Need someone to talk me into or out of a Prime

What is the other 10%?

 

I have a similar debate to your question in my head, but I fall back to we have a 2010 that is paid off.

Is your 2016 paid off? Are you ok with taking a depreciation hit when you sell or trade your 2016 in? Is the only reason for saving on gas?

For now, I’ll keep running our Gen3 until a maintenance expense exceeds what the value of the car is, which at 179 k miles currently and growing at a rate of 80 miles a day, is getting less and less.

But each day one step closer to a Prime .

 

If just a gas use decision and nothing else, at 9 k miles a year, you have a lot of driving to do to make up the difference between a gen4 and the Prime.

Some folks like the newest version out, so if that isn’t a driver to switch, I’d stick with what you got.

Just my opinion, but one from a guy who has considered a Prime for over a year.

 

IF.....you have the cash to pay the difference, then go for it.
If not, then the answer to the above questiion is: YES, absolutely.

Given the circumstances, this is a BAD deal, financially.
If you add in financing costs it gets even worse.

 

I don't see any practical or financial sense in doing such a trade.

But it's okay to do it just because you want it. Just make sure that you want it bad enough since it sounds like it may interfere with getting other things you want.

If you want to save money and gas, keep the car you have and add a block heater on a timer. If the ICE starts each day already warmed up from cheap grid power, the car is smart enough to run it much less for warm-up.

 

I'm also in Minnesota and sold my Gen 2 Prius for a Prime. I have a similar short and EV friendly commute. I don't regret the move up (and it definitely is a move up) one bit! I drive almost exclusively on electric. However, as you know, we had a pretty brutal winter, so many days in December, January and February, when the temp was below 14 and I turned on defroster, the ICE kicked in. The result is that I used 1/2 tank of gas between December, when I filled up, and now. Love my car!

 

Yeah way to soon to be trading in. Resist the urge; it'll pass.

 

Wait a bit longer for a 2019 or 2020 model.....


Rob43

 

@john1701a is your go to in mn.
Come east and save an extra 4K.

 

ICE will not kick in until you reach 14 F if the following criteria are met refrain from using cruise control below 50 F, refrain from using front defrost, the car has a heat pump that will defrost your front windshield when you set climate to auto and 65 F (this will not cause ICE to kick in but will take a couple miles off your EV range estimates)

 

don't go down a large hill with a full charge.

 

In May 2016 I was offered a Prius 3, new, for $28k. It had TSS-P but sad to say, a useless 'moonroof'. So I bought a used, end-of-lease, 2014 BMW i3-REx and never looked back.

You have a fine Prius and my recommendation is to wait 5-6 years and enjoy the ride. THEN look at the market and choose a replacement based upon the technology of 2012-2013.

Bob Wilson

 

Yep. With how smooth and quiet all electric driving has been, I get a bit annoyed when the ice turns on. But love the range between fill-ups. By the time my 2017 Advanced is paid off, an all electric version will be available. Lol

 

Back to the future ??
Maybe they will have a working flux capacitor by then.

 

Was thinking 2022-2024 typed it wrong. In 4-6 years, we're going to see much better technology at affordable prices.

Bob Wilson