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Is the Prius a BAD purchase...Unless you drive many miles per year?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ski.dive, Jul 29, 2018.

  1. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

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    Is the Prius a BAD purchase...Unless you drive many miles per year?
     
  2. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    I'm only speaking for myself. I wouldn't call it a "bad" choice, but for me personally I think it was not the most wise car purchase.

    True, I do not drive enough miles per year to take advantage of all this hybrid technology. I think it is probably going to waste. I'm concerned the expensive traction battery under the backseat may not stay as healthy as it should, due to minimal use.

    I was really on the fence, trying to decide between this Prius and a Corolla. The Corolla was $10,000 cheaper, and the extra $10,000 I spent on the Prius sure would've bought a lot of gas for that Corolla. 20 years worth!

    I'm really not too concerned about getting high mpg. 30 to 40 would be just fine. The Prius is much more "green", so I guess some people really want that... even if they only drive 5 to 10,000 miles per year. There's a lot of great things about this Prius, and a lot of things that bug the heck out of me. But that comes with every car. To sum it up, if I had to do it over again, I would definitely go with the Corolla. I'm looking forward to seeing the new redesigned 2020 Corolla. (And will also check out the Honda Civic.) I'm thinking of giving my Prius to a younger family member who has a long daily commute.

    (When you guys throw eggs at me, please aim low!:LOL:)
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My mom drives 5000 miles a year and I think the prius is perfect for her.

    She has a gen 2 model, very basic and has all the convenience features that others in its price range doesn't have.

    1. Smart key (no fumbling with keys)
    2. hid headlights (brighter at night)
    3. Low maintenance
    4. Easy on brakes
    5. Reverse camera
    6. Great on gas
    7. Perfect size vehicle for seniors

    So even driving 5000 miles per year, nothing fits better than a prius
     
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  4. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    The Prius is a wonderful purchase, if it meets your needs and wants.
    The Prius is a poor purchase, if it does not meet your needs and wants.

    This will vary widely from person to person. If it is a good buy for you depends upon what your needs and wants are. Without sharing those, we can't really answer your question.
     
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I'm only a couple of months into my first Prius, but I'll share what I learned in researching ours.

    A Prius doesn't like to sit for long periods of time. A few days or even a week is no problem at all, but regularly storing it for a month at a time isn't going to go as well.

    Age seems to count against the traction battery more than miles. My wife uses ours for a long, irregular commute which is likely going to total out at 18k miles per year. Our general plan is to operate the vehicle in this manner for 8 years and then dispose of it and move on.

    In contrast, I've had no reservations about keeping lower technology cars in service much longer.

    In summary I think the best way to get your money's worth out of these cars is to buy new or almost new, pour the miles on fast and get out before the calendar catches up to the odometer.
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The hv battery costs are really minor nowadays. If buying from a late model wreck, it'll run about $1200. If replaced at the 8 year mark, it'll be about $150 a year. Price to fill up a $UV about 2 times.

    Everything else on the prius holds up quite well, even if you don't drive it much
     
  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Lithium ion batteries handle storage very well unlike the NiMH batteries. How many years they last still remains to be seen. I bought anther Prius just because I liked the car and had nothing to do with battery longevity or the fact it is a hybrid. You are going to see more hybrids on the market as time goes by so automakers can get their gas mileage up to meet the new government standards.

    Nickel-based batteries lose 10–15 percent of their capacity in the first 24 hours after charge, then 10–15 percent per month. Figure 2 shows the typical loss of a nickel-based battery while in storage.

    Li-ion self-discharges about 5 percent in the first 24 hours and then loses 1–2 percent per month.

    Elevating Self-discharge - Battery University

    The cost of a new battery is probably less to replace than an automatic transmission but I have never heard that mentioned.

    Average Cost of Rebuild, Repair, and Replace:
    Transmission replacement is one of the most expensive jobs done by any mechanic. According to Transmission Repair Cost Guide readers, the average cost of transmission replacement ranges from $1800 to $3400.

    A used/salvage transmission ranges from $800 to $1500, a rebuilt transmission from $1100 to $2800 and a remanufactured from $1300 to $3400.

    Transmission Repair Cost Guide
     
    #7 padroo, Jul 29, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2018
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If buying a gen 2, parts are everywhere and plentiful. I bought a gen2 transmission for $200 and installed it for $500 plus fluids and seals.

    This actually costs less than the going rate of a HV battery
     
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  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    If you're gonna spend more on gas then you spend on your car... This car gets such high MPG that for the most part you double the amount of miles you get out of every dollar. As for battery life... It may be true that a car driven every day on the highway is going to have a healthier battery over it's lifespan compared to one that sits unused for weeks or months at a time, it's also true that across the board this car is going to be super reliable compared to many other cars of similar age and miles. The fact that Prius that are a dozen years or older are still holding there resale value speaks volumes as to their reliability.
     
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  10. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Well, maybe not all seniors. I'm glad your mom is doing well. My mom on the other hand, she had trouble even with the most basic car. She was a nervous wreck. She was driving a 1984 Camry when I finally had to take the keys away at age 87. I'm positive there is no way she would have been able to manage a Prius, even when younger. Not with all those bells and whistle's and oddities about it.

    I like reading your posts JC, you are one of the Prius veterans. If you say my car will be fine when only driven 5000 miles per year, I respect your opinion. It may only be driven 4000 miles per year. I certainly hope it is low maintanence, but this website is full of thousands of posts about very expensive parts and repairs. I hope I don't experience that. I will probably get rid of this car during the 6 to 10 year period, if not sooner. But then there is no guarantee that any other car will not have serious problems. Truth is, I am a fungal cheapskate, I should have got the Corolla or the $12,000 nissan versa. :ROFLMAO: I'm still not sure why I bought a Prius? It's a mystery. :confused:
     
    #10 Starship16, Jul 29, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2018
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes
     
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  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The gen2 doesn't have bells and whistles.

    1. Gear shifter has reverse and drive as the main selection

    2. There's a climate button for AC control, which has settings of low to high

    3. Backup camera turns on automatically when going into reverse.

    4. There are no keys to take out of your pocket, completely keyless system from entry to starting the car.

    5. Radio presets controls are really large on the MFD display.

    6. Odometer reading is a big digital display, no guessing

    I feel like a senior driving this car lol
     
  13. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    You've certainly sold ME! Maybe a Gen2 would suit me better. :D
     
  14. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    A man of few words, but always right on point. I admire that. :)
     
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  15. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Having rented both for business in the past month... I say Corolla all the way. Worth every nickel of the price difference from the Nissan.
     
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  16. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    One of my favorite parts is when the car is at a stop light or stuck in gridlock traffic, it's silent... The engine only runs when it's truly needed. And all the other dummies on the road poisoning us with fumes just to keep their engine "ready to go" when light turns green... That's just so dumb, so incredibly outdated!
     
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  17. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Yep, it has many great features. I like being parked somewhere and running the AC. Only a tiny bit of gas used to recharge the battery. You guys might just convince me to keep this Prius... :eek::ROFLMAO:
     
  18. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Problem is, they aren't good as secondary vehicles... But if you want to keep the mileage down on your nicer primary vehicle by keeping it as a secondary fancy ride and Prius as primary...
     
  19. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    That's almost exactly what we are doing now. The other car comes out when we need more cargo capacity, towing or a reminder of what actual acceleration feels like. Only a few months in, but it looks like it will work.
     
  20. RawInDesign

    RawInDesign Junior Member

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    personally it depends on the price. I think a Prius is a wise choice.
     
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