Money saved on gas with Prius

I don't think that there's any doubt that a Prius---especially a $22K-$24K G3-II will save enough money in gas over the service life of the car to pay for any upcharge---or 'hybrid premium' over a comparably equipped mid-sized sedan, in fact it's a pretty good deal overall.
The math gets a little funny when you compare a 'V' to another car, or you compare a Prius to an econo-box like the Aveo or the Optima. This is why you'll never see the Prius on any "10 cheapest cars to own" list.
I've never been overly concerned about the battery life after 100K. You can get batteries on eBay, and it's not that big a deal to replace them. Besides---if the G2's average battery life is any indication, then you'll probably not have to worry about it for the first 150-200K miles of the vehicle's lifespan---and after that you'll be spending money to repair/replace other pieces/parts anyway---just like any other car with the same mileage.
If you're in the market for a smallish sedan in the 25K range, and you're OK with the Prius driving experience, then the car will probably reward you with years of service, and you'll wind up saving a considerable amount of money in the process!

Edit: I don't live in the Frozen North, but not all small cars suffer the same mileage penalty for cold weather as the Prius. I put 70K on a Saturn Ion, and I tracked my mileages pretty faithfully. I never noticed a weather induced ding in mileage with that car and I was knocking down about 30 mpg overall. My GMC gets the same 21MPG (+/- a few tenths) summer and winter.
The Prius will save you in the long run---I'm just not buying argument that non-hybrids suffer the same weather induced mileage decreases that plague the Prius. JMHO.

 

Cycledrum do you have a day job? LOL, jk.

I've saved about $850 on gas since I bought mine. Unfortunately, I've also spent $800 on modifications. But I'm glad my hardearned money goes towards the aftermarket parts industry rather than the oil companies.

 

conventonal ice doesn't ever shut off so it doesn't have to run more to warm up, provide heat, etc. you don't save in the summer and you don't lose (much) in winter. i get 65 mpg in good weather and anything down to 50 in bad. in my old camry i averaged about 30 year round.

 

Leading with chin, on this forum, but here goes.

Before I bought my Prius I did a fair amount of research, and did some calculations on the hybrid premium vs. gas cost savings. I decided to buy a hybrid for non-financial reasons (primarily environmental impact), but also looked at the numbers. I don't remember the exact numbers, but my recollection is for a person who drives an average amount (12K miles/year), the break even point (and I assumed $4/gal gas) was longer than I (and most people) own a car, something like 7+ years as I recall. Since there's no non-hybrid Prius, I compared hybrid vs. non-hybrid versions of Camry and Ford Fusion. So unless you drive a lot of miles/year, or plan to keep your car a really long time, "justifying" a hybrid purchase from a financial perspective is difficult at best.

Of course, as a guy I worked for years ago loved to say...figures lie, and liars figure...so it's all about the assumptions you make.

 

At a 1k miles/month, I'm barely breaking even when payments and insurance are figured in over my former gas hog (07 Nissan Quest SL). So it's good (huh?) that I'm driving 1500 miles per month thus I'm currently about $50/month ahead at $3/gallon rates.

 

I agree. It is hard to overcome the initial price difference between some semi-comparable cars and it gets worse when you compare it to an econo-box like the Aveo.

If you were to calculate the difference between a GenIII ModelII Prius vs. a 2011 Toyota Matrix then even after 5yrs (75,000miles) you would still be in the hole $2765 if you bought the Prius. This assumes no repairs. Just fuel.

2011 Matrix (28mpg) $17,500 + $8035 = $25535

2011 Prius II (50mpg) $23,800 + $4500 = $28300

Miles driven: 15,00/yr * 5yr = 75,000miles
Fuel: $3ga

Total Fuel Used:
Matrix = 2678ga * $3ga = $8035
Prius = 1500ga * $3ga =$4500

Matrix total cost - Prius total cost = -$2765

It all really depends on how quickly the non-hybrid will go into closed loop vs. the Prius. If the car's engine heats up quickly and goes into closed loop quickly then the mpg hit will be less.

In your situation, or with less than average miles driven/yr, overcoming the intial price of the Prius becomes even more difficult compared to a lower priced car with worse gas mileage. Thankfully there are other good reasons for owning a Prius than just payback period.

