Hey Scotty,
I need a help in buying a new Hybrid car. The chip shortage has dried all the car lots on Toyota and Ford etc. i wanted to buy a hybrid or plug-in hybrids from toyota etc.
However, the mitsubishi dealer have 8 outlander PHEV's. I know that you are not a fan of Mitsubishi, but the below positive points are making me think of buying an outlander PHEV.
1. There are cars available with the dealer (toyota don't have any RAV4 on the lot)
2. The outlander PHEV is a lot cheaper than the RAV4. Im getting the PHEV for $34000 (Plus, I get a $6500 fed tax credit) which effectively makes it to $28,000.
3. the car does not have any transmission (so less worry)
4. There is a 10year/ 100,000 mile warranty on the drivetrain
5. The Car is completely made in Japan
Do you think going for this outlander PHEV is a good idea, or what are the other options? How is the reliability of this PHEV?
Please help me decide.
Cheers,
Reddy
they are decent cars with the PHEV powertrain, but at the same time, they are complex cars and as they age when the hybrid systems break, they cost a fortune to repair. That said, you are getting a good warranty with it, and if you do plan to keep it for 100k miles, it might not be a bad idea to buy a very low mileage one.
Thank you, I guess i will go with this new PHEV car. i heard that the battery software is quite messed-up on these vehicles. but they seem to be quite ok with all the extra SUV space for family.
Mitsubishi aren't usually good with their engines because most of the time the piston rings are cheap which causes the oil to burn at an early mileage. If you plan keep around 100,000 miles, it doesn't hurt to buy a used plug in hybrid. You would save a lot of money especially their low resale value.
Do you really need a hybrid?
Yes, im planning to move to Canada next year and considering the gas prices up there (approximately $5/gallon) and i need an SUV for family. so i guess this may be a logical choice.
I know that RAV4 hybrid is much better, but i just cant get any and also they are way too pricey.
The warranty isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Study up on your arguing skills, you are going to need them when the dealer tells you "that's normal."
@doc makes a good point. Mitsubishi has questionable quality control, so you better be prepared for frequent dealership visits. Ultimately it’s your money, so choose wisely. Also, consider leasing the vehicle.