Are Hybrids All Hype?Brendan I. Koerner takes readers' questions about buying a new fuel-efficient car vs. a used gas-guzzler.

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There are so many other options on the table—natural gas, biofuels, etc. I think there will have to be some consensus among both automakers and government for that Next Big Thing to emerge. But can that consensus really be developed? I'm skeptical—there are so many vested interests in keeping fossil fuels at the top of the heap.

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Styrofoam vs. Paper/Ecotainer: Have you looked at Styrofoam cups versus paper cups, reusbale mugs/glasses, or biodegradable/compostable cups? I've done a bit of research for my office, but only have come across one semi-helpful study that is a bit dated. On the same vein, do you predict the price of Styrofoam cups will increase because of increased petroleum prices?

Brendan Koerner: I get asked this question quite a bit, and I suspect the answer may be that Styrofoam is less harmful than it looks and feels. Let's face it, if something appears really artificial—like disposable diapers—then we're prone to assume that it's just awful for the environment as compared to more natural options. But that isn't always the case, since there are so many inputs to consider—for example, how much energy goes into farming the corn that produces those eco-cups? And how much energy is required over a lifetime to wash those mugs?

I'm not saying Styrofoam is going to win this comparison. But it's probably a tighter race than one might think. I hope to tackle the issue soon.

As for the second part of your question—I'd assume the answer is yes. The days of cheap oil seem behind us, so prepare for prices to increase across the board.

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Jeff180: Both choices are wrong. The true way to be "green" is to do nothing. If you sell your old car and buy another, new or used, your old car will be bought and return to the road. Your new car will add one more polluting vehicle to the equation.

Brendan Koerner: I see your point here. My general advice with product-related questions is to use things until they can't be used anymore, then dispose of them in the sagest manner possible. But the person who asked the Prius vs. CPO car sounded as if they'd already made up their mind about getting a new vehicle. I have to play the cards I'm dealt every week.

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Alberquerque, N.M.: Smug: With more than 1,000,000 hybrid owners these day, all types of people are bound to be found. But for every smug, annoying Prius owner, how many SUV owners are there who "own the road" and expect people to get out of their way? If 50 miles per gallon is smug, what is 15 miles per gallon? Personally, I checked out the Honda Hybrid first, but chose Prius because I thought it was a better car in terms of technology, finish, gas mileage and design (I love hatchbacks).

Brendan Koerner: Thanks for the feedback. I get a LOT of e-mail from Prius owners every time I write about the car. They've always struck me as genuinely enthusiastic about their vehicles, rather than smug. The Prius also scores very, very high on consumer satisfaction surveys. It just strikes me as bizarre to label Prius owners as smug (or worse) based solely on their consumer choice. Why are people so irritated by this car?

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nelsonal : The biggest emissions reduction is probably to buy a higher-milage Hummer or Escalade from it's first owner (who will buy a more efficient vehicle) and drive it as little as possible. But that won't win any status points when you pick up little Madison from swim practice or park at the local farmer's market.

Brendan Koerner: Case in point.

Also, it's a big assumption you're making there. How would you verify that the Hummer owner is going to upgrade to a more efficient vehicle? Though I am for driving less miles, if possible.

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The Real RML : It is fair to look at the Prius in terms of its green numbers, but the fact remains that there is no such thing as an old Prius, nor do we know what long-term issues they may have. Another fair question the green folks don't like to discuss is the cost. The Prius costs more to buy initially, and its parts also are all more costly than their nongreen counterparts. Brakes and batteries are all significantly more, for instance. So any money saved on gas may well be spent on repairs and the up-front premium costs associated with any vehicle with a waiting list for purchases.

But as anyone who bought a first- or second-year car model can tell you, the worst is what you don't know. An early model car is far more likely to be recalled—and the reasons that cause that are discovered by those lucky first buyers. Overall I would say it is a wash costwise, and a risk too.

Brendan Koerner: This is a fair point. We don't yet have tons of data about the performance of older Priuses. And I'd like to point out that I did discuss the cost differential in my column—it's certainly nothing to sneeze at.

As previously stated, however, consumer satisfaction with the Prius is really high. And the warranty is pretty generous—in some states, I believe the battery is covered for 150,000 miles. While I agree with you that there probably isn't much difference, costwise, over the long term, there's something to be said for the vehicle's other attributes.

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