Hello! Car shopping.

Hi all!

So, I've finally come to a point that I feel I need to get a new car. As things keep breaking on my 20 year old car (which I've driven for 10+ years, and my mother for about 6 years before that) -- purchased about 4 years used. I have a short, but not short enough list of cars I'm considering. Among that list are both the Prius and Prius C. The others are Corolla, Civic, Fit, & Yaris. My current car is a '94 Civic which until the last couple years was pretty good to me (I had the transmission go on me in 2012, and then spent like $700 in 2013 on a variety of different smaller issues, including a new radiator) I was hoping to get more time out of it than I have, but I'm tired of putting money into it, and tired of the time I'm left without transportation when it has to be repaired. And I'm still pained to part with it, but between the window that hasn't worked in a year, the door handle that's broken (which as had me climbing out my passenger side on a couple of occasions), and now a noise coming from one of the back breaks, I think it's time. I've been poking around the car lots the last few weeks, test drove a few of the cars, but am lacking frontrunners (I keep flip flopping whenever I think I might be leaning one way or another). My friends own a Prius (an '06 or '07) that they bought new (and actually a second they got used just last year of a similar model year) and love their cars. But I believe they do a lot more driving than I do. Even if their work drive isn't a lot longer now, it was in the past, and even now, they go out and take day trips to the beach and such with much greater regularity than I'd ever even think or desire to. I believe they are well past 100k miles on the first Prius.

That all said, I'm not a high mileage driver. My 20 year old car is just over 140,000 miles, and I hit 100,000 way back in '05 (and that even includes a few trips to LA and back that I made in years past - it's not really a thing I do anymore). My drive to work is short (I have two places, one that I'm at more often than the other, but neither is very long) . Once a week it's less than 2 miles (all streets with a few lights at a posted speed limit of around 35/40). The rest of the week it's across town at probably just shy of 5 miles (a few traffic lights and then like 4 miles on the highway). A full electric vehicle is not in the cards. We have an old house that isn't even fond of running the hair dryer, I'd be afraid to plug a whole car in. Besides there's no place to plug in where I work, and I still want the ease and versatility of having the ability for it to keep going on gas if needed for the potential, but rare longer drive.

Perhaps as one can see, I'm looking for economical (not just in mpg, as even my current old car doesn't do too bad in that regard, I only fill up every two weeks, and even then it's barely half a tank, if that). But I want a car that will be reliable, will be 'cheapish' and easy to maintain and will go and go for years. I'm going used, but looking hopefully for something no older than 2010 and definitely under 50000 miles (less the younger the car is).

I'm concerned about the long term effects on the car more of such short shots of driving. My off time I don't do a lot of trips, mostly equally short drives to groceries and other errands/shopping. Longer drives are still under 15 miles usually to my friends & family's places, and that's not even always every month, so it's not a big contributor to extra miles or longer trips.

I want whatever car I get though to be my car for the next 15-20 years. And I am pretty certain my job will not be the same that whole time. I work retail in a somewhat fading industry. Likely five years from now, if not sooner, I'll be working somewhere else (though I have no concepts of where, likely could be equally short across town kind of deal, but who knows). If only I could read the future, this would probably be an easier decision.

Does anyone know from experience the long term wear potential of that kind of driving on the hybrid side of the car, especially that somewhat pricy battery? (Makes me wonder if this kind of driving could have contributed to my transmission failing in my Civic at a fairly low mileage marker for such an issue or if it was just that it was 18 years old). I'm aware MPG may not really be too much different than the 27mpg (estimated via miles driven and gas used between fill ups) I'm getting with my Civic. But I definitely don't want to find that in five years or so or just after warranty is up that battery fails and I'm suddenly paying $3000 bucks (basically like a transmission) to replace it.

I live in the Bay Area (California), so harsh winters aren't a huge factor, but it can get a bit frosty over night in the heart of winter. And I park outside. (Since I know temperature can play a role.)

I'm really struggling to figure out just what might be the best car for me for the next 15+ years. Any advice and Prius info from real life usage would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Thanks for the quick and thoughtful replies everyone! I think a round of test drives of all the possibilities is probably is in order. At least I feel like Prius shouldn't have any bigger potential costs from my driving tendencies than any of the traditional gas only ones. Obviously at some point beyond 10 years with any car some repairs and replacements of some things like the hybrid battery or a traditional transmission come into play among other things.

