Should I buy the Toyota hybrid?

Question

Wow so much hatred over the Prius c...So imma change my question. This will be our first time buying a car and that's why I'm here for help not to be judged! So can someone please give me their intake Is it worth it to buy to save gas? Will it be worth it later on replacing the expensive battery ? We drive 44 miles a day to and from work...What kind of apr would be good?

Answer 1

To start with the answer: The third generation Prius will offer payback almost immediately for the extra cost, two others do also: the Lincoln MKZ hybrid and the VW Jetta TDI.



This information is from a new analysis from TrueCar.com which shows the years it takes to pay back the extra cost of the hybrid so you should check there.



Buy the Pruis if you like it, I love my Highlander and do not stress over the battery. Listen to the Pruis owner.



I drive a 2006 Highlander Hybrid, I average 24-25 mpg and do lots of highway driving. In town it's around 32. Not a good as I wish it was but it is an SUV. You can get cars all over that beat that mpg and the price. I have over 100,000 miles and so far so good, and the battery costs go down every year so hopefully by the time I have to replace they will be really low.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

We have two of the first generation Prius (both are 2002) in the family. Although teh first generation has several common trouble points (compared to two in the current generation) neither has required any repair except cracked windshields (here in Arizona 5 years is a long life for a windshield), tires and wiper blades. My car has 154K miles on it and my wife's has somewhere around 120K miles. Both have original brakes, less than half worn.



The first generation battery was a learning experience for Toyota, with a handful failing under warranty and as many as 10% failing around the 200K mile point. The sealant they put on under a recall appears to have slowed or stopped the failures. Neither of our cars shows the early signs of battery failure - the system going through reconditioning cycles. Failure of the hybrid battery is so rare in 2004 and later cars that we have no idea how long the battery will last but 300K-400K miles is a good guess. The hybrid battery reliability is far better than the reliability of any automatic transmission, and there is no actual transmission in the Toyota hybrid system.



The two weak spots are the 12 volt aux battery (like the battery in conventional cars, but smaller) and the inverter coolant pump. Aux battery failure is by far the most common problem with second and third generation Toyota hybrids. Some first generation Prius got AGM batteries (we were lucky - both of ours are AGM) while some got conventional batteries. I suspect, but do not know, more recent Toyotas got conventional batteries. They can be replaced with AGM batteries for about $200. Both our ten year old aux batteries are still in good shape. The inverter coolant pump is less common but more expensive. Most start out by getting noisy, then get to the point they shut the system down and light the triangular hybrid warning light. Replacement is about $400-$500 parts and labor. There is an updated pump so that trouble area is probably fixed in current models.



Value is very good. Depreciation is remarkably low - during gas price spikes prices of late model used Prius can be more than the list price of new models, with the new models selling for more than MSRP as well. I paid about half of MSRP for mine when it had 103K miles on it. The buzz when the first generation came out was that it would take 200K miles to repay the cost premium over what was then the conventional version, the Corolla, at $1.50 per gallon. Now we have two supremely reliable cars that are paid for and getting 45 mpg in town, where we do most of our driving. Current models are much more efficient. These two are by far the best cars we have owned in our 38 years together.

Answer 4

You won't be saving money.



You will save on gas, but I read that the battery costs $2000 and needs to be replaced every 5-10 years depending on how you drive and how much you drive.



And since making and manufacturing Toyota Hybrids are more harmful to the environment than making normal cars, you are not doing anyone good.



But you will be saving money in a Prius IF you sell it before the battery dies so you won't have to pay for the new battery. So after 4-5 years, sell it.

Answer 5

The only "hatred" is here on Answers from a few trolls. In real-life it doesn't exist. I have both a 2001 and a 2004 Prius which have been great low maintenance, reliable, and fun-to-drive cars.



1. You should purchase a car because you like it. All cars are an expense--some are just a lower expense then others. My 2004 has cost 12 cents per mile for dealer maintenance, tires, and fuel combined over the 130,000 trouble-free miles I've driven it so far. My wife doesn't keep a logbook for the 2001 but the costs appear similar. Both still run like new.



2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):

2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles

2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles

2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16,174 miles

2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18,384 miles

2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21,755 miles

2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16,177 miles

2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12,134 miles

2011 -- 66.9 mpg 11,272 miles



2. The so-called "hybrid premium" on the Prius is about $500. The remainder of the difference in cost that you read about is because most reviewers compare a sub-compact or compact econo-box to the Prius. The Prius is a mid-sized car with a lot of premium features standard. Mid-sized cars are always more expensive than econo-boxes.



3. The number of batteries that have failed are very few. Even the 2001-2003 Prius with the older style battery typically get 200,000 to 300,000 miles or over ten years of life. Based on the posts in the various Prius groups more than half are still on the original battery. From the 2004 on there just aren't enough failures to be even worth counting. The battery is really a non-issue for Prius owners. And there are several choices:



A. Purchase a new battery for less than $2000 from a dealer (plus $500 installation).

http://www.trademotion.com/parts/2009/TOYOTA/PRIUS/?siteid=213747&vehicleid=1443574§ion=HYBRID%20COMPONENTS



B. Purchase a reconditioned battery from a company such as http://www.reinvolt.com/



C. Purchase one from a recent wreck for about $500.



Really there is no more reason to worry about the battery than there is about the transmission in an old fashioned car.



4. Toyota has removed many of the parts of a conventional car from the Prius and replaced them with more reliable electronics and has simplified others. For instance the Prius doesn't have: an alternator, a starter motor, a serpentine belt (2010+ only), a clutch or fluid coupling. In addition the automatic transmission with it's hundreds of parts has been replaced by a simple planetary gear system similar to a differential.



http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110125/bc_olsen_prius_reliability_110125/20110125?hub=BritishColumbiaHome



As far as the Navigation system goes, many people don't like factory navigation. Basically the pros are:



1. It's always there.



2. Not a real target for thieves.



3. Won't be left in a hotel room



The cons are:



1. Expensive.



2. Doesn't always have the latest features.



I like the Nav system in my 2004 but I supplement it with the iPhone.



The keyless entry system is one of those things that you think might be a toy--until you have one. Then it becomes something that you won't do without if you can possibly afford it. The two big advantages are:



1. The fob is always in your pocket so you never set it down in the trunk and close and lock the trunk.



2. You don't have to juggle whatever you're carrying to open the door.



I don't know of any disadvantages other than it adds to the price of the car.

Answer 6

You will most likely not save money in the long run with hybrids that are not plug ins. If it is a plug in hybrid, like the Volt (great car btw), you might. Utility produced electricity is much cheaper then oil on a mile basis, so the return is there it's just a matter of how quickly and with respect to the life expectancy of the batteries/ replacement costs. Plug in's make more efficient use of the batteries by charging them all the way, instead of a little at a time. Lithium ion batteries, like most rechargeable batteries, have a certain number of charges before they lose capacity (die). Using longer charges is far more efficient then only using them for breaking, allowing you to fully reap the economic benefits of the batteries, where as regenerative breaking and engine powered charging are not nearly as cost effective. Your decision should be based on future expected local gas and electricity prices. I would suggest you sit down and crunch the numbers yourself.