How to decide whether to replace hybrid battery or Prius?

My advice, albeit controversial, is sell the old one if you can get $5500. Put it toward a new one, and enjoy the next 10 years free of headaches or worries since $5500 would pay for 25% of a new car.

 

You just gotta tell us what state you live in, but I assume not a CARB state.
If you are original owner, many owners have had luck asking Toyota for customer loyalty help on the battery replacement which often nets 50-100% coverage. We here tend to favor new Toyota replacement battery over a refurb. Some major dealers seem to get a lot more cooperation from Toyota on reducing replacement fees, so it helps to find a helpful dealer with pull at Toyota. Another angle someone tried was they got the battery covered by Toyota when they bought a new Prius, and then they gave the old Prius to the son or daughter. Or you could sell the 06 with a brand new Prius batt and justifiably command a good price.

CARB Warranty Ins-and-Outs (and In-Out-Ins) | PriusChat

 

call toyota first for a good will warranty replacement.

 

they all do. but the best move is to call toyota directly, politely explain that you are a two toyota family, your situation with the prius, and would they consider helping with the cost. they will often discount the battery.

 

The $5500 evaluation is with a battery in decent health?

Maybe get the battery replaced, keep it a year or two, then trade/sell.

 

OK well that's very complex case (I also own a Va. 2006).
See my write-up on "CARB Warranty Ins and Outs",
I think you may get at least 50% if not 100% coverage by Toyota.
MD is a CARB state, and all USA Prii are CARB certified. Believe me, if it was me someone would have to explain to me why my 2006 was not covered (it gets into Toyota policy). You absolutely must not assume without asking Toyota, that a 2006 is not covered in MD. See my write-up. Be nice

CARB Warranty Ins-and-Outs (and In-Out-Ins) | PriusChat

 

I do not know where you live, but Antwerpen seems to be a top dealer. Some on the beltway. We've had a prior MD 2006 case, if I recall she got 50% but she did not tell us dealer.

It does not really matter if you bought in Va or MD as neither were CARB in 2006. But I am also not clear that for a 2006, that matters. Toyota told me it all depends on model year and so on, so we do not have all the rules. It almost seems random. One person in CA with an AZ 2006 (that's equiv. to VA 2006) went to one dealer and was told not covered...he went to bigger dealer and got full coverage. Just crazy really,

 

Your advice comes down to: pay another ~ $17k for a new car and 10 years of hassle free driving.

If I was making a purely $ decision, paying ~ $3k for a NEW, oem battery for another 10 years of battery worry free driving (and whatever non-battery repairs that come along) strikes me as a vastly better deal.

Pardon my bluntness, but I'm always surprised that people even have to ask this question.

Addendum...
Just to emphasize how different these two choices are, we should also consider the added costs of full car insurance the lender will force you buy while paying off the loan, and the loan interest.

If the APR is 4% and the loan for 6 years, another $1770 is paid in interest. If the extra car insurance required is another $500 a year, that is another $3000.

 

Sounds like we both bought our cars at Miller Toyota. You are just getting started...let the dealer work it because they get the batt replacement business. Other posts tell you how to ask for good will including contacts. If you read the warranty you can contest so don't give up so easy. By the way sounds like your mechanic is a good one. If my batt faiIs have a plan to get some crutches and limp over to a MD dealer, or I might call a dealer. Call Miller and see what they can swing, but I think I'd try MD. You own two Prii.

 

If you buy a new Prius, definitely MD is cheaper and you get the CARB.
In 2006 it did not matter as neither VA or MD was CARB.

 

^^ Think twice
That refurb is not going to have anywhere near the longevity of a Toyota OEM.

There is no such thing as an 'OEM refurb.'

 

just make sure they have a good track record of standing behind the warranty.

 

Read the warranty language carefully. I'll hazard a guess you will not like it. And remember, the warranty is no better than the goodwill of the company offering it, presuming they are still in business when you want to exercise that option.

Probably not hard to guess, I am not a fan of refurb batteries. Of the refurbs though, the only one I might consider is that sold through (I think) autozone or NAPA but manufactured by a company called Dorman with a relatively good record. As I understand things, the warranty is offered through the parts store and would therefore have value -- at least in my eyes.

 

Up to you...I don't think I recall the GreenTec option in DC before. As many Prii as we have here in DC we get very few reports on Prius Chat about battery replacements, so we do not have much feedback on GreenTec or anyone else for that matter. Most in MD have gone to dealer the few that reported.

 

there is a recent thread about a guy in the dc area that comes to you. i can't recall any details though.