Just heard on the news that gas prices will stay in the $4-$4.50 range for the next year. Might hit $5 during the Summer months but it's not going to get any cheaper any time soon.
Everyone has to remember that sometimes buying a commuter car for the better gas mileage really isn't the way to go because you will have to pay extra for car insurance, registration, depreciation and sometimes the lack of comfort.
If you do the math, it doesn't make sense why people are buying up the hybrids just to try and save money on fuel when they pay that premium up front. I guess in the long run it could save you but let's take a look at this.
Most people say that it will take between 4-5 years to recoupe the additional cost from a regular Civic to a Civic Hybrid but what if after 6 years you have to replace the batteries and say it cost you $2500, then you are back in the negative again for a few more years so in reality, without a car pool sticker that you can benefit using from now till 1/2011, there really isn't a good reason to buy a hybrid for an average driver. My 2 cents.