Good gas mileage is something I want, and even a little better with the Prius over the others would be nice, but I also don't consider it a key decider as I know a Civic or Corolla would still give me pretty good gas mileage. I like the potential cargo space with the Prius. I don't load my car a lot, but there have been at least some instances over the past 10 years with my Civic where I've put some interesting things in it (ladder, yard equipment, computers, chairs, futons, etc) and I'm betting the Prius is a pro at that kind of stuff. I find the idea of having what amounts to nearly a modest sized truck bed of space if I put the seats down, as well as with them up having still a good amount of cargo space with the original Prius. I did look at a 2012 Civic today and it does have a nice trunk though, so...

The other thing with the Prius that I find highly appealing is not having to smog it (at least until California decides it can find a way to smog them, but hopefully I'd at least get some years without the smog testing out of it before that happened.) I despise smog testing. (I'm all for the notion of cleaner cars, obviously, but actually having to get my car tested is a pain.) Every two years spending an hour to hour and a half sitting around waiting for them to finish smogging my car (cause all too often there's like 3 cars in front of me when I arrive and just one dude on duty) and then forking out $70 for that hour of time I can't get back. lol

Prius is a little more to buy than Civic, Corolla, or the smaller hatchbacks. But I am debating if the benefits it has (slightly better gas mileage, no smogging for now, cargo space, general roominess, and at least relatively low maintenance for the first 10ish years before the battery becomes a potential concern, that regenerative breaking (cause I know I had to replace the break pads on my Civic some years back), lacking of belts I hear to need replacing) will in the long run offset or at least even out any initial cost differential between it and a Corolla or Civic.

 

I'm still looking and debating. I need to test drive some more. I've mostly discounted the Fit as it's near impossible to even find. I think the Prius, Prius C, Civic, and Corolla are my main contenders. But Yaris is still in the conversation for the moment. I've been trying to make pro con lists as well with things like reliability ratings, cost of ownership, etc.

I do have what I'd say is a somewhat short, steep dip to my driveway. So I'm vaguely concerned about that as I know the Prius has kind of low ground clearance. Especially since when coming in too straight, I've been known to scrape even my old Civic's bumper. Also curious about the key fobs, as I have little experience with such things. I've always just had a key. My mom keeps mentioning some news story she saw about those key fobs being hacked and stuff??

 

It's definitely a factor I'm pondering. I keep hoping to get to park my car right next to a new Prius so I can really compare just what kind of difference there is in the front bumper height.

 

I still haven't truly measured the front end, but I kind of eyeballed with the aid of a flyer I had in my car the height of my front bumper compared with that of a Prius that was parked nearby in the lot at work today. If my eyeballing wasn't lying, the Prius actually appeared to have a 'smidge' more clearance on the front bumper than my car does. Though I did notice that Prius had some front corner bumper wear, likely fromt scraping and bumping things. But if it's really no different than the height on my Civic's bumper then Prius is viable.

I'm very 'lured' by the extra space that the full size Prius has. But the C is really cute and is a little less money for at least the same mechanical bits. I'm still very much debating it all still. Prius, Prius C, Corolla, and Civic are all still in heavy consideration. (Outside pondering Yaris still to.) Had to abandon the Fit due to there being none available to buy in my area.

 

Thanks. I definitely still have to do more complete test drives on any and all the cars I'm considering. I've only test driven once so far, and it was a short, round the block kind of drive just to get an initial idea of the cars.

 

Measured bumpers today. Not much else. Hard to do a lot on Saturdays, the dealerships are full of people. But maybe the Prius-C is too low in front. But the regular Prius would appear to be about the same height in front as my old Civic. The Corolla had way more height up front (and I'm guessing the newer Civics are probably similar to the Corolla, but definitely not lower than my old Civic.)

This car buying thing really is hard for me. If all cars were the same color and priced the same then maybe it wouldn't be as hard. If price and colors and stuff weren't a thing I think I'd really just be debating Prius or Civic. But initial costs matter, as do long term costs (since I do need whatever car I get to last me at least 15 years, 20 would be nicer). I also keep going 'am I really a Prius driver'. Cause I feel like the car is such an icon, like do I fit that? Plus it is the pricier. And Civic for same year and mileage anyway seems to be a little pricier than similarly equipped Corolla.