After how much mileage would you replace your Prius?

Replacing a car for most people have nothing to do with the condition of car
It has more to do with a WANT something new
And by the sounds of it, you want something new
Change it when it will make you happy

 

I start thinking new car when a car gets to 100K. Before 150K I've always replaced them. According to the forum reports, Prius lasts a bit longer than average, so I might bump those numbers to 150 and 200K, respectively. But, this is my first Prius, so I'm not certain. More research is indicated.

Some people replace cars only when they need replacing...it sounds like the OP and I are of the same mind.

Chuck

 

I've spent most of my life driving cars that had over 100K when I got them. I'm used to keeping POS going for the next 100K or so.

The Prius is the first new car we've ever had. At this point, 3 years and 65K miles, we are considering just driving it (and maintaining it) until it is ready for retirement. Based on the last Toyota I owned, that will be after about 360K miles :thumb:

 

Keep in mind its mileage AND time. For example, a 20 year old car with only 30,000 miles on it may need a lot of maintenance, due to the plastic and rubber parts disintegrating.

In the same vein, there are taxis in Canada with WELL over 350,000 km (that's more than 200,000 mi for those metrically challenged ) that are still running just fine. But that's lots of miles (km) in less time than most of us would do.

 

Since you want me to assume that an elderly person is in the picture, I will also assume that individual is on a fixed income and does not wish to spend money needlessly. If this assumption fits you, then I suggest you continue to own the Prius and keep up on scheduled maintenance, until a major repair is needed (for example, the transaxle dies.) Then get rid of the car and buy a replacement.

At the annual rate that you are logging miles, your current Prius may last you for another 8-9 years without significant trouble - if you keep up with scheduled maintenance and don't neglect obvious issues (like timely wiper blade replacement, low engine oil or coolant level, etc.)

 

We do about 20,000 miles per year on our primary vehicle, which is now the Prius. My target is to run it for 10 years, so 200,000 miles.

I began setting aside money when I bought it in December 2009 to replace in December 2019.

If it's still running in 10 years time, and running well, maybe we'll run it longer, but I'm hoping by that time there will be something so much better that there will be an economic and ecological imperative to get a different vehicle then or even earlier.

 

The OP's question depends in part on how he maintains his vehicle. Some people, ourselves included, buy cars with the intent of keeping them a long long time. That requires more dedicated maintenance. Others see their vehicle as an appliance to be used up and then discarded. That often translates into minimal maintenance.

We plan to keep our cars a very long time. With that in mind, the first things we did with our Prii was get clear bra and window tint done, body side moldings, mud flaps, rear bumper protector and all weather mats. These kind of upgrades keep our cars looking new and increase our driving and ownership experience. They may also increase the future resale value - but that is far less important than the every-day pleasure of driving a car in pristine condition.

We've done this with all our cars and it pays off in unexpected ways. I once sold a BMW 525 to a client on a Friday evening. The next Monday, his brother called me to complain that his sibling had "gone out and bought a brand-new BMW." He was shocked to learn that the car was 9 years old, had 83,000 miles and cost only a small fraction of a brand new one.

My biggest worry about owning an older car in pristine condition is that some idiot will run into it and the insurance company will only pay what the same car in "average" condition is worth. That logic overlooks the fact that a new $30,000 car won't get me from point A to point B any better than the old $5,000 car that was destroyed. Still, we're not accident prone and the long term payoff is worth the slight risk of a paltry insurance settlement.

Bottom line: Invest in maintenance and keep your car forever.

 

My 1989 Toyota Corolla All-Trac wagon is still on the road with 230,000 miles. I bet my Prius makes it to drinking age as well.

 

All this talk of selling after 100,000 miles is nonsense! A Toyota at 100,000 miles should only be 1/3 of its life. I hope the Prius is the same.

If so I'd like to get at least 250,000 miles out of mine.

 

Sorry to say that my 88 Corolla just went off to the auto recycler this week.:Cry: Hope my prius lasts as long.

As someone who usually buys used cars, I think you should sell your car when it has 20 k miles...

... to me...

...for less than half what you paid

I'll then drive it the rest of the way into the ground, which would take a long time.

 

My Prius replaced a 1986 Honda with nearly a quarter million miles, which I purchased new. DW is still unwilling to part with her only slightly younger Acura. I have budgeted for a single traction battery replacement, but if this Prius cannot otherwise match those Hondas, I will be highly disappointed with Toyota.

Based on the reports from long time Prius owners, I am seeing no reason why this Prius shouldn't match or beat my Honda experience.

 

I kept my '83 Delta 88 & '89 Delta 88 for 17 years. I EXPECT a car to last that long. I EXPECT the '10 Prius to do so without costing a fortune. Historically I don't sell a car, I scrap a car.

 

Re: 160000 km by 2015, 240000 km by 2020.

Yep my 88 camry just keeps on ticking and it doesn't cost much to keep her going.

 

Re: 160000 km by 2015, 240000 km by 2020.

That's the other great thing about keeping a car (practically) forever. You save a ton on annual license renewal (registration) fees and car insurance.

When we sold our '98 Sienna, it only cost us about $30 per year for registration and $350 per year (IIRC) for insurance. Each of our 2009 Prii is many times more expensive than that.

 

I wouldnt be surprised if Prius owners can get the odometer to digitally "roll over" the 7 figure mark in years to come. Since the ICE's run time isn't related to miles on the car, it is hard to put an estimate of the length of the car in miles.

I am in agreement to keep the car until something major happens, then buy a newsed Prius Gen 5.

However, I am guilty of the replacing a car because I am bored or want something new rather than it dying. Did that with 3 Lexus RX and then for the Prius just bought that to supplement a Honda Civic with 120k that still works fine but after 5 years has lost its twinkle...

 

I agree. I just don't understand selecting an arbitrary mileage figure to sell a car. I kept my Toyota Tercel for 15 years and I expect any car to last me 15 years. After 15 years, I admit that I start to think of replacing it.

I fully expect both my 2005 and 2010 Priuses to reach 300,000 miles.

Of course, I did have to have repairs done on the Tercel: new radiator, new harmonic balancer, many tune ups, new wiring harness twice, new starter, shocks, struts, many brake jobs. It cost a lot to keep it on the road. But it never had to be towed.