Will we see 20 year old Priuses still on the road?

I agree about the morons on the road. I drive 35 - 50 miles to work (depending on traffic for the fastest route) and I wonder if I can make it 15 more years without an accident. I want a self driving, or auto braking and lane keeping as soon as I can afford it and it's available. Computers can react faster than I can. In 5 years I want a 2 year old 2018 Prius with all the bells and whistles.

The more safety the better (so long as I can reasonably afford it).

 

Dealerships are independently owned and make almost no profit on selling vehicles. Their huge profits are gained from financing, gap insurance, upselling options, maintenance and repairs.

Car manufacturers have little incentive for their vehicles to last much longer than the warranty since the average new car buyer only keeps the vehicle for 5 years before trading in on another new car.

There is no direct relationship between profits seen by the auto manufacturer, and the dealership.

Tesla has upset the status quo by breaking the wall between manufacturer and customer. They both manufacture and sell their vehicles, and on top of that, open source their designs to be scrutinized by any competitor.

 

While it may be true for some models, Toyota goes out of its way to build the Tundra pickup truck to last many years with no major problems. I saw the chief engineer do an interview and he talked in detail about the design changes requested by operators worldwide that they incorporated, and their commitment to longevity.

That level of care goes a long way to sell trucks that last. These remote operators need trucks to last 10 + years and 200,000 + miles, and Toyota makes sure that happens. They may not warranty it that long, but the reputation sells the trucks.

 

Many people who buy the Prius are high mileage drivers, where the gas savings really make sense, so most of them will be out of service in 20 years, no big deal, they will have done their job.

 

Good point. I used to go through brake pads on my Explorer every year or so. It mostly had to do with a warped rotor, which I subsequently fixed. Next to go was the air conditioning tubing (or whatever it's called). Started springing leaks here, there then everywhere. I put in a can of the liquid with the yellow coloring and ended up with a yellow engine. Well, that's an exaggeration, but you get the point. But I sure liked driving that SUV.

I agree that brake pads aren't in my near future. But the master cylinder is a different issue. I don't expect that to last forever.

I think everybody should be prepared for the new battery around the 10 year mark, but more likely around 15 years.

Point being that if you aren't prepared for it, it will hit you in back of the head. You won't see it coming. Nothing worse that a car that is sitting in the garage because it isn't in working condition.

Mike

 

Hello,
I have a 2002 Prius with 362561 miles on it, runs great!

I have replaced all the wheel bearings on the car, 2 brake jobs(no rotors replaced) one
Steering column switch. All work done by Toyota dealer (mn)

Great car

Ps I now have a weeping radiator i.e. Very slow leak on the side of radiator , I am selling car
To my son who will probably only run 5000 to 6000 miles a year.

I just bought a 2010 iii with 47000 miles Hope it's as good. Also still have 2009 with 144000 miles
Great cars

Tom h

 

I believe there still will be prii on the road in 20 years. Toyotas have always been built to last. My dads 07 tundra has 160000 miles and it has had no check engine lights and besides normal maintenance we have only had to change the starter. This truck has had a rough life my dad abuses it. On the other hand my brother has an 06 chevy silverado. It has 194000 miles on it and it has all kinds of issues. It burns oil, it has thrown several check engine lights in the past 4000 miles and the transmission just went out. His truck has been babied by the first owner and my brother and it is cosmetically in near perfect condition. These to trucks are close in age and miles, it just goes to show how Toyotas are built to last.

 

Definitely, but not too many older generations though haha.

 

haha!

 

Now I know what I gotta do.

 

I can wish all I want that my car will last for 20 years and 400,000 miles, but at some point reliability and repair costs vs. value will tip the scales. It's serving its purpose until a newer model replaces it.

Lately my work schedule has me driving 37 miles home at 1 AM and even 5 AM. If there is ever the slightest concern about reliability of an old high mileage car, it will be replaced.

I get the emotional attachment to cars, and wishing they will last forever. I'm enjoying the heck out of my Prius.

 

...if I have anything to do with it! The '07 still feels new to me, and it's at about 53k miles--I'm planning on keeping it until it's at least 20 years old. The hobby truck is over 30 years old...I suspect the Prius will have fewer gremelins.

 

Toyota Prius Taxi Running Strong With 600,000 Miles And Original Battery

I don't know....but this one ran 600,000 miles....

 

Video shows G2 and G3, so which car ran the 600k miles?

 

Average car ownership in the U.S., new and used, is almost 5 years or so now. That average was a little over 3 years in 2002. My personal average has been about 10 years. My old 4 banger 4X4 Frontier has been really great since I bought it in 1998. Not a daily driver, but an on demand vehilce when we needed to get garden supplies, building materials, moving large stuff, like helping the kids move to school and then to their new addresses. I live well outside of town, and the truck has been extremely useful. Got me to work on weekend nights when the snow plows didn't run and no one was out driving in snow storms. I replaced the front rotors and pads at 70k miles... the rotors decomposed due to Winter road chemicals and salt. Now at a relatively low 90k miles the rear brake lines have corroded and need to be replaced. After 18 years, I guess I have to expect that. Everything else mechanical on the truck is still OK. Engine gets fresh Mobil 1 and filter every Spring and then again in fall. Other than that, it needs a new headliner.

I don't think I'll keep the Prius 20 years, since I'd like to go to an electric daily driver within 5 years or less. No idea what I'll do for extended range travel (not the new 4th gen Prius, sorry... maybe our current Prius?) but then again, I have no idea what will be available in 5 years. Technology is moving along at a pretty good clip. We'll see what's available when we get there. Whatever it turns out to be, it's probably going to be interesting.

 

Even if average new car ownership is only 5 years, not all that many cars have only one owner. I expect that Prii will have about as good a record as any at lasting for 20 years--I don't know what that is these days, though. (I haven't been to Kathmandu for a while, but in the past 20 year old Corollas seemed to be the taxi driver's car of choice.)
And I still see a lot of Gen IIs, so I see no reason that they shouldn't last as well.

 

There's a really nice Gen I that lives about 3/4s of a mile from my driveway. Looks great for being a year round driver in Maine. I've never asked what year it is, but it was the first Prius I ever saw in the flesh when he brought it home. I'll have to ask him how many miles it's got on it now. Told me he was going to keep it until it fell apart. Imagine rust will eventually do it in. That's the most common cause of car demise here.

 

B. Roberts,

Where are you finding information on car age?

I listen to Autoline.tv after hours podcast and they are always saying the average age of cars and tucks on the road is over 11 years old. Here is a chart of car and truck ages over the years:

 

You must not have heard about Toyota pickups rusting so badly that their spare tires fall out:
Toyota Tundra Investigated For Severe Frame Rust Problems | U.S. News Best Cars

Yes, you will see 20-year old Prii on the road, the only question will they still be daily drivers and have most of their original parts? Or will some creative problem solving happen along the way?