Is Prius suitable for Pakistan?

1. Reconditioned can mean many things. More information is required.
2. Hood level water (I'm thinking about water up to the hood) will drown it. Electric motors don't do well in water.
3. It will drive as rough as the roads. Ground clearance is low. Roads with deep tracks will scrape. Approximately 16CM I believe or 5.5".

 

As far I understand him, he wanted to say it as used car rather than reconditioned....

 

Ok. I believe you said you have already purchased a Prius, the 07. So you have some knowledge about its practical use in your homeland and about buying a used Prius. The usual concerns with used cars in addition to the hybrid parts. But it sounds like flooding may be a serious issue being this car has low clearance, though probably not much more than many other cars. Still, higher clearance sounds more practical.

 

The low ground clearance would be a concern for me, I believe it's lower than a Corolla. A good driver could compensate for most of that though.

My biggest concern though would be service and repair. Even in the US, if you have a problem that involves the hybrid part of the car and don't have a knowledgeable Toyota dealer or one of the relatively few competent independent shops nearby, it can be a problem.

 

Prius is a robust car for USA-style driving. But sounds like you have a real challenge. Normal road water is not a problem, if you are saying up to 1-meter deep water, that seems difficult. You want to keep water out of interior, so as a minimum you would have to inspect rear compartment and floors after a bad day in the water. Dust and fibers can plug the Hybrid battery fan, so if you are mechanically inclined you could keep an eye on battery and fans etc. Another great feature many use in emergency is you can purchase a power inverter to generate electricity for power outages. In USA, Prius retains resale value very well, so I believe we would be expect used-Prius to cost more than a used-Corolla of similar miles. So if the cost on the Prius is lower, that might be saying something.

 

We had a Pakistani on here last Summer who bought a Prius and right after he bought it the inverter coolant pump died on him. But thanks to PriusChat and his own mechanical skills he was able to diagnose and order the part and make the repairs without much problem.

So if you're comfortable learning about and fixing your car, you're in good hands owning a Prius in Pakistan. But if you know nothing about cars and don't work on them and have to depend on someone else, you'll be way better off buying the most common type of car sold in Pakistan. Perhaps the lower price for a Prius compared to a basic Honda in Pakistan is because of this reason?

As for water, nothing but a big truck specifically designed for deep water is safe to drive through hood level water. In general, Prius is going to be safe to drive through water briefly, but like all cars water deeper than 1/2 the height of the wheels is very dangerous. And of course deeper can be done if its only very briefly, but no guarantee...

The main difference with Prius is how it handles in snow and ice... The car will favor the protecting of the hybrid drivetrain by killing the electric motor when the wheel's spin, which makes it really challenging to drive in icy conditions.

PS: How much does a liter of Gasoline cost in Pakistan these days?

 

I would not try to go through anything more than a puddle in a Prius. I live on a rough road, subject to flooding, muddy at times. For that I have a 4WD vehicle. The Prius traction control renders it almost useless for any sort of real mud or loose material. If the traction control turns on, you may get stuck in that puddle unless you have inertia going in. This in addition to the concerns about getting the very much more complex electronics wet, compared to a conventional car.

 

Unless you can't have two vehicles, I say get the Prius, and also get an older car with a mechanical diesel engine, a snorkel, relocate the battery to the trunk, and spend some time trying to minimize water intrusion in the cabin and it's effect on your electrical system. I've had no doubts going in standing water that's up to my bumper on my IDI VW diesel, but I wouldn't be nearly as confident in my Prius.

 

Not too bad at all about $3.97/gal

 

Low ground clearance would be an issue. Also, I feel every bump in the road in my prius. I think you'd do better with a higher clearance vehicle

 

In Islamabad there is no issue of water flooding after heavy rain due to planned drainage system. However, this problem is being faced in cities like Karachi & Lahore. Moreover, local Toyota authorised dealer in Pakistan does not offer repair services yet. Anyways, I am happy with my prius 07, so far....

 

See if there are people in your area that own Priuses and talk with them.

If there are not many Priuses in your area you may want to wait.
The Prius is mainly meant to be used on well paved roads which you may have where you live but
the Prius is also a low car and water on the road can be a large problem especially if there are no mechanics in your area that are trained for this car.
Large holes can cause damage to the plastic panels beneath the car. If you look at the under-side of the car you will see what I am talking about.
Getting repair parts locally might be a little more difficult as well.

Good Luck.
Welcome to Prius Chat!

 

No I don't have a 2nd car with me. I bought it couple of months ago for PKR 1.675 million. In winters it gives between 19 to 21km per litre n in tropical season I experienced between 22 to 24. I will check with them. IA. Thanks..

 

I was in Pakistan for a couple of months in 1992, when Pajeros ruled (the old Mishubishi Outlander)! Wouldn't want to drive any car through those chaotic circles in Lahore! Islamabad would be fine, as would the paved highways. Backroads to the villages, through hood level water, I'm not so sure about. We get flooded streets here in Texas, and I haven't found the Prius to be any worse at getting through that than other cars, but there aren't too many cars that can do hood level water for any sustained amount of time. On the plus side, the Prius has a huge amount of interior space, relative to its exterior dimensions. Not a very cushy ride, so those backroads could be a bit rough. But probably not any worse than a Honda city car (not sure what that is, so I'll guess something like a Honda fit). Another plus is that the Prius is very low maintenance. Transmission should last forever, no belts (depending on year), no starter motor, fewer other electrical parts to worry about, long life spark plugs, etc.