2006 Prius with 179,000 and battery just died

Here is my final post on my beloved 2006 Prius. I traded it in Monday for a new 2017 Prius Four Touring. I loved my 2006 Prius and probably could have continued to nurse it for another year or so. I really love the new Prius and just have a level of confidence to know that it will start every time and get me to work on time. I need that right now because of the visibility of the projects I am leading at work and need a reliable, consistent car.

As I posted here, I bought a refurbished battery back in May 2015 for $2000 rather than a new $4000-$5000 Toyota battery. I am glad I purchased the refurbished battery. My brake actuator was replaced under the enhanced warranty a month or so ago. If I would have had to pay $2,600, I would have replaced the car back then. But it gave me some time to actually research prices and dealers in the past month since I knew I was close. My 12 volt battery died. Our fault since we left the dome light on at the airport for 10 days. The car would get jumped but would not keep a charge. This battery would have cost $348 or so. This was what pushed me over the edge. I am sure I could have replaced the battery and it would have chugged along another few months until the next surprise.

I traded my car with 214,000 miles and 10.5 years old. I got a whopping $1,000 trade in value. I could have sold it separately but didn't want to bother. Plus I just wanted my HOV plates transferred to the new car (people in Virginia will know what I am talking about).

I am obsessive when it comes to finances and statistics. Here is a break down of all the money I spent on the car (not including gas):

$29,788 : 2006 Prius purchase with extended warranty and Toyota care
$1,225 : Interest paid for the loan (it was 5.45% back in 2006)
-$2,450 : Tax credit for buying a hybrid back in 2006 (It was supposed to be $3,000 but prorated based on salary)
$2,188 : Hybrid refurbished battery in May 2015 (after I got this battery replaced, the trade in value was $2,500)
$239 : tire sensor
$5,480 : Regular scheduled maintenance/oil changes, rear brakes replaced, 3 sets of Michelin tires, 2 headlights replaced, tire lubricant rubber punctured and replaced (can't remember what it is called)
-------------
$36,470 spent on car in 10.5 years including purchase
$1,000 trade in value
-------------
$35,470

So in summary, the only maintenance items I paid for was 1 tire sensor, 1 lubricant rubber around a tire, and rear brakes (I never changed the front brakes)

I averaged 45.6 mpg over the 10.5 years I owned the car.

Final comment:
My 2006 Prius out the door price was $29,788 with a 6 year, 100,000 mile warranty and Toyota Care until 55,000 miles was.

My 2017 Prius Four Touring out the door price was $32,434 with a 6 year, 125,000 mile warranty. Price increase of $2,646 from 2006.

Michael

 

When I bought my Prius in 2006, I was working in Herndon (and live in Purcellville). It wasn't until 2012 that I took a position in our DC offices and consistently used the HOV lanes. The HOV plate made the commute home bearable. I leave very early so I don't even bother with HOV in the morning. I know someday they will revoke this incentive. I just want to enjoy it as long as I can. Our DC offices are moving closer to the White House area in the middle of 2018 so I will probably be forced to take a bus or some other public transportation. Or if I am very lucky, maybe I can find a way to leave the area for a lower cost of living.

I bought my car in 2006 at Miller Toyota. I was thinking of buying this car there as well. But driving to Manassas from Purcellville is a haul. Ourisman Toyota in Chantilly off Rt 50 is closer and not too far off my commute home so I bought it there. I believe the price was very similar between the two dealers.

Michael

 

WJTracy:
Hi! I wasn't really aware of slugging. A co-worker who lives in Springfield picks up people. I like my independence

The Silver line s*cks! It makes no sense to go east then a sharp turn south through Tysons and a turn north east to come in on the same Orange line tracks. My wife and I tried it on a weekend and single tracking and crowded trains were not fun.

I've owned the car 10 days and have done over 1,030 miles.

I **assumed** my phone would work with the qi wireless charging dock in the Prius so I bought one for my iPhone 6 Plus. I should have read Prius Chat first to see that the phone is really too big to fit properly. Oh well. Will need to return what I bought. You would think Toyota would have made charging area that would fit current phones.