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Replace '10 Prius with what?? New car under $20k.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by eddiehaskell, Jun 10, 2014.

  1. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    When I bought my Prius in 2009 I stopped paying attention to the automotive market and just assumed that by 2015 there would be a plethora of versatile (hatchback) <$20k cars that got around 40 mpg combined. However, it seems the best car we have is the 2015 Fit which only gets 35 mpg combined. That's not bad, but a far cry from 50 mpg. I'd be paying about $600-700/yr extra for fuel by driving the Fit.

    I'm thinking I will have to keep up the maintenance, drive my Prius another 5 years and reevaluate what's on the market for model year 2020.

    Ideally, I'd like a Fit-like car with cloth seats, hubcaps, manual trans, very few options and a small diesel engine (45+mpg). With the base Fit at $15,500 - perhaps the diesel engine would make a car like this $18k or so? I might sell my Prius for that.

    Any other long time GenIII (or II) owners that aren't really dazzled by what's on low cost end of the market?
     
  2. haole man

    haole man Member

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    Since you're willing to go to a smaller car, have you considered a Prius C? The local dealer here has them starting at just under $18k.
     
  3. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    Prius C seems like a good car, but it's sorta like the same car I already have. I was really hoping for cars that get say 37 city/45 hwy without batteries and start around $14k (msrp) in the barebones trim. The Mirage just about does this but the space doesn't compare to a Fit or Prius (and I hear it's a bad car).
     
  4. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    I don't think you can have all performance/luxury, cheap, and fuel efficient in one car. You can have only 2 of those at the same time.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe just delete the red bit?

    Are you having any issues, dislikes or problems with the car? Or maybe you just got out of the payments, or the paid maintenance, or?
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Jun 10, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2014
  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Why no batteries? If you fear batteries and are wanting to switch cars every 3-4 years, it sounds like you are a perfect candidate to lease some hybrid vehicles and not have to worry about it.
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on your '10?
     
  8. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

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    That's the cheapest option. Buying a car for ~23,000 and then selling at a loss of ~13,000 never made any sense to me. I routinely drive my cars 15-20 years & only sell them when a major repair (>$1000) happens. I plan to keep mine until it breaks.

    If you're serious about trading the Prius for another hatchback with >40 mpg there are several:
    - the various hybrids (Insight, Cmax, Volt)
    - Focus 1.0 due in the fall with estimated 44mpg highway & 9.9 second acceleration
    - Fiesta 1.0 available now
    - Nissan Versa Note at only ~12,500 dollars
    - and on and on
     
  9. Gas Mizer

    Gas Mizer Member

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    What is your daily commute? Highway or city? Perhaps a used Corolla?
     
  10. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    I don't really care for performance/luxury (outside of fuel mileage performance).
     
  11. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    No problems with the car. It's just that itch for something new that comes around after 5 years. I seems that I'll just have to hold off on scratching it. I paid cash for the car in '09. I have no doubt that with regular maintenance it'll make it to 200k (100k now).
     
  12. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    No batteries because cars with batteries are usually $2-3k more expensive. Give me a simple ~1.2L engine (maybe 100hp) with a stick, small tires, cloth seat, manual windows, etc in the '15 Fit at $15k with 40+ mpg combined. I'm not worried about my battery at all - I've had the car since about July '09 so exactly 5 years. I was just looking at what might be available now or within the next 6 months.
     
  13. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    Exactly 100k.
     
  14. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    With the base Fit at $15,500 - perhaps the diesel engine would make a car like this $18k or so? I might sell my Prius for that

    Not sure a Prius that's 5 years old and 100k miles would get you $18k. Sounds like you've got a good car on your hands, it would be a shame to get rid of it and get buyer's remorse.
     
  15. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    I agree that keeping a car 15-20 yrs is probably the cheapest option. I still have my parents '00 Camry with 230k (paid $800 to have the head gasket replaced 2 months ago and hope to get another 30k+ miles from it).

    Of the cars you mentioned, it sounds like the Fiesta SFE hatch with a manual is closest to what I'm looking for. $18k, hatchback and 32/45 mpg. Granted it doesn't hit 40 mpg combined and the interior/cargo room seems pretty small.

    After researching the Focus 1.0 a little, it's probably closer to the size I'm looking for. However, I wonder what the city MPG rating will be considering the smaller Fiesta is at 32 mpg? Probably 30/44 (35 combined)? Great for all highway driving, but I do atleast 50% city driving. I also wonder if the price tag will be under $20k.

    It seems that these cars are getting there, but I might have to wait until the next generation to get a legit 40+ mpg (combined), low price and good interior/cargo room.
     
  16. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    I agree. I don't think I will be getting rid of it simply because there's nothing on the market that can really match the interior/cargo room while getting 40+ mpg. Perhaps the Honda Insight, but it doesn't seem prudent to pay $8-10k (assuming mine sells for $11-12k) for a lesser car that's simply newer (same with Prius C).

    Had there been a $16-17k MSRP 2015 Fit getting 36+/45+ mpg, I would have gave it serious consideration.
     
    #16 eddiehaskell, Jun 10, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2014
  17. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

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    I don't really have a daily commute (semi-retired), but I do drive a good bit - probably 60% city.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    After having a couple of hybrids, I think I'd go squirrelly if I was stuck in traffic with a vehicle that •didn't• autostop...
     
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  19. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

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    My local dealer quoted $16,000 to me (plus tax of course). These manual-shift Fiestas and Focuses don't sell well, so dealers (and Ford) are giving them deep discounts, but I think it's worth manual to get the 45 or 44 highway MPG.
    Maybe stick with the hybrids then. I'm 99.9% highway and almost no city. You can get a Honda Insight hybrid for $18,000 ($16500 if it's financed). Priuc C has similar pricing.

    Another option is to just say "Forget the 40 MPG" and go for the cheapest car. I always think saving ~5000 off the pricetag is nicer than trying to recover it via 5-10 years of gas savings. Nissan Versa sedan is $12,000. The hatchback with 4 cylinders about $13,500. CVT option is $14,500 and gives around ~34 combined/40 highway.
     
    #19 Troy Heagy, Jun 10, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2014
  20. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    I know exactly where you are coming from.

    40+ combined is a very limited field. Hybrids and hte Mitsu Mirage, to be exact
    35 combined MPG gives you some choices.
     
    #20 SageBrush, Jun 10, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2014