My 2006 Prius used to be so reliable but lately not anymore!

Age happens, dump and run.

 

If you went for the so called rebuild service you just killed dependability. For reliability either the $1600 kit of new cells or a battery from a low mileage junkyard Prius would have been better options.

 

looks like cents/mile is still very low

 

If you still have a choice on those 2020 repairs, I’d agree with the “dump and run” philosophy bat said. For not much more, you can get a newer car that has not yet hit the time of high repair costs.

 

Old cars don't get any younger, especially true for a complex little beast like the prius. If you're paying the DIY rate for repairs that's not too bad for almost 15 years and 150k.

However, I wouldn't expect fewer repairs just because you have done a bunch of work so far. Any older car can have problems crop upat any time- brake actuator, AC leaks, fuel tank, etc. That rebuilt battery might last a year. Again, if you do DIY you can likely keep rolling along while spending less than a new(er) car. At dealer rates you are going downhill on the slope of financial feasibility.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

are you up for the $1,600. diy?

 

$1500/year vs $5000/year. And your insurance is cheaper.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Some people get several years from a rebuild, some people don't. You can't categorically dismiss that much more affordable option as bad, especially if the person who got their pack worked on is part of our collective where friends and family can have a loaner pack put in their car in less than an hour at first sign of trouble...

 

The only other reputable rebuilders I know of here are hobbyists not for profit companies.

 

The record of their methodology looks good, the only concern would be that in the end you have used modules- the pack can perform great but is possible to have any module short out and fail. Ya pays your money and takes your chances.

 

Any chance you can find out what those numbers represent, as well as methods used to generate them?

 

humm.. $200 maybe per year verse $400 per month payment or @25k for new car?

If your doing the DIY cost, less than $100 per year is crazy cheap for an older car.

 

Well, that list covers the "Prius specific" repairs. It doesn't have normal things like oil (and other fluid) changes, tires, brakes, etc. Still pretty good overall.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Then they're charging +$1,200 for the install. Shop rate for that battery direct from Toyota is $1,500. Public rate is $1,700 to $2,000.
For that kind of price differentiation it becomes a DIY job very quickly!

 

To charge $1200 to install means you'll be paying them $600 dollars an hour because it's only a 2 hour job... And while some attorneys and doctors bill at that rate, a mechanic should be thrown in jail for charging that rate.