Some people think they need a giant SUV complete with four-wheel drive to manage a little inclement weather in our Northwest.  Well, after riding my bike through an inch of snow to get to work one morning, I can safely report that it's do-able with two wheels (of course, maybe those folks driving SUVs half the size of a bus are hoping to cause so much global warming that we won't have any snow in Oregon - but that's another story).  So if you can't afford a hybrid, try a much cheaper transportation option that's much better for the environment, anyway: the bicycle.  And if the journey's too long to make it on pedal-power, then there's always public transportation.  Here in the Portland area - even out in rural Washington County - you can get almost anywhere using the bus and other public transportation options.  I very rarely even ride in a car anymore, these days.

Heck, a Prius still runs on oil; and you're still giving your money to Toyota - money the company can then funnel into suing states like Oregon that want to place tougher regulations on vehicle pollutants.  Simply finding ways to drive whatever car you own less often can be a more effective way to combat global warming than buying a hybrid.  Stick it to the oil companies, the car dealers, and the energy-intensive cement-making industry too, while you're at it.  Ride a bike.

-Nick