my cursed car: Honda Civic Hybrid In May of 2007 I bought a used 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid from a Honda dealership in So-Cal. A little under a year after buying the car, it was totaled. Before the accident that led to this little hybrid’s demise, the car was nothing but an annoyance… requiring “special”, more expensive, oil - having to listen carefully after turning off the car to make sure the battery was turned off as well - being ineligible to fly solo in the carpool lane and park for free because the California DMV stopped giving out the yellow stickers to hybrid vehicles (even though that was something the dealer sold me on – “its easy, you just request a sticker and they send it to you with your plates,” said the dealer. Well I found out after being pulled over by a cop for riding in the carpool lane alone – and getting heaps of parking tix for not paying meters… that ummm… no…actually the government incentive is over – no more yellow stickers – and now I have some fines to pay. Anyway, On April 1, 2008 I got into my FIRST car accident with this car, and the car was totaled – “HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY mom, this is not a joke!
Life lesson – don’t be fooled by dealers or the government… just because the vehicle is a hybrid, is marketed as a feel-good car for the environment and has the government's sticker of approval doesn’t mean you are getting more for your money or “saving” the earth. Its a scam, a really really good scam. The new hybrids like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius are NOT the "greenest" thing since Al Gore. If you really want to be "green"… like for real... don’t go out and buy a NEW car. in fact. don't buy anything. Consumerism is the biggest threat to our planet... i mean sure, hybrids get you more mileage to the gallon, but how "green" is the car after it gets totaled...
There is no hybrid heaven or hummer hell, all cars go to the same place when they die. and in the end hybrids (as they are currently designed) are just as bad for the environment as the hummers waiting in line at the wrecking yard.
