Hybrids stay popular -- even after gas prices fall

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Having a hybrid isn't just about saving money on fuel. The gas-sipping vehicles are good for the environment, fun to drive, maintain their value and can even be considered a "fashion accessory," owners and auto-industry experts say. That's why sales of hybrids have held up well, even as gas prices have plunged and the automotive industry struggles through the recession.

Dr. Sultan Rahaman of Heathrow bought his first BMW in 1991 and has owned a succession of them since. But this year, he replaced his BMW with a 2010 Toyota Prius. And shortly before that, he replaced his wife's minivan with a 2009 Prius.

And though he does miss the BMWs — "the ride, the handling," he says, "I thought, how often do I really need 300 horsepower?"

Rahaman, who's in family practice, is averaging about 50 miles per gallon in his Prius. And in doing so, he feels he is making a difference.

"In the 1970s, during the first oil embargo, I was going to school in Canada, and I remember hearing about how we needed to reduce our dependence on oil," he said. "And for 35 years, we've basically done nothing. In a small way, I feel like we're doing something now."

He also got something he wasn't expecting: a hobby.

Rahaman, like other hybrid owners, admits to embracing his car's complex technology and to falling under the spell of the color graphics on the dashboard that give the driver instant information about fuel mileage.

As he drives to and from his office in Longwood, he tries to maximize that mileage, seeking out downhill routes and avoiding stoplights.

"And then I'll get stuck in traffic," he says, laughing, "and I think, 'There goes the day!' I'm totally involved when I'm driving this car."

Despite the dramatic downturn in U.S. auto sales, hybrid sales remain relatively strong. In September, sales of the Toyota Prius were down 3 percent, but that was the smallest drop of any Toyota passenger car. Honda, meanwhile, has sold about 16,000 Insights this year.

Ford's September hybrid sales of 12,186 is a 239 percent increase over a year ago, led by the first-year Fusion Hybrid.

Hybrid sales are estimated to grow to 4.1 percent of the total U.S. auto market this year, or about 329,000 vehicles, up from 2.6 percent in 2008, according to tracking firm IHS Global Insight of Lexington.

Central Florida dealers say demand has been strong for hybrids, especially during the "cash for clunkers" trade-in programs, which "wiped out our inventory," said Mark Cubarubbia, general manager of Classic Honda in Orlando.

At DeLand Toyota, sales associate Searl Row said almost all the Prius models he gets are sold before they arrive and a waiting period could be as long as eight weeks, depending on the features a customer wants.

Barry Evans of The Villages bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid in June. Though he realizes oil is relatively inexpensive now, "we have no idea what it's going to be in the future. Things are so unsettled."

He has been averaging 38.3 miles per gallon and says he's giving up nothing to get it. "It's a very comfortable car, with all the power we need."

Resale value also is a plus: A 2004 Toyota Prius, according to Kelley Blue Book, is worth $15,460 at retail. A 2004 Toyota Camry SE, which would have cost about the same as the Prius new, is worth $12,230.

Though Toyota and Honda have led the hybrid revolution, other companies are fighting hard to catch up. Mazda, for instance, has announced that it is trying to raise $1.1 billion in capital and will dedicate most of it toward hybrid technology.

Ford and General Motors have made huge strides in hybrids, while Chrysler has co-developed some technology with General Motors.

European manufacturers have traditionally concentrated more on clean diesel, fuel cells and all-electric vehicles. But even that is changing. Porsche will have a hybrid version of its new Panamera sedan, and France is investing $2.2 billion to get 2 million hybrids and electric cars on the road by 2020.

Jesse Toprak, vice president of industry trends for TrueCar, a California-based automotive analyst firm, says there's also a star factor in owning a hybrid.

"Hybrids [are] a fashion accessory," he said. "It's appealing to be able to drive the same car that, say, Leonardo DiCaprio drives."

But that, says Rahaman, has nothing to do with his decision to own a hybrid.

"I went from an $80,000 car to one that costs under $30,000, and I don't think I'm the only one who has gone from a much more expensive car to a Prius," he said. "And that totally blows away the idea that people are buying these cars just for the mileage.

"It wasn't really a decision based on economics," he added. "I just thought, 'This is a car I can live with.' I really can't remember being more excited about driving a car."

Hybrid cars: Hybrids stay popular after cheap gas returns -- OrlandoSentinel.com