Thinking about buying an "Advanced Plug in Prius"

I am assuming that the PiP will depreciate faster than the average car. Low EV range, high premium for plug-in over regular Prius, and the pace of innovation. Just my opinion.

I don't know much about leasing but interest rates in general right now are at an all-time low. I assume you get the same tax credits on a lease as a purchase; if not then it's a big extra cost.

 

It depends on what's important to you. If you want to optimize money, then do the math. The Prius will get great mileage on those long drives you take. The Volt will use gas to carry the heavy larger battery bank.

If you like one car or the other and can afford either, buy the one you like.

Take both of them up and down those Ithaca hills. My PiP is a turtle on hills unless I floor it. The decider might be the Volt's ability to stay on EV longer and use the electric torque on the hills.

I drove a Volt last year. I would have been inclined to support the U.S. auto industry. But I didn't like some things about the interior and the driving, but maybe that was a one-off as all the comments about the drive seem to be positive. I like Toyotas so waited for my PiP.

But that was me. This is you. Good luck with your decision.

 

You didn't subtract the 12-15 miles of EV you will get in the PiP, you might get more as well, if you can plug into an outlet at your mothers house, it's only about 3KWH of electricity, costs about .45 to .75 cents total (based on .15 to .25 per KWH pricing)

The PiP comes out even better.

To be fair some have reported 40-45MPG in the Volt, depends on your driving style a lot.

 

Using the ICE, the PiP is rated 50 mpg combined city/highway; the Volt 37. The PiP will do better than that on the highway, and probably the Volt will too.

I wouldn't count on 30 miles in EV for the Volt going up those hills. Hills gobble EV mileage in my PiP, and probably more so in the heavier Volt. And you'll get home with some EV mileage from going down the hills.

But I think bottom line, the cost for that trip will be pretty close. If it were a $2 difference and you went every weekend, and kept the car for 5 years, it would still be only $1000, which given the price difference between car models is pretty much down in the noise.

If the cost for Rochester is close, then the PiP will be way cheaper on longer trips like to Maine.

The philosophy of the cars is different. The PiP is a Prius that doesn't give up much (except the spare tire) to add a little plug-in range. The Volt, OTOH, is mainly an electric car for local trips and short to medium commutes, with a generator to extend the range. If you are mainly thinking about Rochester and longer trips, and not much local driving, then neither car makes a whole lot of sense. But either would be a neat toy.

Again, for me, a big factor would be how both vehicles feel going up those hills.

 

So if you use the first 3 miles of EV to your first hill, you would still have about 10 miles left of EV to use at your discretion somewhere else in the trip. That 10 miles of EV is about .2 gallons (10/50) or $.71 worth of gas you will save. So your final cost would be more like $7.50 for the trip!

 

Yes, but I'm beginning to wonder if it even matters - as far as overall mileage. Running in pure EV mode or "blended" (running in EV with ICE on) may make little difference in terms of overall mileage.

 

Correct! I don't have a PiP, but from what I have read in PC, that's the way it works.

 

Isn't the real difference $2,500 less, because of the rebate?

 

This is the federal tax credit which you can take on your next year's income tax, assuming that your total tax liability for the year is at least $2500. I would think that it would be an unusual case for someone to be in a position to buy a PiP, but not pay $2500 in federal taxes.

 

Is there an NYS credit?

 

You don't realize how efficient the EV-BOOST mode actually is. The engine is remarkably efficient then.

I drive 3 blocks to the highway, accelerated onto it up hill, then cruise along at 70 mph. The resulting MPG 9 miles later is always over 100.

 

HV in Eco, regular, Boost
EV in Eco, regular, Boost

There's a basket of variables!

 

EV-BOOST is very specifically when you drive faster than the EV only speed but continue to draw heavily from the battery-pack. In other words, you're going faster than 62 mph but do not switch into HV mode.