4.5 years 95k miles - new battery?

Please extrapolate your "less dramatic" math to assume you replaced the battery at 12 year plus one month? Seriously, once you have the car for 10 years, does anyone know how long their car will last? 12? 15? 20 years or more? If you "decide" the car should only last 12 years, is that when the car suddenly stops working? Our 2005 is doing quite well. 12 will be certain. 15 is looking very, very good. Will continue with ALL maintenance regardless of age: change oil every 5-10,000 miles, replace batteries every 4-5 years, brakes and tires as needed and eventually the HV.

 

No, but usually I trade my daily driver in for a new car before it reaches 12 years old. By that time, rust is starting to become a minor issue and the niggling problems are starting to accumulate. All those things can be fixed, but I'm usually ready for something different by then.

 

Our previous car, a Nissan Altima, only made it to 10 years/101,000 and suffered from rust and needed of thousand$ in repairs. Seats were worn out. Struts. Tires, vacuum system, and lots of rust. The Prius is looking much better at the same age. I think you'll be rethinking your 12 year plan (or paying for tow/jumps).

 

Sell before it rusts, buy a 5 year old Prius ! Still cheap, last another 5-7.years!