That's an interesting assertion ("hybrid cars are a luxury item"). I mean, all cars are a luxury item to a certain extent, and I haven't seen anything that points to hybrids having more maintainance issues or bring significantly more expensive than other cars (according to today's Globe, a 2005 Toyota Prius is $19,000; a 2005 Saturn L is slightly more). And, of course, you're paying about 60% as much for gasoline.

Alaric has had a Prius for about 2 years now. He likes it very much and, except for routine maintainance, has not had to take it in for repairs.