I think I dodged a bullet. Thanks, PriusChat!

Maybe the first 5 minutes is 30 MPG, but usually that only gets me up to the first stupid Virginia (never heard of smart lights here) 3-min traffic light. Then you are good.

Paying off "hybrid premium" does probably require at least 10k better yet 15k a year miles. But did you say where you are living..that has an impact (taxes etc).

 

He said Las Vegas. I can imagine poor mileage on some short commutes where it might be light to light in heavy traffic in the winter with the heater blasting which would keep the ICE running. Of course, that would be offset by much better mileage the rest of the year. My worst mileage has been 34.6 mpg between Ft Stockton and Selma TX doing 80 mph during an extreme January cold front earlier this year. Around Phoenix, my worst has been 45.2, but I'm retired and don't have a daily commute. On a regular short trip I make to the library (7.5 mi each way) I get 70+ mpg, though the first/last 1/2 mi is at 20 mph because of speed humps near a high school and it uses EV mode a lot. Our car is garaged, so it doesn't take that long to warm up.

 

Las Vegas. OK well I've heard that the FORD hybrids in non-CARB states may show less of a MPG hit when cold. I am not sure if that's true, but it could be, since all Prius are identically equal California cars, it's conceivable the low MPG at start-up is a California state requirement to reduce emissions.

 

Spot on. Corolla is the best low cost car on the market.

If you have a low budget then a Hyundai Elantra, but a Corolla may still be cheaper.

Not a fan of Hondas these days.

Big fan of Leafs

 

One solution would be the human-electric hybrid bicycle, or ebike for short. We have two in Germany that give a real 45+ km range, and I am building one for Virginia. Downside in US is bicycling is extremely dangerous compare to driving two tons of steel with built-in crush space, but ebikes are extraordinarily efficient and useful in wider temperature ranges than regular bicycles.

 

What is the other vehicle you plan to get if your not getting a Prius?

 

I wouldn't spend Prius $ for such a short commute. Maybe the Prius C, or even a Corolla, Fit, other small cheaper car would serve the OP's purpose.

 

all the best.

 

If I were you, I'd keep my flip phone too.

 

If it is still reliable, and consuming fewer repair dollars than the depreciation cost of a new car, then this is quite reasonable. My spouse's Integra is closing in on 27 years old, and is still her daily driver.

 

Just a friendly little jab. No offense.

 

I kept my last flip phone for 10 years. Finally switched to smartphone last year. It's amazing how many people seemed to really take issue with my flip phone. One friend actually threatened to throw it out a moving car window so I could upgrade. I mean really?

 

I guess reliability is a huge factor for me . I like to know that I can jump in my car and drive cross country without the constant feeling something is going to fail just at the worst moment. If you just use your car for transportation to and from work and it's only 5 miles or so, then fine. Buying a new car, indeed, would be impractical. Run what you brung.

 

the part on Scion xB is entirely incorrect. the Yaris predecessor is Echo, truly a POS car (even my teenager son cried when i wanted to buy him one). scion xB is still produced to this day and it's not a bad car if one likes cube shapes.

you are right about Prius c being a sort of hybrid Yaris, but not exactly. it's like saying Prius is a hybrid Corolla.

considering the OP is in hot las vegas and drives little, hybrid or EV car is a poor choice, as battery is going expire sooner from heat and old age rather than wear of use.

 

While I agree with your decision not to buy a Prius, I do not agree with the way you arrived at it.

A Prius may not get optimum fuel economy in a 7 mile commute but neither will any ICE vehicle. All cars will get lousy mpg in those conditions. Say a Prius will get 40 mpg instead of the rated 50 mpg. A Yaris might get 25 mpg instead of the rated 33 mpg. A Prius will get better fuel economy in almost all situations.

I also disagree with other replies on here about choosing the car based on the length of your commute or how much you plan to drive per year. It really doesn't matter. As said above, no matter the commute, a Prius will save you money in fuel over a regular car.

What does matter is how many miles you intend to drive the car. Say for example it takes 50k miles to make up for the higher price of a Prius versus a Yaris, what difference does it make whether you drive 15k miles a year or 9k miles a year? You will start saving money in year 4 or year 6. As long as you drive the car over 50k miles then you would've saved money. The only way distance per year or commute length will matter is if you don't plan to keep the car a long time. Since you own a 25 year old Acura, this is a moot point as you keep cars a long time.

Finally, I agree with you keeping the Acura. Paired with such a short commute and a fully paid off car, your payback may take decades or more to realize. Purchase a Prius when the Acura gives up its last dying breath.

 

I still have an old standard rotary dial desk phone, and even use it on occasion.

It isn't the only phone in the house. But during power outages, it is the only one that works. And it always has the clearest sound, which is becoming move valuable as my ears age.