Yeah, that was kind of my point, I guess. The government has a desirable incentive available to them. It was originally offered as a way to get more people into fewer cars (which helps with congestion, fuel consumption and pollution). They decided that they could offer the same incentive as a way to get people into cleaner/more fuel-efficient cars, so why not? Unfortunately, using the incentive for the second purpose has the possible effect of defeating the original purpose.

 

It's to get those ugly suckers off the road quicker, so we don't have to look at them..... Okay, so now some actually look like real cars........

 

Want a great read? http://www.cnwmr.com/nss-folder/automotiveenergy/
Check this link out. Read the Dust to Dust report and you'll never look at a hybrid the same again. Pretty thorough report with some excellent rebuttle documentation to go with it.

 

Let me ask about this Auto Start/Stop system. Does it have a memory to be on or off or is it like the sport button that every time you begin you have to activate it, to work!

 

I got my mini in septemper with the start stop function ,you have the choice of the stop start on or off bye pressing a button in front of the gear stick.
The stop start De fault setting is on when you start the car.
My mini model gets 50mpg without useing the stop start function and has a petrol engine.
The toyota and lexus hybrids were built for the american market ,when compering them to us built cars they do good mpg.
The lexus LS600H does around 33mpg combined , but comparing it to the the audi A8 4.2 V8 diesel which does 40mpg the lexus looks stupid .
Toyota and lexus hybrids are not that enviromently , considering it takes more energy to manufacture the cars and the batteries.