Cost of ownership - Hybrid vs Kei (aiming for cheapest)

[mrsamo]

Hey folks, been a while but have a question about whether to go for a hybrid car if the cost of ownership (shaken/taxes etc) would be about the same as getting a kei car. I am looking at keis now but am interested in hybrids because they're bigger and a little more luxurious. Fuel economy is probably the same. I can pay a little more for the car but would like to keep the annual cost of ownership to a minimum.

[rich dude kryptonite]

Taxes and shaken are higher in hybrids. Less parking options too.

I have a Daihatsu Move Latte and was considering changing to a Prius Alpha but I don't feel that the Prius is any roomier (besides those extra 3 seats. It's hard to change from a car with headroom to one without. My husband has an Alphard Hybrid and that gets 18km/l which isn't bad, but shaken and taxes are much more than my kei.

[mrsamo]

I found this on the net:

http://www.shinkosha-japan.com/engli...car/index.html

[rich dude kryptonite]

I should mention that the keis are much cheaper for replacement parts too. Winter tyres cost about 1.8man for all 4 for my kei, you'd be hard pressed to buy one for that price for a Prius.