Extensive Spreadsheet shows PIP / Volt not for us

We are blessed with heat in Redding, CA. We may have 40-60 days each summer in the 105-110 degree range for high temp of the day. It may drop into the 80's overnight. I've noticed a 2mpg loss with the AC in our 2008 Gen II.

 

Well after much work, factoring in everything I've read on this thread, reworking my spreadsheet, improving the numbers for both the PIP and Volt I have a conclusion. I do want to thank everyone for their inputs. They have been very informative and enlightening. Some of my assumptions and impressions of the cars have been altered.

Here is where I come out in the end. Again your situation, needs, desires, and wants may vary.

The bottom line. Total cost at the end of 9 years:



Fuel cost:



Bottom Line:
Volt
Lowest fuel cost. However the Volt simply costs more, due to the purchase price and my not being able to take advantage of the tax credit. It has no spare tire, seats only 4, and has just 10 cu ft of cargo space. So for me the Volt is simply off the table.

2008 Prius for 3 more years
In either scenario keeping the Gen II for three more years, then later buying a PIP or a Gen IV, this plan loses on total cost. The reasons are extra cost of gas driving the Gen II for three more years, possible traction battery replacement, lower resale value 3 years later, and the inflation impact on the new car price three years down the line. I'm very surprised by this outcome but I've run the numbers two different ways and it always comes out the same.

PIP
Second best fuel cost. Slightly higher total cost than other options due to the PIP price. No spare tire, flying buttress console. Having to deal with plugging in 2-3 times per day, extra electricity cost during the day (which I did not factor in yet) vs night.

Gen III
While economically it works out the cheapest, the one feature I can't live with is the flying buttress console.

Gen IV
This seems to be the best choice given cost and features. If it still has a flying buttress console I'm screwed.

I've searched quite a bit and can't find too much reliable data about the Gen IV. At least one speculator indicated that the console would be redesigned which I'm hoping for.

I would really like to drive in EV mode. It just looks like it's not going to work for me at this time. Perhaps Toyota will make some PIP changes in a new model that will change my outcome.

 

(how do I delete this message?)

 

My problem with the flying buttress is I have claustrophobia. When I sit in a Gen III the console impedes my ability to let my right leg relax and move to the right. This causes a panic feeling. It just won't work for me.

 

Well color me dumb for not updating my profile. As I said I spent a lot of time on Priuschat when we bought the 2008, then only recently returned here for updated research. I'll fix the profile in a few minutes. We've moved from Camarillo and now live in Redding.

Our son is into BMX riding and his bike fits in the cargo space of our Gen II. I doubut if it would fit in the Volt. We could always get a hitch and put the bike on the back. Other than that the cargo space does well around town. It's those long trips where we tend to run out of trunk space and have been forced into taking the 4Runner.

So our drive to school is from the North-West part of Redding to Palo Cedro. It involves a mix of city driving with stop signs and traffic signals, some freeway, a few miles of country roads, and hills throughout the entire ride.

Sadly almost all of our trips end with a 1/2 mile long grade, not anything like the 2 mile long Conejo grade, but it tends to bleed off average mpg at the end of every trip up that hill.

 

Thanks for the inputs Rebound. Good information.

1) No commuter lanes in our area. Fortunately no traffic either!

2) Good to know. I will do an edit on my spreadsheet. A few others have mentioned the increased actual mileage of the PIP when in hybrid mode.

3) Not a big deal for me. Retired with time on my hands.

4) I've seen (here on Priuschat) where people do their own traction battery repairs for $500 or so including equipment required. I think that would be within my mechanical capabilities. I've also seen Toyota will do the new battery install for $2,200.

5) The no spare thing is a big issue with me. I admit it's been decades since I've had a flat tire but I want to provide for my family. If I were to buy a spare and put it in the trunk, even a smaller temporary spare, I would keep it in the car all of the time, further reducing the limited cargo space.

Thanks for your input.

 

If anyone wants a copy of my spreadsheet PM me and I'll email it to you.

John

 

That looks like a smart alternative. I could see myself tackling a patch on the road but I wouldn't want to put my wife in that position. I've mentioned several 1,000 mile trips. One or two of those might be our family on vacation. But one or two of them are my wife driving alone to Southern California which is 1,100 miles round trip.

I do think the PiP, sadly, is off the table for me. While I wait for the Gen IV to come out perhaps Toyota will squeeze out a new PiP that could change things.

Thanks for the suggestion, and the time you took to post it.

 

Hi Rob, thanks for the inputs. I had considered the V but deleted the data, so I had to chase it down again. I'm glad I have the spreadsheet because, once again, there are so many variables. I could never keep them in my head. The V does come with some interesting features including a console I can live with, and heated seats. The much larger cargo space is attractive.

As you already said the mileage is less but the price of the V model 2 is not bad. Overall the total cost to own, in my particular case, is higher than some other options but it isn't terribly out-of-line.

But... and isn'there always a But. I feel so nit-picky with these answers to people's inputs but I there are just things that are really important to me. If I had to list my top six they would be reliability, cost-of-ownership, cargo space, console, keyless system, and gauge placement.

After I gathered the V data the first big thing that stood out was that I'd have to go up to the model 5 to get 3-door smart key. I can see why Toyota might have made that decision if they thought the market was for business owners. I love the smart key system. I want it on my house, 4Runner, and heck even my motorcycle. In fact I want someone to sell me a smart key that will work on all of my locks. Of course model 5 purchase price is quite high.

If I ignore the smart key issue I have one more issue. Correct me if I'm wrong. I sat in a V and the gauge console is not only in the center but closer to the driver. Is that true. It seems worse than the Gen II gauges which I already don't like. The question I have is am I right about that? Are the gauges in the middle and closer to the front seat than the windshield?

 

That works for a while but over the next 9 years I'll certainly be forced to do something. I can keep the car until it begins to fail and I put money into it. I know a guy who has a decades old Mercury that is his daily driver. That just isn't me. I want the reliability, especially for my wife's use of the car.