Need Advice

Well, I'm biased so I say get the Prius. They are just awesome city cars, are very reliable and practical. My opinion is, you will never regret buying the Prius.

 

Whatever vehicle you choose, I'd "as usual" recommend due diligence, of a Carfax and a independent inspection. Especially if buying "Private Party".

Then my advice morphs into the same advice I repeat for anyone who visits "Prius Chat" with the query...Prius OR....

I think owning a hybrid with any sincerity, requires wanting a hybrid. Which sounds simple and obvious, but by that I mean, if you feel you'd be just as happy or perhaps happier with a Yaris or xa, with less financial commitment? Then I'd say go with either the cheaper investment, or the newer investment in the form of the xa or Yaris. That Prius is now 8 model years old. Not likely with only 58,000 miles on it, but depending on where you are located, the Hybrid Battery is now either out of warranty or approaching the period where it will be out of warranty. I personally think, anytime after the battery is out of warranty as an owner you have to prepare for the possibility of failure. Which means a potential expense. It isn't necessarily likely...but it becomes possible.

If I wanted to "stretch" and read in between the lines (DANGEROUS).... You say you have 2 kids under 5 but the vehicle won't be used as a family car...

Doesn't the danger then become that you've bought a vehicle that is instantly reduced in definition of use? Plus I would imagine that while it may not be "The Family Car"....you might find with whatever you purchase, many instances where it is conscripted into family car duties.

With two growing kids, whatever you decide you might want to factor a few bonus points for whatever choice would allow you the flexibility to be a decent family mover.

It's been a few years since I've delved fully into investigation of any automobile. But a few years back when I was investigating my NEXT choice, I liked to visit MSN autos. They offer owner reviews of past models. I'd sort reviews from Most Dissatisfied or from Negative to Positive...I liked see how many negative reviews a vehicle might have, gave me a good feeling for how happy the majority of owners were with ownership, and revealed trends if there was anything that was generally a flaw or concern.

 

I am also somewhat biased. I do not know what mpg the Scion gets but your weekly fuel bill for the Prius based on your millage would be the cost of between 5 and 7 gallons of fuel at most. As Usnavystgc said the Prius really is a great city car. Servicing is also minimal. In the UK where fuel cost is between 3 to 4 times the price in the US there would be no contest.

John (Britprius)

 

I'm going to be unpopular with my Prius Chat brethren and say, if your looking for upwards of a decade of service, on a budget that sounds like it will be limited? I might go with the "regular" vehicle choices.

The Prius is reliable and great. BUT a hybrid has more components than a standard vehicle. And even well maintained, your asking a vehicle that is already 8 model years old...to approach 18 model years old. And things will break, and maintenance will become an issue.

The Yaris may be on the upper end of your immediate budget, but the Yaris has a good record of reliability, and in comparison to anything that is NOT hybrid, is economical to own and operate. 28,000 miles is also IMO practically new.

I might go out on a limb and say get the Yaris.

 

With your millage and existing millage on the vehicles after ten years they will have covered 250,000 miles. The Prius will do that sort of millage, but no one can guarantee you will not have a problem. This also applies to the other cars on your list. Are they automatics if so will there transmissions last that long.
If they are manuals will the clutches last and how many brake repairs will be required driven round the city.
The Prius could at 250,000 miles still be using the Original brake pads, yes they can last that long it is not unusual.
The Prius battery is not the problem it was when they were first made. Refurbished batteries are now available at reasonable cost with a three year guarantee, and costs are likely to come down further.
It is unlikely that the battery would need to be changed before 150,000 miles and many last much longer. Usnavystgc can attest to this as I believe his 2001 gen1 Prius is still on it's original battery and the gen2 battery was much improved.
Ask yourself why do so many taxi companies run gen2 Prius fleets in both the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe often running them to over 500,000 miles.

John (Britprius)

 

I say ignore The Electric Me. Everytime he says anything its always gloom and doom.

 

You are correct John, my 2001 Prius is on the "original" traction battery after 127,+++ miles and counting and coming up on 13 years of operation (March will be 13 years).

 

2-300 miles a week in nyc? how have you kept your sanity? i think the monte carlo has been good to you.

 

I am also a DIYer but, honestly, with the Prius, life is pretty boring for a DIYer. I have 3 Toyota Hybrids (currently) and have owned 4. I think I've replace one wheel bearing on the 01, brakes (that didn't even need it), a 12V battery on the 01 and a coolant reservoir tank on the 06 (it developed a crack somehow and was leaking). Other than that, these cars have kept me yawning waiting for something to go bad.

 

Yawning while getting 45mpg in the CITY. No other car can touch it.

 

LOL! I knew I'd be unpopular.

But it seems to me the OP is concerned already....pre-purchase with budget and cost...and with two kids growing up?

I love Prius, I own a Prius...but with more components...including an expensive hybrid battery...refurbished or otherwise...the potential for more expensive maintenance issues I think exists with the 2006 Prius...

Can anyone guarantee the future of any vehicle or machine? No.

But if looking 10 years ahead, I don't think I'm stretching too far in thinking the 2012 Yaris with only 28,000 miles on it today, might have far fewer issues and expenses than the 2006 Prius with 58,000 miles on it today.

That's not gloom and doom...that's reality.

 

Gloom and doom as usual. The Prius is not more complicated. It is way less complicated. It has no starter, one set of gears, brakes that last forever, a transaxle that totally simplistic and extremely reliable so reliable that it requires no maintenance, an electric steering pump, an electric compressor, one belt driven accessory, no alternator, the engine runs less than 100% of the time. All of this and it is exceptionally utilitarian (you can haul anything in a Prius with the seats down) and you get exceptional mpg.

That's not even mentioning the fact that the Prius is twice the car the Yaris is.

 

Well, as you describe your situation, I would go with the Yaris, Good Luck

 

Despite the difference is complexity of some components I would disagree with your contention that A Prius is not more complicated.

A hybrid by definition operates by blending two systems...electric motors, batteries and a ICE.....that makes it more complicated by default.- Simple.

I don't care if you disagree with me...and you are certainly free to offer your opinion.

I would appreciate not attaching a personal attack on my opinion.

If you think I'm "gloom and doom as usual"? Then you aren't too familiar with the majority of my posts. I've been a contributor to Prius Chat long enough, I could be accused of not taking a lot of things seriously enough.

 

I'll let you make your decision. I personally can't recommend the Yaris over any Prius in any circumstance but, hey apparently these Gen III guys can. The Gen II (04-09 Prius) is an awesome vehicle and puts the Yaris to shame.

 

Well, I would disagree with you. If its so much more complicated, then why are there less gears, less wear, higher reliability? Electronics are the main thing that make it more complicated. Electric motors are extremely reliable, the batteries have proven extremely reliable. If you truly study complexity, you will find the Prius is in many ways less complex than its non hybrid counterpart. It has fewer moving parts and the ones that do move, move less (ie, the ICE, the brakes, The AC compressor).