Help me with my new car purchase. Prius C vs Civic

Six thousand miles a year does not make economic sense for a hybrid. I say get the Civic.

 

It doesn't have to be a purely economic choice. If he were choosing between two conventional cars with a $2,000 price difference, would you always suggest the cheaper car? Pick the car you want to drive (I know that's what you're having trouble with, OP, sorry). I probably drive about 6,000 miles a year, and I love this car. I got it because it's what I wanted to drive.

The interior IS cheap. Mine rattles like crazy, but I listen to music so I don't notice it. And I love driving it.

 

32 combined mpg vs 50 @6000 mile a year with $2000 difference in purchase price? That's about 10 years on the pay back...gas savings to price. Really this should be more about what you like driving than the savings, even "if" you did keep either for 10 years. But that's me.

PS - @ $3.5 a gallon US.

 

That's at $3 a gallon. Breakeven would be at about 51k miles at $3.50 and 44k at $4. Still a while, but chances are better that gas will go up than stay the same.

Between the two, I would take the C because its a hatchback. More of a utility vehicle, especially if the S2000 is your only other car. But if its going to be just a winter beater, why not get something a few years old?

 

I'd stay clear from the C if you plan to store it during the summer, I don't think the hybrid battery will like so often being put into mothballs, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

During the winter, you may experience poorer gas mileage with winter blend fuel and the cold temps if you do not block the grill or use an engine block heater on the Prius C. Prius C loves the warmth.

 

Before we purchased our Prius C2, I was concerned about the battery etc.. With the 100k mile warranty on the battery and I believe 150k on other parts related to the electric system(CA), I lost my concern. Where my wife works, many of her co-workers have Prius's, some with over 100k miles and have had no problems. They have been delighted by the extremely low maintenance costs. As one who swore he would never get a "lead bucket", I have been very pleased with our ownership.

Another factor, in regards costs overall that may be considered is the two year free service from Toyota.

 

These are not Li-on batteries, so they aren't as expensive as they could be. Just as a price point. The full electric Nissan LEAF has a battery replacement cost of ~$6k. That price will only drop as technology drops. But you should expect no where near that price. I'd be surprised if it was more than $1k before labor. But I will say this... so few of them have had to be replaced that I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I traded in a '12 Civic EX to get my Prius C and agree with most of what's been said already, but another thing you might consider is if/how you foresee any consequences having to do with changes in your psychology. The biggest difference between the two, for me, is that ever since I started driving the Prius, my mind has flipped a switch that has me playing the fuel-mileage game, like ALL the time. I'm constantly finding myself doing things that border on unsafe because they'll help my eco score. Maybe this is something that you'd like. Maybe you'll want to assess whether or not you'll have the discipline to ignore the fuel-mileage game and just drive the car. I don't know... but just another consideration to keep in mind.

 

The Civic will ride better over harsh roads, it pretty choppy in the C over any road that is not smooth, other than that its a great car.

 

Being a 40 year Honda owner, some 25 cars many of which I raced, the difference is mpg. The Civic will get 28-30 mpg and the C2 48 to 50. for 6k a year thats $312 a year difference. The Honda of course has better suspension and handling but both improve over OEM with disconnected, not removed, front antisway bar. Neither has advantage with resale but Honda aftermarket dwarfs the C2. The Civic is uch faster and there's no difference in reliability.
Oh, getting a shop manual is vastly easier for the Civic.
So pick your top of the lists needs and buy accordingly.
and enjoy
cheers.

 

I think you answered your own question with these comments!

 

If you are tired of the same driving game with a single engine, there is only one choice.

With Prius c, you get to play with two propulsion systems. It is fun and addictive. After 175k miles and approaching 8 years, I am still enjoying HSD. Easy to pick up and drive but so much to master.

No worry about winter salt. My 2006 went through 6 years winters in NYC. After 164k miles, no issue at all. I have gotten out from snow plow burrying it while parked. My brother bought it from me and he has it up to 189k miles and it is still on the original brake pads/shoes.

 

If your decision is purely 100% financial, the Honda wins hands down in the short run. If not, then only you can make the decision. After having owned a Prius, I am never buying a normal non-hybrid or non-electric vehicle again. The little advantages of hybrid ownership are priceless. Low maintenance, quiet, smooth, and fun to drive.

We currently have 4 hybrids, a Prius hatchback, a Prius C, a Civic Hybrid, and a Lexus RX 450h as well as 1 pure EV the Nissan Leaf. You can't go wrong if you pick the Prius, but it is very unlikely you will save any money.

Cars are not an investment. (99.9% of the time). The game you play is how fast your purchase depreciates. Sure the Honda may be $2000 cheaper now, but in 3 years when you want something newer and more shiny if the Price delta is still $2K, then your savings for driving the inferior car is $0 and you would have spent more in gas and you would not have enjoyed it as much and would have had less connection to the vehicle. Toyota's and Prii in general hold their value better than almost anything else on the road. Civics hold value because they are Honda, but they do not hold value like a Prius does.
If you plan to keep this car until you die, then resale is not an issue. But then fuel savings will undoubtedly start winning and putting the Prius C ontop. Given that the average person changes cars every few years even if they are perfectly good, I think resale might be an important factor as well...

 

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Mostly bad roads and only driven in the winter? Get the Civic.