Total Cost of Ownership

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ May 8 2006, 11:01 PM) [snapback]251927[/snapback]</div>

Go to www.edmonds.com and "compare" the two vehicles. One the comparison table, click on "True cost to own"

I got:

Prius: total cost to own = $36,939, and $0.49 per mile
Suburban (base 1500, 2 WD model) = $60,921 and $0.81 per mile

Not even close. Their comparisons take into account initial cost, depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs etc. And it is useful to note that Edmonds is NOT a particularly Prius or hybrid friendly website. Hoefully, for your friends sake he was drunk. The other choice is he is a blithering idiot.

 

I saw something similar that suggested that if you include the cost of recycling the batteries then the SUV has a lower total cost.

My only issue with this is that the battery recycling is expensive down because of the small number of batteries being recycled. As the age of the vehicles grow and the sher number you would expect that this cost would drop significantly.

Lani

 

Toyota warranties the batteries for 10 years so unless you keep your car longer than that the cost for new batteries is absolutely zero. I think the batteries in my Prius are likely to last as long as the useful life of the car, 15 years or more.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LaniLobes @ May 8 2006, 11:42 PM) [snapback]251950[/snapback]</div>

HuH?? The lead-acid battery is tiny compared to a regular car and the NiMH battery isn't nearly as hazardous to handle for recycling (future Li-ion may be another story). Plus the cost to you is positive - Toyota pays a bounty of around $100 for returned batteries so the cost has already been included in your purchase.

- Tom

 

Are you taking into account the perks of federal tax breaks? Depending on the state or county, there are also other money saving perks, i.e. free parking, HOV use (saving time), no local taxes (personal property), etc.

 

Since the cost to buy a Prius is lower than that of an SUV, and the cost of gas is less for the Prius, and routine maintenance is likely to be similar, your friend must be assuming (or his source is assuming) that the Prius will cost more to repair.

This can be debunked with a look at Consumer Reports. Specifically expected reliability for Toyota vs Suburban.

As for the batteries, I believe Toyota pays $200 for returned, old HV batteries. And the Prius battery is recyclable.

And as for recycling the car when it is worn out, Toyota designed the Prius to be highly recyclable.

There was something on the internet (posted here on PC recently) that made the assertion your friend cited. Clearly bogus.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LaniLobes @ May 8 2006, 11:42 PM) [snapback]251950[/snapback]</div>

Implying that the cost of recycling the batteries from 1 Prius would be something on the order of $25,000. Yeah, right.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kingofgix @ May 9 2006, 11:58 AM) [snapback]252151[/snapback]</div>

Remember, that could have been coming from the mouth of a SUV owner. It's hard to face the facts when you are wrong. Especially if it's a Suburban... hahahaha....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mike0422 @ May 9 2006, 08:05 AM) [snapback]252059[/snapback]</div>

The Edmonds website does not, which makes the comparison even more ludicrous.

This type of issue (SUV vs Prius) is one those issues that really gets me. It seems some people want to go out of their way to avoid using their brains and to be completely ignorant, ignoring all evidence, data, logic and science. Another such issue is Global Warming, and all the people who continually refuse to get it.

Sorry, not a very nice rant, but it just boggles my mind.

 

Special PriusChat Offer -

I will gladly recycle your Prius HV batteries, in any condition. Send me the battery and $24,950. That's $50 off the regular price!

 

One website.

http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehic...ota/model/Prius

There you go. Use that against your friend.

And here is the Suburban.

http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehic.../model/Suburban

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jeromep @ May 9 2006, 02:22 PM) [snapback]252258[/snapback]</div>

Great link! I like this part from the Prius link:

INTELLICHOICE BEST IN CLASS WINNER FOR
The Best Overall Value of the Year, Midsize under $21,000
Top Winner for Highest Retained Value
Top Winner for Lowest Depreciation
Top Winner for Lowest Fuel
Top Winner for Lowest Operating
Top Winner for Lowest Ownership

So, not only is it cheaper than a Suburban, it is would appear it is cheaper than anything.

 

Nice links, Jeromep.

BTW, the ~ $26K difference is based on 5 year ownership. It that suits the OP's friend, he should be reminded that works out to a $433 difference PER MONTH.

Buying a 2 or 3 year old Suburban would look a lot better. But a new one ?? >>shiver<<