Put $4,000 into 2007 Prius or spring for 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid?

Lot of funny business with the CRVs always have been so you know their engines tend to fail and things happen that's not really Prius mileage to be honest or Toyota mileage so there's always that You have an '09 that still doing very well or what have you I don't know if I would sink 4,000 into the whatever year you're saying this is 0507 you buy another whole car and pretty doggone good shape for that kind of money $500 more will get you $130,000 mi pretty good shape generation 2 Prius in the Southeast United States granted that's not where you are but fly down pick it up and go on but I tell you in the three that I have I would give serious consideration to spending $4,000 to fix one versus 34,000 to buy a CRV at my 67-year-old age at this point I wouldn't even entertain the CRV The CRV won't make it until I die I guarantee you that The Prius all three of them have way better chances and I have stuff to keep them and fix them and anybody who's paying $450 for a $45 water pump on a generation 2 Prius I feel bad for you your life must be very good and you have many things to do that don't involve a vehicle and that's a wonderful thing but that's highway robbery that's a 55-minute job and a $48 part and so on and so forth I'm sure you're looking at the Toyota part brand new for $239 or something but those mechanical water pumps like that they cost nothing

 

I don't know your (OP) full story.
At 200K mileage I would be hesitant to spend $4K.
Noting what is the current car's valuation, plus, is $4K just the beginning of repairs?)
But with a new car, at least in California, the DMV and Insurance could be near $4K in two years.

My vote is: None of the options.

My vote, as to me Toyota is the hybrid leader, is a Rav4 SUV.

Good luck with your decision

 

The only thing that worries me about this particular car you're talking about here is the crack on the transaxle which is probably just a casting mark that they're trying to scare you with but I can't see from here nothing's leaking out of it is probably not a crack it's probably a casting mark Very common and aluminum but like I say at $450 for a mechanical water pump light goes on an old Corolla rear wheel drive of the '70s and '80s seriously that's a 25-minute job on a bad day and dump coolant and start driving but oh well I wish I could get them for $450 about two or three a week and I couldn't charge a person that and stand face-to-face I guess I could if I had a bunch of overhead to pay signage snap-on tools big tool boxes with dressers on the end of them cars with vehicle wraps and four employees I guess I could make myself but the way I work there's no way that's just a joke or a good joke We would have a good laugh and the guy would pay maybe $125 or something and supply the part

 

I was very interested in the Honda CRV Hybrid, till I found out it doesn't have a spare. Which is too dang bad; we've had a string of Hondas over the years.

 

If this was my money, I'd stick with the gen2. Everything you've mentioned are standard wear-out items that should've been budgeted for. Now your talking about spending 37.5K plus taxes, increase regs fees and insurance. If you want a larger newer car fine. I see cars as basic transportation and wouldn't be able to justify $37.5K out of pocket along with the higher expenses.
As far as the tranny, it's pretty much bullet-proof and a used one is readily available, if yours should blow-up. Probably another 2K max, so we're up to 6K. The math don't lie....
Honda CRV hybrids are assembled here in the USA, so tariff issues should be minimal at best. But who knows, since Elon has Trumps ear - he may band everything except Teslas
Also forgot to talk about the Honda distance sensors being stolen - $800-$1500 replacement cost. Easier than a CAT thief.

 

If you do long distance driving I would want a newer car with warranty. You get stuck a thousand miles from home and you will get the shaft at the only place that can fix a Prius, the closest Toyota dealer.

If it's your wife stranded by herself it's even worse.

 

problem is you rely on stealership for repairs that's why it cost so much.

the Honda hybrid (older generation) is not that great compared to Toyota's synergy drive.. Toyota's eCVT could last longer than the car itself, while Honda just started using eCVT so reliability is not yet known.

 

idk anything about the crv, but i'd go new or much newer over the 07

 

If you are planning on driving much in Canada, be sure you can change the units for the speedometer. I replaced my 2017 Prius with a 2025 Camry but I am not hauling around dogs. My son really enjoys hos 2023 RAV4 Prime SXE when he travels with his small dogs.His car has remote start so he is able to keep his crated dogs in the car with AC running in the summer when at outdoor dog agility matches.

 

Fix the PRIUS

 

I say get all that work done for way less than $4K.

-- Buy tires online and find someone to mount and balance them on the cheap by bringing just the wheels and tires in to save money.

-- A new OEM pack can often be found for $1900 once you get your deposit back and its a very easy nuts and bolts swap that takes 2 hours DIY style

-- Water pump replacement is a $50 part and a few hours work. Very easy job as far as water pumps go.

If you aren't good at car work, find a friend of family member who is and this website can answer any question they may have. You still have plenty more life in your Prius left, but spending $4K on easy repairs is not wise. You could buy a used Gen2 Prius for that price.

 

If you don't mind the poor ride quality, you can just put it off.
If you hit a bump in the road and the car gets squirrely, well you'll have to replace them from a safety standpoint. You must be able to control your car at all times.
Again, this is another wear-out item. Any car that has 200K+ miles on her is going to need the struts replaced.

 

I can't think of any 2007 car I'd readily put $4k into.

 

and you always believe what the stealerships tell you.

my friends who does their oil changes in stealerships always has this recommendations and I'll tell them that's all baloney (skip it!).. The Prius is not a luxury car that a bad strut will make it not rideable (even with a good strut it still drives like a cheapo car) Unless you see it leaking or eating your tires then it's worth fixing it. As long as you understand what you're doing electrically, replacing the hv battery is not that complicated in a Prius.. The water pump can also be DIY cheaply without special tools and for less than $100 DIY (add the coolant cost) The whole $4k is a stealership estimate, it's even cheaper in an independent shop without the unnecessary repairs.. sounds like you're itching for a new car which makes this whole discussion moot.

 

A new car makes sense if bottom line financial is not the driving factor.

 

First off, is the water pump for the inverter or engine? I know you typed engine but maybe not everyone paid attention.
Most if not all of the forum members do their own maintenance or have a trusted independent shop. Taking a 15+ year old car with 200K miles to a dealership has the service manager salivating at how many items they can put on the bill. They want everything to be in "off the showroom floor" condition when it is in the shop. When selling a used car the opposite is true, but that is another thread topic.
You could go low bucks, get a rebuilt battery pack and go to a costco or such for cheaper tires and struts then find a mechanic to do the pump. I would bet then you would have a car good for another 50K miles for less than half the dealer price.
But the prius served you well, and walking away to buy a new car is also a good choice. You obviously keep a car for a long time which reflects attention to maintenance so whatever you buy will probably last as long as the prius. Financially buying a new car can make sense if you keep it for the entire lifespan, that is 200 - 300K miles. There are some here who will proudly run a 300K mile POS put in used parts and do all the work themselves. They always win on the cheapest cost per mile. But that is not all of us and some don't want to take that path.