Decided To Keep 07 Prius

Good choice... at 200,000 miles you will be about half way to your first brake job, maybe 4th or 5th set of tires and at the end of 2nd set of spark plugs or the begining of 3rd set. You will have installed maybe a half dozen w/w blades, polished or replaced the headlight lenses 'caused they used the wrong plastic and maybe had to repair the drivers door lock because the fob won't lock it anymore. Replaced the "Lead-Acid" Aux 12volt battery one time and had the traction battery either cleaned or some corrodided wires replaced... But, ya know, that really is a short list compared to many other cars. Oh and btw the inside "Cabin" air filter is made of plastic - not paper - meaning you can clean it in kitchen sink with soap and water, gently, air dry and reinstall - saves 30 to 40$$$. Do I love my Prius? Oh yes, everyday. Fitela

 

To the OP > Wise move. You could even take your 07 to a shop and have them install real leather seats for the equal (or about) 4 - 5 new car payments. The same reasons you are keeping yours, are the same reasons I am keeping my 2005 Prius. The only thing I didn't like about mine was NO BACKUP CAMERA, so I installed an aftermarket option. -now, I'm happy.

My motto: " ..if you keep fixing it, it will last forever..."

 

I think it is a smart move. I do not know if you will make 200k with it - with the amount that you drive that means that the car would be like 17 or 18 years old. You do not list where you live, but in the NE it is rare to see cars that old - the rust gets them.

Good luck - splurge on the leather and get something that you will enjoy for years to come.

 

I recently made the same decision with my paid off 2007, and I can tell you that you're making an excellent choice. I'm at 85K miles, and I haven't had one problem.

I really wanted a new car, but I realized that I was being irrational, and it definitely feels great to now invest the car payment in myself each month.

I did splurge on a few goodies: leather interior, Eibach lowering springs, gunmetal rims, Weathertech mats, and front strut brace. It's like a new car now

Also, I'm sure that you will still be able to get excellent resale value from the car in 3-4 years. Sell it when gas is at 6 bucks a gallon, and people will probably be tripping over themselves to pick it up.

 

I agree with all of you, wise move. Not the best of times in the near future and present . Very wise indeed. Hal

 

How long do you think the seat covers and armrests covers- will stave off the siren call of your shallow consumer desires?

Another 8 months? A year? Less?

How long before that little voice in your head tells you that the styling of your vehicle is getting dated and stale? How long before some new marginal available upgrade becomes the new justification for purchase?

I give you 8 to 16 months TOPS before you're sitting in a dealership business office with a pen poised in your hand.

If you are use to trading in your vehicle every 3-4 years? If "keeping" a perfectly good Prius is contingent on leather seat covers and arm rest covers, coupled with the promise of purchase of new living room furniture? Then I think the purchase of a new Prius in inevitable. Before the smell of new leather fades from your living room, you will be reading brochures.

 

I haven't had a car payment for 10 years. But then I have no problem with fixing what I've got when it breaks down...or rolls over.

 

How about this? Forget the leather furniture for your living room - it's cold to sit on in the winter anyhow. Keep your Prius, but put the car payments aside anyhow. Cheat the lenders out of the interest and buy your next car for cash.

Or at least you're in a better position for a down payment (ref post #7 above).

 

Good call on keeping it. I plan to keep the '07 at least another 25 years. Hopefully it'll be my last car. I want to be car-free some day.

Sometimes you'll see some OEM leather seat covers on Ebay or Craigslist--keep a look out.

 

The last time I financed a car was in 1970 on a new VW Bug. I vowed to have the money before I buy and never finance again. So far, so good...

 

two words:


planned obsolesence