Got Prius 2010, worth Upgrade to PiP?

Just keep in mind the depreciation is about 30% per year. It's worse than a normal Prius. You need to plan on keeping it for several years.

 

Generic depreciation formulas don't take into account tax-credit & rebate money. That skews the per-year value.

 

Totally agree. And when you can get them for just a hair over the regular prius price right now, you could argue the depreciation would be even less.

 

If you do almost exactly 20 miles total for your commute you will have some amazing numbers for those trips. As long as you only do that long trip once per week then it doesn't sound like a terrible option for you. How are the gas vs. electric prices where you live?

 

Because the dealers were/are factoring in the $5k Toyota and $2.5K Fed credits in the purchase price so if the PIP was actually $32k they deducted $7.5K off that and calculated the trade-in/wholesale values from there. It just looks like a big hit when they offer you $22K for a six month old car that cost $32K- but in reality after credits you only paid $24.5K for it after credits, etc..

 

depreciation is the same as the regular prius, but if you paid full price in the northeast (like i did) the car has been devalued due to toyota's huge incentives when they couldn't move them off the lot here.

 

that's what i pay too. one of the things that isn't included in roi is the sheer pleasure of driving electric. if you can, find a dealer who will charge one up for you and take it for a test drive around town, it's a beautiful thang!

 

Regarding depreciation, according to the article on NADA it is also worse since it is electric.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nada.com%2FMarketAnalysis%2F2013ElectricPlugInMarketReport&ei=oYfLUZuqL9KC0QHI8oGoAQ&usg=AFQjCNEVItUTO7BLNa6h92HNEllYZEKfMg&sig2=_Hu8LODASapP48ZgIiXeOA

 

Given the incentives, 0% interest and the tax credit the depreciation is not a concern. Even at 50% depreciation of the retail (~$16,000) think I doing OK. My cost was ~$24k when you consider all the incentives and the tax rebate.

 

I'm not sure that this directly addresses your query but let me quote from a pervious thread:

We bought a Blizzard Pearl 2010 because my old 300 TD wagon had over 320k on it and it was beginning to get uncomfortable. I was trying to hold out for a plug-in but I just didn't want to wait any longer. I had a $500 deposit sitting at the local Toy dealership waiting for that first plug-in that had been rumored to arrive and the deposit was two years old by the time we finally bought the Gen III. The plug-in is what I had wanted from the get, so when it was finally available, with a group-buy deal, I immediately jumped on the band wagon. I feel that I got the best price at that time.
Our 2012 Sea Glass Pearl is the best car I've ever owned and I've owned more cars than most, in my 50 years of driving (but then I said that 'bout our Gen III as well) and I'm so glad that I have the plug-in technology. It easily gets better mileage then the 2010, I like the color better, and although it's an incremental step in the evolution of personal transportation, I'm thrilled that I can be a part of it. I'm not 'welded' to Toyota and if Tesla comes down in price, or the Volt greatly increases it's ICE mileage, or a new start-up emerges with better/cleaner/more efficient design or next year's PiP had double the EV range, then I would trade in our beloved PiP.
No static from the gf, although she really hated to see the old Blizzard go! She's now totally into our current ride. So, YES we're very happy we did 'trade up'.

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