 2000 Toyota Prius, and it died on her this past week. The repair cost: $8,000. A normal gas-powered vehicle would not go kaput after only 7 years in service, and even then the repair bill should not exceed the residual value of the car. Granted, the hybrid technology was still in its nascency back in 2000, and it is unfair to compare a brand new technology to an older one that has been improved upon for decades. Nonetheless, I wonder if I should just lease a hybrid for the sake of longevity.
Without a doubt, I'll be tossing and turning over this issue for another year. I may go and put myself on the waiting list for a new Honda Fit, slated to debut Stateside in fall 2008. Until then, my 1997 Honda Civic will still be moving along, albeit at a snail's pace.
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