Anyone out there researched the new Hybrid Cars? It makes sense to me in this day and age, with the escalating prices at the pump, mother nature interrupting gas production flow, and the ever looming oil shortage. A family car that gets a gazillion miles to the gallon (ok...Maybe 40 or 50 mpg) is the sensible new car purchase. Especially here in California where we burn the "special blend" that seems to cost quite a bit more than the blends sold in other states.
This past year, my wife and I have kept our eye on the Hybrid market and found that you cannot just go to your local dealer, plunk your money down and drive one off the lot. The demand has far exceeded the supply for all Hyrbrids to date. Many sell well over the factory sticker price due to this supply/demand scenario. A bit like buying a nice Harley Davidson motorcycle. You lay down a deposit, and in a few months your new Hybrid will arrive. There are currently no rebate incentives or financing incentives to buy a Hybrid car. They generally run about $10k higher than their gas guzzling counterpart which will likely offer a factory rebate and may even qualify for zero interest financing.
Now it seems to me that at least one of the auto manufacturers would take the lead and crank up production of their Hybrids and really get them out there in numbers. The demand for them is there. The market has already proven that. But so far, the auto makers seem content to trickle them out there slowly.
So meanwhile, my wife and I drive our "economy cars" getting 20-30 mpg and bide our time. Watching and waiting for the right deal on the right Hybrid to come along.

Peace & Love!