I am thinking about buying a 2017 Toyota RAV4 self charging hybrid from a Toyota dealer. It has 30,000 miles and a full main dealer service history. Serviced at 5,473, 10,539, 15,627, 23,133 and 27,811 miles. I've never owned a hybrid before nor a Toyota. I usually keep my cars for 10 years or so. My question is, am I setting myself up for a whole load of expense in maintenance costs buying a seven year old hybrid or am I overthinking it? Would it be any more expensive than a comparable petrol engine?
Thanks,
Adam
That's low miles. And only 7 years old. It should still have lots of good life in it. For the right price, that could be a good buy. But you would need to have a hybrid professional check it out FIRST, to make sure the battery is good and all that. You may need to take it to the dealer for that.
18,000GBP so about 23,000 USD, I'm in the UK
well that's ridiculous. That's almost new price. I would pass.
Here in the UK, a new 2024 model is upwards of 50,000 USD. I’m not sure what it would have cost new in 2017 though.
holy moly
I wish. We get ripped off here in the UK big time
Scotty has always said that buying a used hybrid is not a good idea. You're gambling on an expensive battery and other complex parts like the generator that cost $$$$ to repair. Toyota does of course build the best hybrids, the thing could go another 10 years without major problems - or it could develop expensive issues just a few years down the road. Are you feeling lucky?
If you decide to proceed you really need to have a hybrid expert give the car a thorough examination before purchase.
Maintenance and gas cost will be lesser in the short and medium term, but equal out in the longer term.
You usually will save on gas, because it is a hybrid.
Usually you don’t have to do the brakes as much, because the car uses the regeneration to help with braking. Otherwise, it is about the same for maintenance as an ICE RAV4.
The catch is, the hybrid battery will eventually need to be changed out. Anecdotally for a Prius, it seems to happen around the high 100K miles, low 200K miles mark.
For me, I was fortunate enough to have the hybrid battery for my Prius last until the 275K mile mark.
So the savings on gas, get equated out by needing to change the battery higher mileage.
The drivetrain itself seems relatively resilient.
While Scotty is correct, that is better to get hybrids new, there are some deals to be found for used hybrids if they were well maintained, and the projected need for the car is to possible expectation for short, mid, and long term maintenance.
How much are they selling it for? Hybrids will cost you more money in the long run.
18,000GBP so about 23,000 USD, I'm in the UK