Whoa wait.

You get 171.4 more miles per tank.

At 50 miles per gallon instead of 38, you're saving about $9 per fill up, not $26. So if the hybrid is $6640 more than the normal Civic, you'll need to fill up 738 times before you see savings.

738 times is just shy of 500,000 miles. (your $26 calculation seems to be dividing by $2, not by 38 mpg)

Also, try taking a hybrid to a repair shop. Sure, your warranty is great, for a few years. But even in 5 years, how many shops will be working on hybrids? Not many, if there aren't a LOT more of them produced.
The profitability just won't be there. Why train or pay mechanics that are hybrid certified, assuming there is a more than negligible increase in pay? So why would anyone GET certified if there is only a negligible increase?

My suggestion: Buy a regular Civic, keep it well-maintained, and you'll still be driving a very fuel-efficient car.

 

I knew I MIGHT'VE been off somewhere!! I assumed gas would be $2 a gallon for my estimates...but given the benefit of the doubt...wow.

Actually, IIRC Toyota is making 100,000 more Prius' then usual, or selling that many altogether in US, or something along those lines. All I know is that they are increasing production. Ford Escape Hybrid also came out for 2005 model year, which (amazingly) uses Toyota's technology for most of it. When the hybrid Altima (one of the "ah" Nissan cars) comes out--which (surprise!) uses technology directly taken from Toyota--there will be even more hybrids on the road, concidering that Nissan is the 2nd biggest Japanese car manufacturer (recently surpassed Honda).

Dont forget also that Nissan was in the same predicament that Mitsu is a few years ago, and now they are #2! Plus they have 15 or so subsideraries, Mitsu electric, Mitsu phones, a few banks, hell Nikon cameras are Mitsus too!