Consider that the 2007 Toyota Prius hybrid received an Environmental Protection Agency mileage rating of 48 mpg/city and 45 mpg/highway, but my 1990 Honda CRX averages 32 mpg/city and 45 mpg/highway. One would actually save money buying a cheap and small early '90s economy car instead of a current hybrid.

Here's the math: A new Prius costs $23,000, and a low-mileage '91 CRX goes for $3,000. Assume that buyers of both cars drove 10,000 miles a year and spent $3.75 on a gallon of gasoline. In one year, the Prius driver would spend $815 on gas, and the CRX owner would spend just $158 more ($973). But if you consider the original price of each vehicle, then the CRX owner has an extra $20,000 dollars, enough to pay for 20 years of gas.

If you don't want a car payment and want to save real money, buy an early '90s economy car (or just stay in your current vehicle) and lay off the throttle when accelerating and keep it under 65 mph on the highway.

Nathan Hanson

Salt Lake City