NORWALK, Conn. (Dec. 20, 2006) With today's rising gas prices, Americans are looking for ways to conserve fuel and stay in the driver's seat for the longest time possible.

According to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices in the U.S. have risen 15 cents since December 2005 and $1.21 in the past five years.

"While I burn plenty of rubber on the track, I'm always looking for ways to not burn all my cash on gas - especially during the holidays," said NASCAR legend and AutoVantage spokesman Bobby Hamilton.

There are several alternatives to burning fuel on the road, including walking, biking, using public transportation or carpooling. But when you have to be behind the wheel, you may want to consider a hybrid vehicle - which could make the perfect holiday gift for that special person on your list.



Hybrid vehicles combine two or more sources of power, such as a rechargeable battery and gasoline, to get better fuel economy and lower emissions. Hybrid motors are built smaller and use battery power to provide extra acceleration power when needed. Hybrid gas motors can shut off and run off the electric motor and battery when stopped, and also recover braking energy to charge the battery.

"Hybrid vehicles are a good, environmentally friendly alternative to today's gas models," said Mike Wain, vice president of AutoVantage. "Without sacrificing power or comfort, hybrids are a unique choice for today's auto consumers."



But is a hybrid right for you? Here are a few facts to clear up some common misconceptions about hybrids and help you decide if it's right to go green next time you buy a car:

• Better gas mileage. The most obvious advantage of hybrid vehicles is their typically higher gas mileage than standard gas models. For example, the 2007 Toyota Prius averages 55 mpg and the Honda Civic Hybrid averages 50 mpg. Comparable gas models the 2007 Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic get on average 34 and 35 mpg respectively. But if small to mid-sized sedans don't fit your family or career, there are several truck and SUV options with more models from most brands in the development stages.

• Higher price. More incentive. While hybrid models are generally more expensive than their gas-run counterparts, there are many incentives that in most cases will help outweigh the price of buying green. If you are the proud owner of one of the first 60,000 units of a brand's hybrid line, you can tap into a federal tax credit. On top of that, several states also offer tax incentives on qualifying hybrids. Colorado offers credits up to about $4,500. In addition, shop around for the lowest insurance premium. Some insurers are giving discounts of as much as 10 percent to hybrid owners.

• Cost of repairs. The common fear of hybrids is that finding parts or a qualified repair shop to fix your eco-friendly vehicle will be difficult or expensive. While the unique hybrid battery pack is estimated at about $3,000 or more, rest assured it will be a long time before you replace it.  Most manufacturers will cover the cost of hybrid parts, including the battery pack, for the first eight years or 80,000 miles. And independent industry hybrid battery tests have shown that 160,000 miles of use had no effect on fuel economy. Where the costs of parts may become an issue is buying a used hybrid where warranties have expired. Routine maintenance for hybrids is very similar in cost to gas models as well, and in some cases, such as brake pad replacement, less frequent.

• Now who's going to fix it? Dealerships that sell hybrids are also required to have technicians who are trained to repair them. And if you don't live close to the dealership, there are nearly 1,000 independent technicians trained to maintain and repair hybrids across the country. Hybrids are still a growing market though, so before you drive five hours to buy a clean, green machine make sure there is a technician close to you. For a list of local independent shops certified to service or repair hybrids, visit http://www.auto-careers.org/.

• Rest assured. It's a good investment. Consumer Reports magazine recently gave the Toyota Prius, a popular hybrid model, the best depreciation rating among all currently sold models - gas or hybrid. The Prius beat out popular gas models - the Mini Cooper, Scion xB, BMW M3 and Lexus RX - for the illustrious honor.

Hybrid cars are not right for everyone, but they are a viable alternative to our gas models and their variety and efficiency continue to increase, just as gas prices continue to rise. So when it's time to think about purchasing a new car, visit a site such as, www.consumerreports.org, www.hybridcars.com or www.greenhybrid.com to see if a hybrid might be right for you.



Bobby Hamilton, a spokesman for AutoVantage, is the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion after achieving four career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victories. He founded Bobby Hamilton Racing, which owns and operates two trucks in the NASCAR circuit.

About AutoVantage

Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included. AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group

Affinion Group is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,600 employees throughout the United States and in 13 countries across Europe.

About Affinion Group
As a global leader with almost 40 years of experience, Affinion Group (www.affinion.com) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,550 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the company has approximately 4,250 employees and markets in 17 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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