lifetime costs/bang for your buck (smart #1) cars.com

[forestacademy]

My local smart dealer was handing this out at the green drive expo. It shows that you are not always saving money with a Hybrid
http://www.cars.com/go/about/us.jsp?...&date=20080519
http://www.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGui...d=fuelLifetime

The numbers are with last years gas prices and based off base model cars

It does take into account premium gas for the smart

This is just one more bit of amo to hit the streets with

Passenger Cars
Below are the top 10 passenger cars that give consumers the best bang for their buck based on vehicle price and the average lifetime fuel cost to operate the car. All cars listed have a manual transmission except the Smart ForTwo, which comes with an automated-manual transmission.
Vehicle	MPG (city/hwy)	Base Sticker	Lifetime Fuel	Sticker & Lifetime Fuel
1. Smart ForTwo	33/41	$11,590	$13,932*	$25,522
2. Toyota Yaris	29/36	$11,350	$15,103	$26,453
3. Hyundai Accent	27/32	$10,775	$16,528	$27,303
4. Kia Rio	27/32	$10,890	$16,528	$27,418
5. Chevrolet Aveo5	24/34	$10,235	$17,353	$27,588
6. Nissan Versa	26/31	$12,880	$17,122	$30,002
7. Chevrolet Aveo	24/34	$12,170	$17,353	$29,523
8. Honda Fit	28/34	$13,950	$15,782	$29,732
9. Toyota Corolla	28/37	$14,405	$15,266	$29,671
10. Scion xD	27/33	$14,550	$16,323	$30,873

[jwight]

"Yeah, but my 72 Geo Metro got 100 mpg and only cost $1.98."

I can hear the comments now. Nice find.

[pmolink]

The analysis is missing a column for the cost of after-market performance products and bling that many of us Smart owners bolt onto our little kraut rockets... say $5,000. That still keeps us in the top 10.

[Karl Roth]

Service cost and insurance cost more for most cars than fuel...
karl

[Suze]

There aren't any hybrids on your list forest. Sorry, I didn't chase down the links. Anyway, of course the higher the price of gas the better the hybrids do.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by Suze

There aren't any hybrids on your list forest. Sorry, I didn't chase down the links. Anyway, of course the higher the price of gas the better the hybrids do.

Yep you have to follow the links
With Gas Prices Skyrocketing, Cars.com Identifies Cars that Offer Best Bang for Your Buck
Total cost for the Prius in the same charts, Cant seem to copy them, is $29,855 and that with $4 gas

[JerseySmart]

Gas-Only Cars
All cars listed have a manual transmission.
Vehicle	MPG (city/hwy)	Base Sticker	Lifetime Fuel	Sticker & Lifetime Fuel
1. Smart ForTwo	33/41	$11,590	$12,273*	$22,868
2. Toyota Yaris	29/36	$11,350	$12,838	$24,188
3. Hyundai Accent	27/32	$10,775	$14,049	$24,824
4. Kia Rio	27/32	$10,890	$14,049	$24,939
5. Chevrolet Aveo5	24/34	$10,235	$14,750	$24,985
6. Nissan Versa	26/31	$12,880	$14,553	$27,433
7. Chevrolet Aveo	24/34	$12,170	$14,750	$26,920
8. Honda Fit	28/34	$13,950	$13,414	$27,364
9. Toyota Corolla	28/37	$14,405	$12,976	$27,381
10. Scion xD	24/32	$14,550	$13,875	$28,425
* With premium fuel

Hybrid Cars
Vehicle	MPG (city/hwy)	Base Sticker	Lifetime Fuel	Sticker & Lifetime Fuel
1. Toyota Prius	48/45	$21,100	$8,755	$29,855
2. Honda Civic Hybrid	40/45	$22,600	$9,690	$32,290
3. Toyota Camry Hybrid	33/34	$25,200	$12,200	$37,400
4. Nissan Altima Hybrid	35/33	$25,480	$11,975	$37,455
5. Saturn Aura Green Line	24/32	$23,640	$15,088	$38,728

[VillageGreen]

The base sticker column for the hybrids is the reason I turned to smart for the car of my dreams.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by VillageGreen

The base sticker column for the hybrids is the reason I turned to smart for the car of my dreams.

Because you can get this loaded


For the price of a striped down

Hunk of borring