DO
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Comparison-shop nonhybrids: Until hybrid technology is ubiquitous in nearly all models, it's important to continue comparison shopping, as you might with any other automotive purchase. Many hybrids are only marginally more fuel-efficient than their conventionally powered alternatives. The difference may easily affect your decision.
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Practice patience: If you're dead-set on getting one of the most popular hybrids on the market, get ready to wait. Depending on where you live, you could end up waiting anywhere from several months to a year before you get behind the wheel. The flip side? All that anticipation makes the drive off the lot that much sweeter.
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Feel good about the premium: A lot has been said—both positive and negative—about the value hybrids offer for the premium they command. Whichever side of the debate you fall on, the cost of the average hybrid premium falls squarely in line with the amount of extra technology under the hood.
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Comparison-shop dealers: Every dealer operates under different pressures, leading some to deal more vigorously than others. That's true whether you're buying a gas-guzzling SUV or a svelte, fuel-efficient sedan. Some dealers may be willing to add sweeteners to move certain models.
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Look out for incentives: Dealers have started offering incentives on certain hybrid models. That's a surprise to many, given the typically high-demand, low-volume characteristic of hybrid cars. Nevertheless, a healthy incentives package may be the tipping point between two models.
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Call your CPA: Tax credits and rebates abound, but it may be hard to determine which ones your vehicle is eligible for. If your accountant doesn't have a grip on the issue, your local dealer should. If all else fails, contact the manufacturer directly or, better yet, log on to the Web.
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DON'T
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Expect to get a return on investment: This is a good tip for cars powered by futuristic or conventional means. You may very well end up getting your investment back, especially with gas prices rising with no end in sight. But, everyday driving practices and variable road characteristics make it an unlikely occurrence.
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Forget the Web: To say the very least, most hybrid owners are comfortable with technology. That means the Web is teeming with driver diaries and firsthand owner accounts. These provide great insight into the everyday life of average hybrid drivers.
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Be afraid to walk away: Another cardinal rule that applies to hybrids and nonhybrids alike. Just because you may be negotiating on a highly desirable vehicle doesn't mean having the wherewithal to walk away diminishes in importance. Remember, despite how it may feel, consumers have all the power in the auto showroom.
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