Found this interesting. I always wondered if paying more for a hybrid would work out to save you money in the long run by paying less for fillups.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/06/Autos/tipsandadvice/hybrid_resale/index.htm

thats a pretty interesting post. also i bet (due to the fact that the cars have to be made light" that any accident the car would become envolded in...your prob looking at a totaled car.

Keep in the mind the stupid state we live in. MD used to offer tax credits for hybrid vehicles. Now they don't. Then someone figured out HEY we aren't getting all the taxes we can out of this person since they aren't buying as much gasoline. So whats their solution? Now there will be an extra tax in MD for hybrid vehicles. Gotta love living in one of the most taxed states in the country!

are you serious steve??? so what is the incentive? i really cant stand this state!

Here is the only incentive I could find. I didn't know about this one.

Maryland H.B. 61 exempts qualified hybrid electric vehicles from motor vehicle emissions testing requirements.

Owners of hybrid cars will get discounts on parking at the 15 city-owned parking garages in Baltimore. The plan cuts between 32- and 85 dollars from the monthly fees for owners of the fuel-efficient vehicles. Baltimore will limit participation to 200 vehicles and the program will apply only to monthly, contract parking. Drivers of
the three most fuel-efficient models can apply for a decal that will let them park in designated spots in the city's garages.
Participating Garages Garage Location Address Market Price(mo.) Hybrid Price(mo.)
Arena 99 S. Howard St. $140 $77.50
Baltimore St. 15 Guilford Ave. $175 $95
Caroline St. 805 S. Caroline St. $90 $52.50
Fleet & Eden 500 S. Eden St. $130 $72.50
Franklin Street 15 W.Franklin St. $120 $67.50
Lexington Street 510 E. Lexington St. $120 $67.50
Little Italy 500 S. Central Ave. $95 $55
Marina 402 Key Highway $90 $52.50
Market Center 221 N. Pica St. $80 $47.50
Marriot 405 W. Lombard St. $140 $77.50
Penn Station 1511 N. Charles St. $180 $97.50
Redwood Street 11 S. Eutaw St. $130 $72.50
St. Paul Street 210 St. Paul Place $185 $100
Walter Street 414 Walter St. $130 $72.50
West Street 40 E. West St. $90 $52.50


Here is the sucky part:

Hybrid State Tax Credits: The Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act, effective July 1, 2000, through July 1, 2004, provided tax credits against the 5% vehicle excise tax, up to $2,000 for EVs and up to $1,000 for qualifying HEVs for model year 2000 and later. The credit values for HEVs vary depending on the amount of rechargeable energy and regenerative braking utilized. Credits range from $250 to $1,000. Though available CEIA tax credits or rebates expired June 30, 2004, you still may be able to receive a tax rebate on products covered by the Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act, if purchased within the dates of the Act. For more information, contact Michael Li of the Maryland Energy Administration at (800) 72-ENERGY, or via email at mli [at] energy.state.md [dot] us. (Reference Annotated Code of Maryland, Section 13-815 of the Transportation Article). Note: this program expired in 2004, but if the vehicle was purchased within that time period, it may still be eligible.

Another thing I have been hearing about the hyrids is that when the battery/battery bank eventually wears down it is very, very pricey to replace. One person I talked to said that if he had to replace the battery bank on his Prius it would be upwards of $10,000. So a hyrid that is approaching 10 years old or the like is probably not going to be sold for very much, taking into account the impending maintenence.

well what will happen if you let the batter go bad...would the car still run...just less mpg?

so you buy a gas guzzler your screwed in MD
and if you buy a econo car your screwed in MD