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My Prius helped me retire by my mid 20s...Toyota owes me a new car!

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by eddiehaskell, Nov 8, 2019.

  1. eddiehaskell

    eddiehaskell Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2007
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    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So my goal was to retire early.

    I decided to buy a base Prius using cash for clunkers.

    By driving my Prius throughout my 20s I was able to retire extremely early.

    Low initial cost. Low cost to operate. Durable.

    Total cost of repairs = $300 for a wheel bearing

    Lifetime MPG = 46 or 47

    My Prius was used frequently to tow a utility trailer for the work I was doing. I often pulled 3-4000 pounds. Sometimes I loaded up the car itself with 2000lbs+ worth of stuff.

    It accidentally went off road a few times...but never ever stopped it.

    The hatch area has room to make a bed and pull up to a drive in movie. It has room to make babies and eventually haul them around.

    I remodeled a few homes using the Prius and utility trailer. I’m sure some thought it was funny seeing a Prius carry such things.

    One time I used it to carry home a 50 gallon water heater....in the box. Sometimes it functioned as a makeshift hotel room for the night.

    Thousands of pounds of flooring at one time.

    I often put lawn care equipment inside my Prius and maintained 3-4 yards. 40-50 boxes of printer paper a few times? Did that too.

    5-6 small “wrecks” - yeah, but she still goes.

    My Prius was the best car in the world for someone that aspired to retire early.

    It performed flawlessly for me as a light duty truck/SUV.

    True story.
     
    #1 eddiehaskell, Nov 8, 2019
    vvillovv, Data Daedalus, jerrymildred and 2 others like this.
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
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    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The one caution that has to be added to a thread like this, for other wannabe early retirees, is that yes, it's often impressive how far you can exceed a vehicle's GVWR and still have it successfully get all that mass moving.

    ...

    ... but the stories that sound successful tend to be the ones lucky enough that nobody's life ever depended on bringing that moving mass to a quick controlled stop.

    Were there at least trailer brakes on the trailer for loads like that?
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Nov 8, 2019
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congrats eddie!

    how many miles did you put on her?

    i hope you and the beave live happily ever after!(y)
     
    #3 bisco, Nov 8, 2019
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
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    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Whose the beave :p.

    Sounds like a black and white TV reference :whistle:.
     
    #4 Raytheeagle, Nov 8, 2019
    bisco likes this.
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Sounds great, but why does toyota owe you a new car?
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Nov 9, 2019
    Mendel Leisk and Salamander_King like this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    first, you have to know who eddie haskell is:)
     
    #6 bisco, Nov 9, 2019
    Prius Maximus and Raytheeagle like this.
  7. Prius Maximus

    Prius Maximus Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2004
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    Location:
    Northeastern IL
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hey, I've bought 7 new Toyotas - 5 Prii and 2 Rav4s. Our son bought a Tundra. I think Toyota should thank me with a gift of a new Prime! (I probably have already paid for it and then some!)
     
    #7 Prius Maximus, Nov 11, 2019
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yeah, we’re on our seventh, and I way overpaid for the pip.
    They owe me two!
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 11, 2019
  9. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
    3,903
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    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Yeah the trailer hitch for the Prius is a Class 1 with 1k lb max.
    Eddie, you gotta stop bein such a rebel. Your old bud Wally.
    lol
     
    #9 vvillovv, Nov 11, 2019
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