Access To Carpool Lanes Drives CA Hybrid Car Price Spike - LA Times

[hatrack]

Prices for hybrid cars, which finally started to ease this summer, are soaring again thanks to rising gasoline prices, year-end shortages and legislation allowing a small number of gas-electric hybrids to use California's carpool lanes with only the driver on board.

Many Southland Toyota dealers are charging — and getting — premiums of $4,000 over the manufacturer's suggested retail price on the Prius, the most popular of the three models allowed into carpool lanes.

Some Honda dealers are getting similar premiums for their carpool-eligible models, the hybrid Civic sedan and the two-seat Insight. The premiums, of course, are being charged by the dealers who actually have the cars: Many are out of stock and have pre-sold every one they expect to receive for the next three or four months.

Gasoline prices hovering at or near record highs are one culprit, even though the price of a hybrid — about $3,000 more than a comparable gasoline-engine car before dealership markups — makes it difficult to make up the difference on fuel savings alone.

Shortages are another, and dealers say they are profound. Toyota and Honda are about to release 2006 models and shipments of '05 Priuses and Civic hybrids have slowed considerably. Many dealerships report waiting lists of four or more months for people unwilling to pay a premium.

EDIT

http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-prius27aug27,1,7407088.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-business

[Solo_in_MD]

1. This is why I ride a motorcycle just about everywhere

Great mileage and I get to use the carpool lanes. Its also simple enough to work on, which saves more money.

California you can lane split. A controversial move, but justified in some circumstances. Got me through traffic many evenings.