Feb
5
2004
added incentive
In my random musings about what my next car will be, I’ve been eyeing the gas/electric Honda Civic Hybrid. It’s compact, gets fantastic gas mileage and isn’t uber-expensive. Not that, with college loan payments coming up in the next year, I’m looking to buy a new car in the immediate future, but it’s fun to think about.
Reading an article about retirement plans and tax stuff, I caught this little tidbit at the tail-end of a Washington Post article. (“If You Depend on a 401(k), Now Is Time to Start Worrying About Retirement” - 02/01/04)
The Internal Revenue Service last week added the 2003 and 2004 Honda Insight and the 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid to the list of cars eligible for the clean-fuel vehicle deduction. The certification means taxpayers who buy one of these new hybrids may claim a tax deduction of up to $2,000 on their 2003 return, or up to $1,500 for this year.
A nifty, environmentally responsible car and a tax deduction? Sweet!
Although with my luck, the tax deduction will have been phased out by the time I get said new car. But maybe hybrids will be more mainstream and prices will have come down even further by that point.
![[Photo]](http://photos.morethanthis.net/images/2008-09-13/thumbs/IMG_0272.jpg)
Comments
The New York Times reports that Ford has licensed Toyota’s technology to make its own line of hybrid cars. (“Ford to License Toyota’s Hybrid Technology” - 03/10/04)
I wonder if this means that Toyota’s flavor of hybrid technology, rather than Honda’s, will become the de facto “standard,” making it eventually more inexpensive than Honda’s version to repair and get new parts.
Looks like the Prius is winning out over the Civic Hybrid so far, in terms of popularity and sales. The Washington Post reports that part of the Prius’s appeal lies in its unique look, which sets it apart from other cars. (“Toyota’s Prius Proving to Be the Hotter Ride in Hybrids” - 08/23/04)