Why buy a Hybrid if you don't drive very much?

No they don't. They state that Gen 2 over 200,000 become candidates for battery failure. This in no way implies that at 200,001 miles 100% fail. It means that by 200,000 some noticeable number fail.

(Generic Bell Curve)


I interpret LG to say that all Gen 1 Prius are in the meaty part of the curve, but some high mileage Gen 2s are also in the meaty part. In a Gen 2, prior to 200,000 you are in a skinny part of the curve. I am not convinced that Gen 1 has hit the peak of the curve yet, let alone Gen 2.

 

Same here. The added bonus is low fuel cost, low maintenance cost, super reliability, and cheap used parts from wrecked cars (in case it does brake down outside warranty).

 

Our 2006 Rav4 was maintained religiously by the dealer and the tranny started to fail at 164,000. It had been gulping oil for years. There was a TSB on it for poor piston sealing but she was never notified during the time it was available. It was reliable otherwise. Still, $4k+ for a new trans hurts.

 

Car's are not like they used to be because they simply aren't designed the same. Requirements are much different as well as efficiency. Along with that is competition that forces manufacturers to keep cost down to stay competitive.. and the impact often times is quality.

 

I'm not your 'everybody',and do not beleive my purchase will stop a war,or fix global warming.How could the government fix oil consumption?
I'm a conservative....that's why i bought a Prius.

steve

 

Simple answer existence proof: $10/gallon gas tax.

Now, as the joke goes, we are just arguing price...

 

I went from a 10mpg F150 to 52mpg Prius. Although I only drive 20 miles a day, I doubled my range, for 1/4 of the cost for fuel. (20 gallons*4=$80 for 200 miles, 10 gallons*4 =40 for 520 miles) Definitely worth it in my book.

 

Hear, hear!

I bought the Prius largely because, based on my spreadsheet of expected annual mileage, mpg on the Prius v. a conventional gas-only car, and an estimate of future gasoline prices, the Prius would be cheaper over its lifetime.

We also live on one side of a major multi-year highway construction project and regularly commute to the other side. Being able to crawl along or sit in EV mode without an engine idling uselessly was a huge stress reducer.

If it helps the environment (a debate which I feel leans toward the Prius but is not settled), then that is gravy.

That being said, I am still thrilled by the sight of every other Prius that I see on the road. So much so that I drive my family bonkers by exclaiming "PRIUS!" every time I see one.

 

Because I like the technology and the car.

 

exactly.


We still have Gen 1's still out bustin bugs with their original battery.


I have seen 05,06,07 getting their batteries replaced more then most. Its my opinion those years the technology on batts those years were weaker then others.

We have seen 500,000 by SF taxi cab drivers, who have purchased replacement cars, and I sell them with 200k all the time on their original battery and still showing roughly 45mpg on Gen 2's


Havnt seen a gen 3 replaced yet. but I am only one dealership.

Ive only heard of one prius tranny going bad.




One thing to be noted, its time more then miles when it comes to the battery. Theres no reason why the engine/trans wont make those miles.

 

Considering the $5K premium to buy a hybrid, more than most would recover from gasoline savings for 5-7 years, it seems clear most do buy a hybrid to save US from oil use and pollution costs.

Some many not admit but the financial facts, oil use facts and pollution facts would say otherwise.

 

No clue where you are pulling those numbers from. I saved about $2100 a year in gas alone, so 7 years is $14,700 If we subtract your bogus $5000, I get $9,700 profit.

 

How many miles a year and compared to what baseline vehicle?

The average driver only racks up 10,000 miles a year, which even with a vehicle getting only 25 mph amounts to only $1476 at a fuel price of $3.69 a gallon. The average driver could hardly hope to save $2100 a year if they don't even pay that much. iClaudius' numbers are closer to the mark that your numbers.

A Prius *does* cost more than a similarly-sized conventional vehicle, as it should. It has not only an engine but a whole additional system of inverter, electric motor, and battery.

Given 10,000 miles per year with a fuel price of $3.69 a gallon comparing a 50 mpg Prius to a 25 mpg conventional vehicle, the breakeven on a $5000 premium for the Prius is 5000/738 = 6.78 years.

Five to seven years is right on the money.

What's with all the hostility?

 

As you may have noticed, the basis of this thread is that Prius owners drive a lot. In my case, 30,000 miles a year.
I owned a Subaru Forester before the Prius, it got 24 MPG hauling all my stuff, (see Pictures) my Gen 2 got 46 MPG hauling all my stuff.

The average mileage per year for other cars is not real important. If you buy a car to park it in your driveway and look at it, you can never beat the Nissan Versa for low cost. If you drive your car fulltime, you can't beat a Prius for low costs.
Should you think "Who drives that much?" I admit I am not in this guys league: Prius v: 100,000 Mile Club | PriusChat

My Stuff

 

Wow--that is quite a packing job. You are certainly not an average commuter!

I believe the basis of this thread was the low-mileage driver (only 6k - 8k a year) probably shouldn't buy a Prius so your case is actually on the opposite end of the spectrum that makes a Prius an obvious solution.

You probably also enjoy the fact that you can cruise past the gas station going 400-500 miles between fill-ups as well!

 

I think that's called the "smug". If all these smarty pants scientists are right and the universe balances itself out, well the Prius had to find a substitute for the lack of smog.

Which is why you never see a frown on a guy driving a diesel locomotive.

 

Driving an additional 26,500 miles a year, a Prius might start to break even. In your case, in about three years vs.the average drivers 5-7 years.

A small minority of drivers do that, including Prius drivers. Fair to say most do it for the technology and the common good. Another small minority of Prius drivers do it for the common good but are embarrassed by their "liberal" tendencies.

 

I am never embarrassed to be a liberal. Here is a link on what my Prius was 'for'.
2010 Prius School Project! | PriusChat

I would love to see the numbers for your claim that only a small minority of Prius driver drive them. I DO concede that only a small number of drivers of more 'normal' cars drive them.

 

I financed mine, monthly payments plus gas is lower than any other car I could find.

Financial facts say that a 7 year payback is one of the best investments you are going to get.