Hey MamaRae,

You mentioned add-ons. Watch out for those nitrogen-filled tires! Dealers try to slip that in all the time. I ran the numbers once, and you'd have to keep the car for like, ten years for the supposed benefits to even out the initial cost. Plus, air is already like, 78% nitrogen anyway. Just a money grab.

 

Yeah, the add-ons are killer. I was just reading up on ceramic coating, and it's the same deal. Looks great, but the long-term cost vs. benefit just doesn't add up for me. I saw one dealer wanting almost a grand for it. You could get a really good detailing package for way less, and honestly, just keeping up with washing/waxing does the trick.

 

Don’t even get me STARTED on dealer add-ons. Just ran into one offering a "security system" that was just a basic GPS tracker you can buy on Amazon for 30 bucks. They wanted $500 installed.

Pro-tip for anyone looking at these things, especially if you're techy at all. Before you agree to any of that stuff, ask for the EXACT make and model of the device. Then look it up yourself. You'll probably find it for a fraction of the price, and installation is usually a breeze. On my Model 3, I ran my own dashcam setup, and it was way better (and cheaper) than anything the dealer offered. Bet you could do the same on a Sportage for a similar cost!

 

Okay, so basically, everyone's saying watch out for the add-ons, which is totally true. It's all about the profit margin for them.

To sum up what everyone has been saying - nitrogen in tires = skip it, ceramic coating = DIY detail, security system = check Amazon first.

Also, MamaRae, since you're looking at the hybrid for the gas savings, definitely factor in the slightly higher price of the hybrid vs the standard Sportage. Run the numbers on how many miles you drive per year and how long you plan to keep the car. I bet the savings is a lot smaller than you think, especially with gas prices being all over the place. I made a simple spreadsheet with this kind of info when I was comparing a hybrid to a regular gas car.

 

Also, MamaRae, since you're looking at the hybrid for the gas savings, definitely factor in the slightly higher price of the hybrid vs the standard Sportage. Run the numbers on how many miles you drive per year and how long you plan to keep the car. I bet the savings is a lot smaller than you think, especially with gas prices being all over the place. I made a simple spreadsheet with this kind of info when I was comparing a hybrid to a regular gas car.

That spreadsheet idea is smart. I'm seeing people on the RSX forums doing similar calcs. Someone posted this thing a while back that might help folks comparing gas/hybrid/EV

[link to random website]

Basically, you plug in your MPG, gas prices, electric rates, etc., and it estimates the total cost over time. It's not perfect, but it gets you in the ballpark. Definitely worth checking out before you pull the trigger on the hybrid Sportage.

 

That cost calculator is a good idea, but don't forget about battery replacement cost on the hybrid if you're keeping it for the long haul. I was all set to buy a Prius a few years back until I really dug into those numbers. Those batteries aren't cheap and they don't last forever, no matter what the salesman tells you. Could wipe out a lot of your "savings" from gas. Just my two cents.

 

Yeah, good point about the hybrid battery replacement. Forgot about that. Another thing to think about with the hybrid Sportage, especially for road trips MamaRae, is cargo space. Hybrids sometimes lose a little bit of room in the back cause of the battery pack. Might not be a dealbreaker, but if you're loading up for summer trips with the family, double-check those specs and maybe try packing a test run at the dealership. Don’t wanna end up needing a roof rack just cause the hybrid ate up your trunk space.

 

Good call on the cargo space thing! I hadn’t thought about how the battery pack could mess with that. We’re looking at the RSX but also test-driving a Passport, and I’m realizing that even if the EV part is cool, trunk space is still trunk space. My partner and I are planning to take a tape measure on our test drive. Lesson learned haha.

 

Good call on the cargo space thing! I hadn’t thought about how the battery pack could mess with that. We’re looking at the RSX but also test-driving a Passport, and I’m realizing that even if the EV part is cool, trunk space is still trunk space. My partner and I are planning to take a tape measure on our test drive. Lesson learned haha.

Haha, a tape measure! That's intense. But you know, manufacturers' "specs" are sometimes, uh, optimistic.

Just make sure you measure with the back seats up if you're planning on using them, right? Some people only care about the space with the seats down but that's not real-world for families.

 

Yeah, that spec thing is totally real. I was looking at the RSX EV and some reviews dinged it for the cupholder size. Like, seriously Acura? You can get the 0-60 down but not fit a normal water bottle? I'm thinking of 3D printing a little adapter if it bugs me enough. Or is that too extra? lol