Moving from Boston to Los Angeles Summer 2018

Welcome to priuschat...

That's a choice only you can make.
I purchased my 2010 just over four years ago & it had 100k on it when purchased. In the last 4 years I added another 132k for a grand total of 232k now. I had to replace the traction battery around 136k, maybe around 160k it stranded me when the IPM module failed but Toyota covered that failure 100%. Still on original brakes!

Your Prius shouldn't care where it lives as long as it gets regular oil changes & coolant changes/spark plugs around 120k. Really should look into changing the transmission oil at least once, then at 60-100k if you choose.

If you can afford it, a newer low mileage vehicle is always the best bet. Eventually it will start using oil, more so at high speeds - but oil is cheap compared to a new vehicle!

If it has been well maintained & has not given you any major problems, I see no reason to not expect another 100k or more out of it.
Best of luck on your move!

 

I'm doubting that SoCal temperatures will be harder on your battery than New England unless you are in the desert, far inland. Night-time summer temperatures on the West Coast are generally lower than on the East Coast, so your battery gets to cool off at least some of the time, and winter time temps are nothing to worry about anyway. Our 2007 spent most of its life in SoCal, and now has 254K on the original battery.

 

welcome!
i suspect selling your prius after you get to cali would be the most profitable move. the question is how to get the new one from here to there.
btw, i'm jealous.

 

New Years resolution time.

Isn’t moving on the list.

 

why would i want to leave -1 degree bliss?

 

Called my parents who were out here last week and it was 0F there this morning.

Worked outside in the yard today in 63 F splendor .

 

i can't get the inside of my house up to 63 degrees.

 

1. When it fails, yes. Until then, a car you own is cheaper than a car you buy.

2. Heat has more to do with going up an down mountains; the conversion from electricity to chemistry is not perfect. if you live on a mountain top near Los Angeles, I would worry more. (Wrightwood, Idylwild ) If you travel with large furry creatures (often dogs) it will be worth while to clean the vent fan.

3. At some future date, you current car will be costing more a month than new car payments, ditch it then. The cost may be money, or lost time. Be ruthless then.

 

A new battery would run around $2500. What's the difference you're looking at by selling and getting a lower mileage one?

You'll probably not want to drive anymore after you get a taste of Los Angeles traffic, so maybe holding off would be a good idea

 

You could maintain the traction battery for less than replacing it.

Search the threads here for Prolong or Hybrid Automotive.

Good luck to the summer move.

 

2012 with 36k miles is really low. Maybe it's been turned back?

The problem with giving up 1 used car for another is the unknown on the new used car. You could be giving up a perfect car for a lemon with lower miles.

If you need it for another 5 to 10 years, going to the 36k miles would make sense.....

 

he gets them wholesale from his brother.

 

Californie is the place you oughtta be...with a Prime Plug-in, if that's your cup of tea. Free HOV.

 

nice car, very small, slightly better mileage. are you finding a good deal on one? probably going the way of the horse and buggy, based on sales.