 

I drive 30,000 miles a year, and even with $2.50 gas I broke even in 5.5 years over a Marix. Using F8L numbers I am about $950 ahead after 5 years with $3.00 gas.
Break even at 30,000 mils/year may be real close to 4 years at $3.00 gas.

 

The amount of miles driven/yr is the real decider. Man you drive a lot! lol

 

Saying small cars don't suffer from winter driving mileage wise is just not true. I rented a Suzuki (a tiny and uncomfortable car!!). It got 10 l/100 km in the winter. I'd call that a "gas guzzler!" It was rated for 6 to 7 l/100 km.
So I'd say "it depends". On a lot of things, apparently.

 

If you open up Google maps and click Get Directions:
I am a Xerox network installer from Hollandale MS to Robinsonville MS and from Winona MS to Marvel AR. Any day I get in my car, I go at least 55 miles each way, some where in that box . (Today was to Tunica MS and back, 94 miles each way)

(If you select terrain or satellite, you see it is all dead flat except my very eastern edge)

 

You know, Jimbo made me think of another instrument that could really affect your total savings on a Prius vs. a less efficient car and that tool is.... Mileage reimbursement!

At .$51/mile that can really add up in a Prius! lol

Jimbo's trip today cost him approx $5.65 in fuel but he could have made $47.94 in reimbursement. So his total profit is $42.29. In the end this would overcome the wear and tear he puts on the car and could close the gap between the Prius and the Matrix.

 

I'm estimating to save 5k in the course of 7 years... I don't drive that much...

but that's assuming if gas prices stay stable. I believe most are predicting a rise.

 

The really good (?) news is that two things are going to serve to make owning a Prius (or comparable hybrid) more economically viable.
1. Gas is going to wind up going up. Right now it's at $2.78. Either the government is going to increase gas taxes to help shore up our mounting debt woes (State and/or Federal) ---or--- world events are going to dictate a rise in pump prices. It doesn't have to be anything as fancy as conflict in the Middle East. There are going to be zillions of new drivers on the roads as China and India (and other countries) evolve economically. They stopped manufacturing oil a looooog time ago.
2. Honda is already trying to nip at Toyota's heels with an inexpensive hybrid. Others will follow suit, and someday PHVs will evolve into a mainstream car that won't just be a 'play-pretty' for well heeled enviro-geeks----as is happening for hybrids in today's car market.

Pretty soon the 'hybrid premium' is going to go away, and the good thing for Yota, is they're already two legs and a torso up on that market.

 

i wonder which will progress faster, electric powered vehicles or clean electricity?

 

I bet consumption outpaces then both.

 

I used the standard transmission base model Matrix. Auto trans is usually an upgrade in most cars. They idea is the same though so you are correct. I used the Matrix for the reasons you listed. Similar size, HP and appearance.

 

Actually....I'm not the biggest fan of the SKS on the Prius. It's a non-optional 'option' that I could well do without. And YES! I'm veeeeery well aware of the fact that I'm in the minority on that subject!!!

The 'make-up' time for the hybrid premium is probably much less than the 6 years you described. F8L actually did a fair comparo....but unlike a lot of fanatics out there.....he played the numbers rather conservatively.
Most American drivers would rather take mass transit than drive a car with a clutch---so I usually look at a comparably equipped smallish mid sized sedan when I do the stare-and-compare thing.

Take the Sentra.
A comparably equipped Sentra does the same basic stuff as a Prius (it even has push button start for you key-phobes out there) and you can put one in your driveway for about 20K---versus the 24K for a G3-II. This is an MSRP-MSRP compare.

That's a 4k delta in price, and a 3.7 cent delta in fuel cost per mile, which you can expect to recover in about 100,000 miles---actually about 110K at today's prices...but gas is cheaper here than it is in the PRC.

So right now, in 2011...you can expect to juuuust about recoup the 'hybrid premium' during the service life of a G3.
Pretty encouraging......and it'll probably get better!!!---or worse, depending on your love or hate for the whole eco-box thing...

 

Rub it in will you.

My area last had that for any average price a year ago. Now it averages $3.24 locally, $3.09 nationally.