Prius v: 300,000 miles club

We've all heard million-mile stories, and I think it's possible with any vehicle, with a keen knowledge and understanding of the vehicle. I've had some good luck and I think it comes from being exceptionally tuned- in to what your vehicle is doing.

 

It will be very interesting to hear what 2Fas decides. I wish him all the best.
I decided to track down the discussion surrounding his decision to buy the vagon. A post of mine from jan 2012 is quoted below -- not as a "I told you so," but as a warning for people who are thinking about entering into agreements that put them way 'upside down.' This is doubly true for people who cannot work without a car.

 

Wow a lot of feedback.
1. I have 2000 just don't want to fix properly unless no way out,and this gasket sealer doesn't hold.
2. Let me say this believe or not head gasket is bad, looking back this happened almost 6-7 months ago, when I experienced first knocking early in morning.
3 so far with experimentation an errors on my part I'm out about 500
4. Car been running hot for a long time so yes this is a strong bunny rabbit.
5 I cannot sell I owe over 15000, blue book with mileage worth only 5000, remember I rolled over from 2009 prius bout 5000 on top.
6 anyway engine or not my baby has been good to me.
7 lastly I do have a second vehicle that I could use which I am using now.

 

Further damage from a poor repair sounds like a bad idea. I apologize for being presumptuous, but don't you want this car to last the better part of 4 more years ?

 

2 Fas,
I was reading about head gasket failures and came across one scenario where the overheating coolant leads to gas bubbles in the plumbing. These bubbles can get caught in the thermostat causing it to malfunction. So if the car cooling does not correct after thermostat replacement it may mean more bubbles to be burped, or another problem in the coolant circuit.

 

U know I appreciate ur advice, this quick repair cost very little and adds to nothing cause car is already broke, however sometimes we gamble on certain things an take risk. This I know is only temporary. Again thanks. It also gives me time to see who is best for the job without rushing. Whether dealer or backyard mechanic.
Side note. My co worker got is engine rebuilt by dealer for about 6000 unlimited miles one year an free rental. He also has 350000 on his.
So anyway putting in thermostat today hopefully. An we'll see how it goes.
I'll get the name of gasket sealer when he comes by.

 

Thank you. I'm relieved

 

2Fas, in the future I suggest you refrain from purchasing NEW as you will always end up upside down on the loan. You should instead buy a late model with about 100k miles on it. That way the car will be HALF price to start. You can then carry at 3 year loan on it with $1000 payments and won't be upside down after 3 years of use (you should be around 500k miles by then).

 

For some of us, the new price is worthwhile to get the warranty. In the case of a Prius, I can only imagine the dreadful scenario of buying someone else's problem-vehicle and having no warranty.

As for being "upside down," that's a consequence of buying something you can't afford.

 

For some of us yes.....for a guy that puts 36000 on a car in 2 or 3 months, the warranty is really worthless.

 

Not so much. The need for warranty repair is more likely to come about as a result of high mileage, than it is from the calendar. If you are being compensated for mileage in your job, the length of time it takes to run up the odometer is less-relevant.

 

I believe most people here in CA get $.55 for every mile they drive in compensation, at 350k miles, he should have made almost $200,000 dollars in compensation. But I don't think that's the case here

 

Quick math says 35k miles gets you $20k. But over the life of the vehicle, it's not free money; take out the fuel, normal maintenance and cost of purchase minus disposal price, there's not a whole lot left. Adding in a major repair which would have been covered by the manufacturer's warranty could turn the whole thing into a loss really fast.

 

Not sure we are talking about the same type of miles here, I said 350k. But seems you are referring to warranty coverage 35k.

Based on your quick math 35k miles would use 700 gallons of fuel at CA $4.00/gal = $2800. He does 35k in 3 months so add $3000 for a very expensive loan payment. A few oil changes and he's still up on the day by $14,000 in 3 months time. I don't know of any repair at $14,000 at 35k miles on the clock........

but honestly, we are both probably completely wrong on our assumptions on his compensation.

 

Well, of course every situation is different. I've made money and lost money being paid for mileage. Twenty years ago I bought an old Tercel for practically nothing ($600), and got 25 cents a mile from the state of Montana for driving 1000 miles a week over 2 years. Gas was a buck a gallon and I sold the car for more than I bought it for ($600). That car was a money-machine.

In 2006, I bought a Dodge Ram for $52k, and was I was getting almost a buck a mile. I didn't make any money on the mileage, but thank god I never had any major repairs.

 

Here is how it works with a 1099. U can go for the 55 cents or whatever, or u can go with repairs an expenses. I chose the mileage, but u still have to factor in other expenses outside of job such as family an so on, at end of the day the tax return is not what u calculate it to be.

 

Ok thermostat is in. Temps are around 190 steady without that air flow, An ac going, I am going to see how it goes.
Forgot to get name of sealer, but u do have to drain antifreeze first. Anyway again thanks to all.

 

I've wondered about this too, if you do not mind sharing ...

I gather you are treated as an independent contractor.
Is your compensation a combination of some amount for a trip, plus 55 cents a mile ?

Do you then deduct 55 cents a miles as a business expense ?

 

I am an independent contractor. 1099
Therefore however u get paid doesn't really matter, by miles by the hour doesnt matter.
At the end of the year because u dont pay taxes per pay.
You are allowed to claim a deduction, the same as using your child as a dependent.
Choice 1. I believe last year it was about 50 something per mile the govt allowed or
Choice 2. Add up all ur expenses, gas repairs clothing office space which ever is greater, however u can only use 1.
The 55 cents a mile is only calculated at the end of the year Dec 31 to Dec 31 so if you did 100 business miles u times that by 55 cents which is 550 then u calculate it by ur gross income. If u win the lotto depends on how much that can effect the outcome also, then u have your family expenses rent food and so on.
So for me with all the miles I do it is only a couple of thousand in return. An also not all miles driven are business related.

No
It is a combination of some amount but not 55 cent added to that some amount.

 

Wow, you can deduct that kind of mileage on a 1099 without getting an audit.