Justify the Note...

Sup to you...
How's your team looking this year?

I'm not where you are financially speaking, but I'm getting close. About 5 more years to go on the house, and I still owe a few thou on the 09.

$40K for a Prius.
No way, no day!!!...fro me.

However (comma!) there are plenty of folks out there who are paying $35K for a NON-PHV Prius, and they're as happy as can be.

It really depends on what you want out of your car, and what you wanna put into it. I only drive 9.someting miles to work each day, and I'm not willing to fork over a bunch of money for an option-festooned car. But that's just how I roll.
For me, being as debt-free as possible trumps flashy wheels and a bunch of doo-dads in my car.
For other people with longer commutes, a different financial outlook, or security issues...or car lust...or a host of other things including a lot more disposable income, or a bullet-proof job....riding around in a 'sub-standard' car (whatever that is for them) just isn't worth the aggrivation.

The bottom line is that if you wanna be the first kid on your block (or your parish) with a PHV...you're gonna have to pay for it. Just like you have to pay more for a loaded out Prius than you do for a more humbly equipped (what some people think is a 'lesser') model.
$40K is probably close to what it's going to cost you once the PHV emerges from it's loooooooooooooong gestation period.
Worth it?
(expletive deleted) NO!
Not for me anyway....

For you?
I do not know. That's not my coin toss.

Good luck this season!

 

Always hard to justify when the car you own is paid for. But it is also a 9 year old car, so would you likely be buying a new car anyway? It could be easier to justify against buying something else new.

I will note this, the EPA, depending on the exact model, puts your truck at 15-21 MPG combined; while the Prius is rated at 50 MPG overall. This means, depending on your drive, and which model Frontier you have, you are likely to see your gas bill cut in half or perhaps have 2/3's shaved off the top. That would be a savings of $200 - $300 a month potentially. Then add in the fact that you would pay nothing for maintenance over the next few years compared to your current ride. And it isn't hard to see some appeal. Plus in 5 years what would the Prius be worth compared to what the Frontier will be worth in another 5 years.

 

I don't think that the Coach will see $200 bucks a month in savings by replacing a paid-for vehicle that's only being driven about 7,000 miles a year with a G3. Gas isn't that expensive yet.
Pay off the house.
Then....buy the PHV...or a Volt if the PHV prices are north of $40K.

 

I was basing it off of the earlier post where he said he spent $400 on gas a month, and that when I look up his vehicle, the EPA rated mileage I see depending on engine option in the truck and 2WD vs. 4WD, is either double or triple on Prius. So half of $400 is, wait for it, $200. So $200 savings in gas, not $200 overall, I thought that was clear.

Your low annual mileage suggests a short commute, the Volt, the Plug in Prius, or an electric car, might make sense for that. For longer commutes the Volt doesnt' make as much sense.

 

I knew you were looking at the PHV.
I just threw the Volt comment in there to watch people flop and twitch.