Avoid the 1st gen Prius Sedan -
2nd Gen Hatchbacks are fine.
How much is a comparable gas powered car compared to the premium you will pay on a Prius. Figure 44mpg on the Prius and determine how much gas that premium can buy.
$2000 buys a whole lot of gas!
I see what your saying about the 2k gas. so did a bit of research on that angle
here is the swing on gas cost though in my situation.
3 years 90k miles (30k a year) $4 dollars a gallon
28mpg what I get in my fusion right now 12857 (this fusion will be my wifes car now, her car is OLD and she needs something more reliable, now that I can't give her a ride when her car is having issues)
45mpg $8000(I'm guessing i'll be closer to 50, its 55miles of 55mph country roads, so perfect milage situation)
so swing on gas costs over 3 years is 4857.
So lets look at getting a car around a 2008
so comparing 2 cars that fit the same size/function other than the hybrid side of things
2008 Prius 75k miles retail 14250
2008 Matrix 75k miles retail 11675
so 3 years Car Cost + Milage (assuming simlar milage to my fusion on matrix)
Prius 22250
Matrix 24532
Difference 2282 over 3 years
Lets look at new which is something i'm looking as well
Prius C II 20500
Elantra GT (simler size comparable) 19000
Difference over 3 years
Prius 28500
Elantra (figuring on 30mpg) 31000
difference 2500 over 3 years
I think the resale is another angle to look at as well, from looking at used prius they hold there value extremly well, and as gas gets more expensive that should increase.
Ideally what I would love to do is CNG, but right now there isn't a in route fill station going to work, and the home fill stations right now are too expensive and unreliable to make the return on investment any better than a prius from my math.
Also if I do get 50mpg, which I think is doable considering my commute thats an additional 800 dollars.