Not only do Toyota Prius hybrids save you money on gas, they are also less likely to be stolen. A new study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows that the Prius theft rate in 2008-2010 model years was one in 606 of those on the road vs. one in 78 for all cars.
Thieves likely are not attracted to the Prius because the complex hybrid parts are not much use to chop shop thieves who prefer widely interchangeable parts. "It could be that auto thieves are going to steal something for which there generally a market need for the parts," says Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the NICB. In a separate NICB report, the 1994 Honda Accord was the most stolen car in 2011 and the 1998 Honda Civic second. Parts from those cars fit into several model years and are thus valuable on the underground parts market.
The low theft rate is one of two new arguments for the advantages of gas-electric hybrid cars despite their extra cost vs. all-gasoline counterparts. Hybrids like Prius (rated 51 MPG in the city, 48 on the highway) save money on gas but take several years to offset the extra cost. But the government agency that compiles the official gas mileage ratings proposes that because of low auto loan rates and high gas prices, the addition to the monthly payment for a hybrid is more than offset by the savings on gas.
Courtesy of CBS News.
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