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Not sure if I want to put money into my car or not.

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Higgins909, Apr 30, 2019.

  1. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    10' Prius trim level 3 if I remember, 163k, cheap tires. Not the best looking Prius. Chipped hub caps, scraped and split front bumper, left rear quarter is smashed in a bit, right above bumper, but repaired, ugly Sandy Beach color. The stealership was asking $7 or $7.5 and I got it for a few K less. Burns oil. (172K~ miles now) Has needed a alignment for a while now. I hit a big kind of pothole on the FR and then it pulled right. I swapped front wheels around and it fixed it. I did a tire rotation maybe a month ago and it has been slightly pulling right again.

    I'm pretty sure my dampers/struts are shot. I also have creaking in the back right on this specific stop sign, on a kind of hill. When in the drive through on electric, something is making this quiet high pitched squeak. It goes for seconds after moving which I don't really get. Its mainly noise and a bit squishy feeling, but I don't know what the car felt like, when it was new.

    I don't know if my tires are just that horrible or what. On any sharp turn from a stop I will chirp my tire(s) a time or two. When trying to merge with slower traffic, even though I'm doing 20-30mph, I somehow did a burnout with 100hp~ (I'm pretty sure I only get that hp at over 55mph, my prius seems to have something like V-tech and it kicks in at around 55mph vs a engine rpm) These are dry conditions, too.

    Because it's burning oil I'm not sure if it's slowly destroying itself or what. I thought I heard that burning oil will eventually destroy spark plugs, O2 sensors, catalytic converter, maybe some other things. I know the exhaust tips is coated black. Haven't bothered to clean it or anything though.

    It seems other people of my height are ok, but I'm 6' 2" (been a while since I checked) I've found that I don't really find the Prius that comfortable. I feel like a T-rex when driving. My knees are pointing outwards and I feel like I'm really reaching for the steering wheel and can't do proper hand over hand steering. My head it pretty close to the roof of the car and makes it difficult to see lights, sometimes. I recently sat in the passenger seat and found my head is like half a inch from hitting the roof. I tried the back seats and my head was hitting the roof and I had quite the slouch to even sit like that. (Knee pain and getting more hip pain... almost 23 years old)

    I've been looking at vehicles for a long time wanting something more comfortable, but I can't believe that they want $30,000 for a 4 year old truck with 120K on it... Most of the vehicles I look at that are somewhat decent are over $10,000 but still have over 120k miles and are anywhere from 9 to 12 years old... Recently had a thing for Vespa 150 scooters. But I don't have a M class license or want to sit down and take the 3 day course or die. (People love to pull out in front of me since I've bought this Prius... Slight exaggeration)

    TL:DR
    I don't know if I should buy these things or just leave it or get something else.

    Doing all of this could be up to $3000 - $4000 Probably doesn't add any value to my car. If I were to trade in my car and use that for the down payment?? idk... Maybe my car could need a expensive repair.

    Alignment
    Rims + tires (17" 225 45 17)
    Tires (stock side but something better)
    Tons of suspension stuff.
    Considered TRD springs and rear swaybar.
    Front swaybar bushings
    Front struts but keep old springs
    Front swaybar links, rubber shield is broken
    rear dampers
    rear swaybar bushing
    maybe some sort of strut and damper bushing at the top where it mounts, all around.

    Not sure if I should live with it or do something about it,
    Higgins909
     
  2. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    172k is getting close to needing a head gasket (common Gen 3's) and possibly a hybrid battery (if it has been a TX car). I would trade and use the money towards a newer car while it is still operational.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Get another car.
    I don't often say this in this forum, BUT here are the improvements that you listed if I understand your post:

    Alignment
    Rims + tires (17" 225 45 17)
    Tires (stock side but something better)
    Tons of suspension stuff.
    Considered TRD springs and rear swaybar.
    Front swaybar bushings
    Front struts but keep old springs
    Front swaybar links, rubber shield is broken
    rear dampers
    rear swaybar bushing
    maybe some sort of strut and damper bushing at the top where it mounts, all around......


    Meanwhile.....If you gave ME your 2010 G3, I would yank and clean the EGR and install an oil catch can....buy new tires for the stock rims, and investigate some of the suspension issues, prioritizing drivability and not sport driving.
    I'd get a lifetime alignment from a tire store (i.e. Goodyear) and reduce my oil change periodicity to 5K and see what my burn rate is.

    I WOULD BET whatever trade-in value is for your car (5K? 6?) that this car is good for another 100K - easy peasy.....BUT(!!) we have differing priorities.

    I value dependability and economy.
    My Spidey sense tells me that your car has been run HARD (you would probably say "enthusiastically") BUT Priuses are fly by wire, and they have RPM limits normally found in tractors - so it's not like you over-revved the motor regularly!!
    Besides....gear heads are typically people who at least check their oil periodically, and you haven't mentioned the typical "flickering low oil level light" that people associate with "sudden onset" oil burning.

    Either way.....you seem to be screaming "I want another car!!"

    So....
    Go and get one!

    Just be honest with yourself about what it's going to cost you down the line...and hey!
    It doesn't mean that you have to eat beans and rice and live in a duplex when you retire.

    MANY many people are gearheads and live frugally enough to retire with dignity.


    Good Luck!!!
    If you decide to cut bait....post pics and try to sell your car in the forum's marketplace.
    It's very likely that you will get a better price than a dealer will offer....unless they shank you with the new car.
    Either way....it's always ALWAYS better to sell your current pony before cutting a new one out of the herd.

