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Best Gen Prius to Buy?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by GregC1979, Oct 14, 2017.

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  1. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    JC has been making blanket statements throughout this thread that can be true in some circumstances. I believe that a low mileage used Prius is a great value that pays for itself in most cases if you put 100,000 miles or more on it.

    I average around 45 mpg year round. If you average 30 mpg in the Corolla, you would save around $3000 over 100,000 miles with minimal maintenance expense. In California, with milder winters (and higher gas prices), your mileage (and savings) could easily be better than mine.
     
    #21 royrose, Oct 17, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    50mpg at 50mph in my experience. (1 week over a variety of terrain and speeds).

    Yes it does. Have you even driven the current generation Corolla at 50mph?

    Here's my breakdown of the 2014 Corolla (Same generation as GregC1979)

    With CC set:
    38mph = 60mpg (this one was the hardest as it was fluctuating quite a bit between 55-65mpg on the iFE even on a flat road)
    50mph = 50mpg
    62mph = 42.7mpg

    Mixed driving = 35.6mpg
    Mosty city with some highway = 32.7mpg
    Short trips, hilly driving = 23.5mpg (this is verified with a friend who has a 2015 Corolla and only does short trips as he mostly cycles. This is roughly what he's getting).

    Don't worry about him. Here are the maintenance costs

    • Brake pads (lifetime of the vehicle if you drive carefully. We never changed the brake pads on our Gen 2. That lasted 11.5 years and 153,000 miles of mostly city driving)
    • Alternator (no alternator here!)
    • Belts (On the Gen 3, it's a beltless engine. I can't remember if it's a timing belt or chain on the Gen 2 but I don't recall changing any belts)
    • Tires - same cost as your Corolla L (195/65R15 tires on the Gen 3; 185/65R15 on the Gen 2 if you get the ones with the 15" tires). More $$$ if you choose the 16" or 17" ones
    • 12V battery - possibly more than your Corolla. (The Gen 2/3 Prius use a smaller 12V battery located in the trunk. It can be more expensive since it's not a common size. However, treat it well and it'll last a lot longer than a regular car since it's not used to power the alternator to start the car; rather, it's used to boot up the computers when you start the car so less stress).
    • LED brakelights (on Gen 2 - no replacement needed; Although take a look at the lights of the vehicle you're intending to buy. I've seen one, two or three bulbs burnt out on taxis)
    • LED taillights + brakelights (Gen 3 - no replacement needed)
    • LED low beams/LED front parking lights (Optional Gen 3/Gen 3.5 - again, if you have these, no bulb replacement needed)
     
    #22 Tideland Prius, Oct 17, 2017
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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There we have it from the Prius expert himself......the Corolla offers similar MPG if you are driving Miss Daisy.
     
    #23 JC91006, Oct 17, 2017
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  4. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    I now see that you leased the Corolla. That makes things much simpler. With such a high percentage of city driving, you'll see a big increase in mpg. And you're lucky that you're in a CARB state with the longer 10/150k mile warranty on the traction battery. I'd search for a low mileage Prius to take advantage of the warranty.
     
    #24 MelonPrius, Oct 17, 2017
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Isn't that like any car? :p (Didn't Mr. Gerdes get 50mpg out of an Accord a few years back? Granted, no one will replicate his hypermiling techniques)
     
    #25 Tideland Prius, Oct 17, 2017
  6. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    Is the 10/150k Warranty on the Traction battery transferable when you buy any Prius used? Or only a certified one from a Toyota Dealer?
     
    #26 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  7. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    I have 16 stop lights in between home and workplace, of which I am guaranteed to miss at least 10 of consistently :mad:...this plus trying to make it on time is the cause of the low mileage. (Afternoons using A/C constantly).
     
    #27 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you're only going 16 stop lights, you're not going to save any money with a Prius. That's the warm up stage and during that time, a Prius is similar to a Corolla.
     
    #28 JC91006, Oct 17, 2017
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  9. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    Again, so baffled at how inherently wrong that is I am unable to respond. By that Logic the Prius will get 25 mpg. lol. I think the science is against you on this one.
     
    #29 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  10. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    Thanks for all your insight and knowledge of the Prius and the time you took to type all this. At least there's a reliable source of info we can turn to on this forum, certainly know the unreliable ones.
     
    #30 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Well you can only lead a horse to water, he can choose to just thirst to death.

    Who knew you can be so stuck on the mpg when gas is $2.50 a gallon, there's just so much more to saving money.

    If your Corolla can go outside the EPA estimates on mpg, why can't the Prius?
     
    #31 JC91006, Oct 17, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
  12. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    I'm paying $3.19/ga (add Jerry Brown's .12 cent tax on November 1st) $3.30/ga. I don't know anyone paying $2.50/ga anywhere in California. Looking better for the Prius there alone.

    Prius does not get anywhere near 25 mpg city even if you put an 8'' skyjacker lift kit, and oversize off-road mud tires on it (then tied a cruise ship anchor to the back bumper). Sorry your math and logic don't work.
     
    #32 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the first couple miles are low, until the engine warms up. the penalty is worse in colder weather and climes.

    but the same can be said for the corolla and any gasser. how far is your commute, one way?
     
    #33 bisco, Oct 17, 2017
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the hybrid warranty follows the car, because it is a cali requirement.
     
    #34 bisco, Oct 17, 2017
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  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My mom drives a similar route that you drive, all city driving and she gets 36mpg on her 2008 in California traffic. This is based off the prius optimistic computer, realistically she gets around 33mpg. Yes that may be slightly better than a Corolla but it seems you don't really drive enough to realize the savings.

    I would never give up a car I had since New to get a similar 2nd hand car that's more expensive. The $2000 to $3000 more that you're estimating to spend will be your savings after driving 100k miles. That'll bring your future car to 150k+, where the repairs come. But this obviously makes sense to you

    I fill up at the Norwalk Costco, currently $2.63
     
    #35 JC91006, Oct 17, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
  16. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    #36 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  17. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    Your mom's car has mechanical issues, low air pressure in her tires, too much weight in the car, engine burning oil..etc etc, there's no way a 2nd gen that's healthy should even get less than 40 mpg even with the heaviest lead foot road racer behind the wheel (and that's common fact)...Why not compare a 3rd gen to a Corolla's City MPG? Still not in your favor with those facts either.

    $2.63 isn't $2.50 as previously claimed either, and I don't care to shop at Costco or put their low grade gas in my vehicles. Even all the crappy AM/PM/ Arco's around are 2.89-2.99.
     
    #37 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  18. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    Hopefully the ignore feature will weed out the nonfactual responses...hoping..
     
    #38 GregC1979, Oct 17, 2017
  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I didn't know you were in California until I looked, the national average is under $2.50 and that's a fact.

    Believe what you want, I own 7 of these cars and I probably don't know what I'm talking about
     
    #39 JC91006, Oct 17, 2017
  20. GregC1979

    GregC1979 Active Member

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    The national average doesn't affect me. I pay $3.00+ and even more come Nov. 1st. The Prius is the only option to battle high gas prices, and reliability is second to none. And that's the facts.
     
    #40 GregC1979, Oct 18, 2017
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