Still liking the V but found a tough competitor (for my needs anyway)

You always lose when you buy a new car.

Engines nowadays last a very long time. Manufacturing tolerances have improved dramatically in the past 30 years, driven by emission requirements.

The V will win on resale. We see 2004-2005 GIIs selling for $10K still. The Kia might be worth $5K in 8 years, whereas the V will be worth $10K+, perhaps more if we are at $5+ gas.

 

Optima is not bad, but let's be serious: The Toyota WILL be more reliable, regardless of what the Kia's warranty has. Also its resale WILL be appreciably higher; resale on a Kia is not great. V has superior engineering from a superior brand.

The v's powertrain is really just a natural evolution of what Toyota has had in production for over a decade and has a strong track record of reliability. It also has a very long warranty, at least the hybrid component. You're right a major repair would be expensive on the small chance you need one.

BTW on fueleconomy.gov the better mileage comparison is 42 blended for the v and 28 for the optima. I also feel that if you're going to keep this 8+ years you may want to consider gas at a higher rate than you do now. If you're paying $3.50/gallon now do you really think the average over the next 8 years will be only $3.75? I'm not a peak-oil-is-here type guy, but I have seen where oil prices have gone over the last decade and the only thing that has stopped the charge is a recession. I expect the average over the next decade could quite easily be $.50-1 over where it is right now. Maybe even $1.50. A decade ago we were upset when it was moving toward $2, now it's a few cents short of $4.

If you do think you want a non-hybrid sedan I'd recommend you check out the Altima. I bought one last year and they were going for cheaper than the Optima. A touch less horsepower in the 4 cylinder version, but a more reliable car, with extremely high (near or at the top) of recommendation list from consumer reports.

That aside, this is a somewhat strange shop comparison. The v is larger inside, and certainly better on gas. The Optima will certainly have a better drive, however and be a good bit faster.

 

Have you considered the Optima Hybrid?

 

Why in the world are you comparing an Optima to a Prius v? They are not even remotely in the same class. If anything you should compare the Optima to the Liftback. Your comparison simply defies logic.

 

I agree. I was looking at the Optima as well as a few others and while all were nice cars you need to decided based on what your priorities are and what makes you happy. If you could just eat one, do you like the apples more or do you like oranges.

 

Its good enough for Blake Griffin. Just dont try to dunking a basketball over it.:rockon:

 

I'm there with ya Mac.

Just one more point if you'll let me. Some of us do not purchase the car for simple economic considerations. There is also the social implications to wasting fuel that many of us consider worth the extra price or downgrade in high HP fun factor so pervasive in our society.

For those of you who bought the Prius for whatever reason, I salute you.

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...ars-patriotic-vice-admiral-dennis-mcginn.html

 

Best comparison is to the Camry and Camry hybrid. Check out KBB 5-Year Total Cost of Ownership.

Optima Ex with Tech Package: 51 cents per mile

Optima Ex Turbo with Tech Package: 53 cents per mile

Camry Hybrid LE or XLE: 49 cents per mile

Prius v Three: 52 cents per mile

Prius v Five: 55 cents per mile

Prius Two: 49 cents per mile

The reason anybody would want to buy Prius v over Camry hybrid is the interior space and cargo flexibility.

PS: For some reason, KBB thinks Prius would take more depreciation hit than Camry hybrid.

 

Huh... Weird... Looking at the specifications for the Optima Hybrid... The car has a Lithium Polymer Battery... Yet its economy is about slightly less than a Prius v. To be honest, the Optima doesn't seem like it was built 'right' given it is a sedan and having a weaker Estimated MPG and less of everything else (spec wise) at only 2k less than the base Prius v model. While again, it is comparing apples and oranges, the standard Prius or Prius Plugin would probably be a better 'comparison' model for the Optima and even then, the MPG of those two are significantly better in long run than the Optima, which could account for the resale value of the Prius being significantly higher than the Optima.

 

All these TCO tables take wild stabs at depreciation costs of new model cars. Certainly the overall reliability of the Prius in general, and its electronics and traction battery was a surprise to the bean counters.

 

KBB data seems to change abruptly. For example, Volt's cost of ownership was lower than the Leaf. They updated the numbers and Leaf is now lower.

I too think Prius v's depreciation numbers are too high. In reality, it should have the lowest cost of ownership in my comparison. If you plan to keep the car longer than 5 years, the depreciation wouldn't matter. KBB provides the breakdown so you can work out the numbers that applies to you.

 

Well, to be honest, I am no car person... I don't even know what they use to determine the cost of a car in the Kelly Blue Book. But when looking at the car... The Kia Optima is obviously a Sedan. After talking to people on here, the Prius and the Prius v cars have NiMH batteries, the currently 'decent' and reliable batteries that Toyota has been using for the last generation of cars and the Optima has a Lithium Polymer battery. Which, theorhetically, should have more power density than the NiMH (Also used in the Leaf, the Volt, Tesla and also the Fisker-Karma ev cars)

The Optima's electric motor, according to the site, suggests it is rated for 62 mph running speeds, however, its MPG EPA is 35/40 to the Toyota Prius, Gen 3's 51/48 and the Prius v' 44/40. I wonder why a car that should have a better battery power density, better electric motor is going to do as much mpg as a Prius v with a lower power density and weaker electric motor. The Prius v should also have more 'drag' than the Optima, but still, the city MPG is worse while the Highway is better for a hybrid? That seems a little sketchy.

 

I would stay away from Optima hybrid. It's sister Sonata hybrid had a lot of problem after the launch. I don't know how the situation for them now.

 

I would say so. I drove one of the current Sonatas (very similar to the Optima) and liked it, and it sure felt quicker than my Prius, which I imagine drives similarly to a v (which I've not driven). The Prius is not a "driver's car", from a performance perspective.