Crunching the numbers... for the frugal, like myself

With the prices they are asking for used ones right now, you might as well just get a new one - unless they are adding on a surcharge or something crazy like that. I bought a used 2010 and found a few very disapointing surprises after getting it home!

 

Hey buddy, I'd say you wait til autumn if that's not too late. Save a little more. Prices will go down as will gas prices. The incentives will come back and interest rates will be lower. There's nothing wrong with being frugal but buying a brand new car at a time when the price is at its premium is not a very wise economical decision.

 

Good job! I have figured out that if you write down your EVERY expense, it saves a lot of money just because you don't want to write that $2.74 you spent unnecessarily on something and be embarrassed. It also shows you what you spend most on, and you will be surprised. I don't have cable either, I invested that monthly payment in two cats. They provide excellent entertainment!

 

Real frugal buyers save for long enough to pay cash for their cars. They get the best price when negotiating and apply the interest charges to the purchase of their next new car. You might consider driving the Corella or taking the bus for a couple more years, while you put aside as much money as you can afford for a Gen 4 Prius. BTW; quitting smoking will save you more than money and is a smart move regardless of the car.

 

Hard to say why it burns so much oil at that mileage. Are you sure it's not just leaking oil?

 

I suppose this wouldn't be a good time to tell you I'd like to get rid of my 2000 American Deluxe (Teal) Strat w/ noiseless pickups, hard case, etc. etc.

 

Its OK, somebody else will take it, figure out why it's losing/consuming oil and then run it for another 20 years.

If you can get a mechanic to diagnose the problem it'll really help you save towards your Prius.

 

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO WAIT SIX MONTHS. PRIUS PRICES WILL BE DOWN. FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR MONEY SAVING PLANS ANYWAY. IF AFTER SIX MONTHS, YOU HAD SUCCESS, GO AHEAD AND BUY THE CAR. :rockon: I PULLED THE TRIGGER ON A NEW PRIUS TWO MONTHS AGO. I MADE A DEAL WITH MYSELF THAT I WOULD EXTINGUISH MY SMOKING HABIT, ($200 MONTHLY SAVINGS). SO FAR, SO GOOD! SMOKE FREE AND HAPPY MOTORING.

 

When I crunched the numbers for our Prius back in February, some used Priuses were cheaper than new, and some weren't (in terms of cost until dead). Particularly, for my assumptions, 2007 & 2008 seemed to be the sweet spot.

Be sure to use a model which takes inflation of fuel (at whatever growth rate you think reasonable) into account.

 

1) u can save $$ money on car insurance by shopping around and taking atleast 12 quotes regardless of whether you keep your current car or buy a new one. Increasing your deductible for comprehensive collision on a new car. The internet is very useful in this challenge. 2) Shopping for the best car loan terms before you get to the dealership can save $$ in the long term - the some of the best rates can be found by trouble banks that have been bailed out by the feds - this has to be done in person so its alot of footwork but its worth it. 3) Shopping for the best price for a new car is best done via the internet - using truecar.com/edmonds.com to find the best regional price range for a Prius - knowing the bottom price range and all the incentive prorams helps with getting the best price possible and is an instant $$ saver. 4) Buying a used 2g Prius in good condition is likely to cost signficantly less than a new 3g Prius and be cheaper for you in overall total ownership cost... despite the bad press, reports that I've read suggest that the 2g Prius is a very reliable car. 5) get a scangaugeii and learn hypermiling to increase your MPG on your current car- hypermiling can increase your MPG by by 20%. 6) if you decide to fix your corolla consider a private (non-dealer) auto mechanic shop. They will often charge significantly less to repair than a dealership especially if you can tell them exactly what needs fixing ( by showing them a written repair estimate from the dealership ).

BTW -- My only regret wrt to my 2010 Prius is selecting the color - if given a second chance I would have picked white or black .... the Prius body paint is prone to scratching, scuffing, and chipping. Its easier to repair black, white, and non metallic body paint.
The Prius low air dams are easy to scuff along low uneven street curbs/driveways too.


walter lee
2010 Toyota Prius III, Blue Ribbon/Dk Grey
+11,800 miles, 58.8 mpg overall

 

The debate over frugality reminds me of "The Frugal Gourmet." He argued that "frugal" does not mean "cheap."

The truly frugal want the best value for their money. A Prius purchase can give return economically in savings of fuel, maintenance and longevity, emotionally in the satisfaction of acting on one's own concerns, socially in the pride and status of ownership and discussions with others, environmentally in saving your weight in CO2 every fill-up, and temperally in five hundred miles between fill-ups.

It's more than just numbers. I could have spent the extra couple of grand on a car with more "show," but that's money wasted as far as I'm concerned.

 

Thank you. That's what I was thinking. Cost is sometimes an issue, but that is not how good business is done - it's what it makes or returns that is the issue - assuming you can afford the initial outlay. Prius has outstanding returns for all your reasons and probably many more.