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We figured with gas prices at their current level, over 10 year operation of the car, we would save around $14,000 in gas over the next runner up which was the 2011 Sonata.
Just out of curiosity, what's the math to get to those savings? What's your city/highway mix of driving? Also, are you factoring in the cost of the battery back? You can bank on having to replace it at least once in 10 years.
Just out of curiosity, what's the math to get to those savings? What's your city/highway mix of driving? Also, are you factoring in the cost of the battery back? You can bank on having to replace it at least once in 10 years.
We currently spend about $250/month on gas for my wife, average consumption of 25 MPG on trip computer. While the 2011 Sonata is quoted as 35 MPG highway, I tend to find cars typically get more toward their city MPG when driven in a 50/50 mix. So we figure 25 MPG as well for her. So double the MPG = half the gas cost, or around $120/month = $1400/year.
Battery packs are an issue. The research we did showed a cost of about $2,000 to have them rebuilt by an outside company and installed, and that is in todays costs. Eight years ago it was $7,000.
There are taxi cabs that went to 340,000 miles before having to replace the battery pack so I am not too concerned. I know it is an issue and point of contention, we will deal with it when/if it happens.
I know what you mean. My 1991 Ford Escort has 150,000 miles on it. If it had 43,000 miles a year, it would be up to 860,000 miles by now.
In this case the car was in operation for 18 months, so really about 30,000 miles per year. A lot, of course, if you drive it for 10 years or more. She drives about 12,000 miles per year.
A lot of miles for a 2 year old car, a little above average, heck with a Toyota you can figure they jusr barely broke it in for you. Don't expect any problems for the first 200,000 miles, just change the oil, air the tires and drive that Toyota like you stole it.
Cool, congrats. I've never been much for them, but that's just me. Rather have a VW TDi for 46 mpg, fuel costs more, but more fun in the driving arena. I have a co-worker who was looking at getting a new car, her current vehicle (chevy cobalt / 5 speed manual) is getting 40 mpg, she was wanting to get a Jetta TDi, but i was like "For an extra 5-10 mpg, i don't know if it's really worth it to buy a new car" The real kicker on her is that she's driving 90 miles one way to work...180 round trip/day x 4 days a week = 720 miles / week and that's just for work...not to mention if she picks the kids up from school, goes to soccer practice, or gets groceries, she's could be pushing 1,000 miles a week...her estimates are at about 40k miles / yr...so i'd love to see how long her little Cobalt will actually last, as in a VERY new vehicle with close to 200k miles on it...could be pretty awesome!!!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Originally Posted by wheelsup
Battery packs are an issue. The research we did showed a cost of about $2,000 to have them rebuilt by an outside company and installed, and that is in todays costs. Eight years ago it was $7,000.
There are taxi cabs that went to 340,000 miles before having to replace the battery pack so I am not too concerned. I know it is an issue and point of contention, we will deal with it when/if it happens.
Age is harder on the batteries than miles, a cab running all day long will get a longer life from them than someone driving to work and back. I've noticed that the used hybrid prices drop quickly at 4-5 years old, despite blue book, perhaps because of the perception that the batteries may need changing soon.
I have driven one a few times and also a Civic hybrid quite often, of the two
I like the Prius a lot better for driveability but agree they are ugly. Mind you my beater commute car is ugly too, 1997 Escort but gets 32 mpg and that's fine for me.
Honest opinion...you got a good deal for a 2010 Prius with 43k miles on it, about $1k off what the average retail sale is for that car. However, it was a pretty poor purchase compared to buying a new one. For a scant $2,500 more you could have bought a brand new 2012 Prius. The car you bought was an absolute base model, so you weren't getting much extra bang in terms of things like a sunroof, nav, leather, etc.
The smart purchase would have been to wait the two months for the new car at $22,500, or shop around at other dealers, even out of state, and get the full warranty and the feeling of actually owning a new car. Now, the purchase itself was a good deal on the open market for a used Prius, but it just wasn't as good as buying new.
We currently spend about $250/month on gas for my wife, average consumption of 25 MPG on trip computer. While the 2011 Sonata is quoted as 35 MPG highway, I tend to find cars typically get more toward their city MPG when driven in a 50/50 mix. So we figure 25 MPG as well for her. So double the MPG = half the gas cost, or around $120/month = $1400/year.
Battery packs are an issue. The research we did showed a cost of about $2,000 to have them rebuilt by an outside company and installed, and that is in todays costs. Eight years ago it was $7,000.
There are taxi cabs that went to 340,000 miles before having to replace the battery pack so I am not too concerned. I know it is an issue and point of contention, we will deal with it when/if it happens.
From what I have heard, the battery packs last longest if the car is driven daily or nearly daily. The "little old lady" that drives it just to church on Sunday is the one that has battery pack problems. So taxi service is where this car really excels, not a surprise the battery packs went mega-miles.
To me the Prius is just about "A to B at minimal fuel cost" - not necessarily minimum total cost - but, whatever, I am glad to see a "hands-on" kind of guy buy one. Will look forward to your further tales about ownership experience.
Just wondering - will a Prius still go on just the gas engine if the "big" battery pack is dead?
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