Tax Credit Hybrid 2010
May 16th, 2009
Question: How much are the repair cost for Hybrid vehicles in the long run (regardless of the brand)?
I am in the market for a new car and I was considering buying a hybrid. Mainly because of all the benefits and the model i am interested in buying is eligible for a $3400 tax credit. However, I am the type of person to buy a new car and drive it for years (of course keeping up on maintenance).
I still wonder how much are the repair cost (minor and major) for the long run after the glitz and glamor and the warranty expires and the car has 150,000+ miles on it. I can imagine it may be expensive to repair or replace some of the technical hybrid components in these vehicles. I already know that many independent shops do not service hybrid vehicles because of all the advance equipment.
The model I am considering is the 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid
http://www.mercuryvehicles.com/2010milan/
Answer: At this point, that’s pretty much an unknown, and some small shops won’t have a clue as to what to do with them. Those that are battery operated, with a small gasoline engine to drive an alternator to keep the battery charged will be simply enough if it’s the gasoline engine that’s the problem, but for anything else it would need to go to the dealer for repair.
In my primary business, which is towing, I don’t care what’s under the hood, I can tow it where you want it.
One study indicates this:
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Audatex North America Inc. today released the Winter 2009 volume of its industry trends publication, Audatex Directions.
The feature article in this latest issue provides an in-depth exploration of the factors that drive hybrid repair costs. Audatex vehicle and repair data shows that, on average in 2008, the Toyota Prius cost 8.4 percent more to repair than gasoline-powered economy imports, while hybrid vehicles that have gasoline counterparts averaged 3.8 percent more to repair than their counterparts.
You can read the full article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS106774+09-Feb-2009+PRN20090209
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