In a post I wrote back in February, I wondered aloud: is it time to buy a hybrid?

Y'all know that I'm still struggling with that decision. One of the reasons for that struggle is the wide gap in performance between most hybrid vehicles and the Toyota Prius.

OK, so why not just buy a Prius? Because I remain unconvinced that it meets one critical lifestyle criteria: cargo carrying capacity. In fact, according to manufacturer's spec sheets, the behind-the-seats capacity of my Audi A4 Avant is almost twice that of a Prius.

Besides, I'm hoping that new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards will motivate automakers to introduce significantly improved hybrid or (bio)diesel offerings in 2009. You see, I'm  a patient, careful shopper who is willing to wait for the "perfect" vehicle to come along–I'm not (just) looking for a status symbol that trumpets my commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

So, it was with great interest that I read a recent NY Times article titled Say Hybrid and Many People Will Hear Prius.

Riddle: Why has the Toyota Prius enjoyed such success, with sales of more than 400,000 in the United States, when most other hybrid models struggle to find buyers?

One answer may be that buyers of the Prius want everyone to know they are driving a hybrid.

Check out the stats from a CNW Marketing Research survey of Prius buyers. Of the top reasons customers cited for buying a Prius:

• 57% said "it makes a statement about me"
• 36% cited higher fuel economy
• 25% cited lower emissions

Indeed, according to the Times:

The Prius has become, in a sense, the four-wheel equivalent of those popular rubber “issue bracelets” in yellow and other colors — it shows the world that its owner cares.

Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And I certainly hope all my Prius owning friends don't think I'm accusing them of vanity–just as I hope they don't think I'm not committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in every way I can.

I applaud the continued sales success of the Prius, and don't really care why folks buy them. To the author of the story I cited back in February that offered the point of view "Priuses lack the cachet they had at first," I happily cite the following sales stats from the NY Times:

Prius sales for the first six months of the year are up 93.7 percent from last year, to 94,503, and Toyota has already sold close to as many Prius cars as it did in all of 2006.

Carbon Neutral Journal's stats are brought to you by Blue Spruce Cleaners.

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