    That way....the dealer only profits from the new(er) car that you buy. ;)
     
  4. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2014
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    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My go-to car advisors -- Tom and Ray, Click&Clack, of CarTalk fame, also said it was never frugal to replace your car. They always advocated repair -- unless they didn't :whistle:

    So, the standard mantra was do all the repairs, even get a $300 paint job and you may just fall into love with your old beater again.

    But....they also would mention that sometimes the repairs DO justify moving onto a newer car and there are some advantages (not many), possibly including newer safety features, better mileage, better reliability.

    And, sometimes -- YOU just want a NEW car.

    If you are able -- and want -- to spend under $30K for a brand new, it is pretty easily done -- even though I shudder when I say that (I live in a world where a new car should be about $10k).

    I just purchased a new Outback for $31k. could have been WELL under $30 if I did not spring for the leather seats, the superduper headlights, meal service and the vibrating massage option.

    A RAV4, Honda CRV, as well as a host of other fine cars are available in the mid 20s. Saw a TON of brand new 2018 models still on lots deeply discounted (that was a couple of months ago)....

    So, do not think you have to go with used if new would make you quiver.
     
  5. Higgins909

    Higgins909 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2018
    250
    57
    2
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Fuel economy and reliability was why I chose this Prius. With my driving commute, I seem to average 39mpg. If I get on I-35 and do 70-75mph I can get 50~mpg (I only hopped on it recently for a few miles and it made my average trip mpg go up from 40~) You really think I could get it to 270K miles? (USA) What about the head gasket and HV battery? Although I'm only doing about 8k~ a year. If new tires and a alignment would make it handle better, that would be good enough probably and live with the spongy/noisy suspension. But I don't know if it will. I've never had a car with nice/good tires. They've been either old dry rotting or cheapest tires you can find in the size.

    I think I'm burning maybe 2quarts in 5k miles. The manual says a max of 1.1quarts for 600miles... So I guess I'm good? (I've only changed the oil once and not keeping the best track. Needs to be changed soon though) The Prius is slow something like 11seconds to 60. My dads truck is over 4000lbs (prius is something like 3400) and has a 0-60 of 8 seconds... The Prius is also slow until it warms up, which seems illogically random. I have to get on it, to pull out of my neighborhood onto the main road and the same with work. But after that I usually drive fairly relaxed, trying to squeeze in any extra mpg I can... Which I still haven't figured out what really gets my mpg as it seems like it works sometimes and other times it doesn't.

    I'd really love something with 12 way power seats and not cramped like the Prius. Silverado and Sierra and Yukon and Tahoe are on the list... I just don't want to spend the money that they are asking, for one. I couldn't get myself to spending over $10,000 on something with over 120k miles. That's pretty much every single vehicle. I've noticed for trucks that they all have the same 140k-170k but the year gets younger and the price starts to get up there. 2016 150k $30,000, 2014 150k $20,000, 2008 150k $13000....

    I'd love to get more of a sporty car, but the cost can be up there with the trucks, for something that wasn't beat with over 140k... I also have no idea about comfort. Spending over $10,000 on a vehicle witch so many miles sound like a huge gamble. I'm also younger and can't afford to move out of dad's house, so I'm trying to be logical with money...
     
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Late to this thread.
    I'm just going on the "tone" of the original post. And I hear nothing that would suggest to me the OP really wants to keep the vehicle. Everything is a statement of a possible reason why moving on would be preferable to the OP.

    So...easy answer....move on.

    Is it wise? Who knows? Usually the argument is that repair is always cheaper than a new vehicle purchase. But I think I can say without hesitation the OP presents enough reasons why moving on is a justifiable decision.

    The trick is moving on from used to used? Well it's the risk you know, vs. the unknown risk you are taking. But? If you want to do it? Do it.
     
    Trollbait likes this.
  7. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm in the same boat as the OP, but I'm at over 270k miles. I'm pouring another couple grand into the car to keep it drivable (it's basically our beater) even though I'm kinda-sorta planning to get rid of it soon I don't want to be taking chances with my safety. Our situation does differ in that we have several other cars and money isn't a huge factor in our decisions.

    If I were you OP:

    #1: DON'T CHEAP OUT ON TIRES. Holy hell, let me repeat that to show how much this matters: DON'T F-ING CHEAP OUT ON TIRES.
    #2: Firestone does lifetime alignments for like $120 one-time. There are drift dudes in my area that do "Firestone race alignments", no joke.
    #3: At the risk of sounding condescending: Learn to drive before you mod your car. Driver mod makes all cars faster.
    #4: Don't mod your car, buy a beater MX5/Miata if you want to do some sporty driving (Remember: M.I.A.T.A = Miata Is Always The Answer)
    #5: You mentioned the Tahoe - I have a story about those. I was at an Aston dealer recently and talked to a guy who was 6' 9" who in all seriousness said he basically didn't fit in most large SUVs (namely the Suburban and Tahoe) because "they're basically engineered for the 5-foot-tall housewives who are the primary buyers" (his words, not mine).

    Why don't you get like a Lexus LS430? Run to 200k miles with high reliability, V8 engine, and you can pick them up at ~100k for 7 grand all day.
     
    #7 a_gray_prius, May 11, 2019
    Last edited: May 12, 2019
  8. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
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    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sounds like someone gave up on this car a long time ago. I would get rid of it.