Hey Scotty, I have a 2015 Toyota Prius Three. It currently has 139k miles and is almost paid off. There is nothing wrong with the car other than needing new brakes and possibly rotors. They are the original set on the car from the factory in Japan. I don't drive super slow but I do take full advantage of the regenerative braking. The car has been great and gets excellent millage. I get 52-60 MPG on average in the summer and 46-48 in the winter. I live near the Canadian border in Northern New York. Winters here are pretty mild (climate change) but it is great in the snow. The only problem I have with the car is that it is getting dated. There is nothing wrong with it but compared to newer cars the technology is outdated. Even if I sold the car at the lower end of what its worth I would actually profit off of the car as its worth more than I paid for it 3 years ago(at a Toyota Dealership of all places). I Would use the money for a down payment on new or slightly newer car.
Should I sell or do you think it would be better to keep it until it dies?
I know these cars have no problems going hundreds of thousands of trouble free miles. I do the maintenance and most repairs myself making this an extremely cheap car to keep going. I have confidence that I would be able to change and even rebuild the battery pack myself.
I'm enthused by electronics and technology but not to the point of rushing out and getting the newest thing. I like to wait until it becomes more affordable. I would really like an all electric vehicle but the practicality just isn't there yet. I like to go hiking in the Adirondacks. Day trips that are 300+ miles round trip. Its just not practical in most ev's. Hybrid cars can easily travel great distances efficiently and be refueled quickly. I like my car to be able to go where ever, when ever I need it to at a moments notice.
I only need to refuel my Prius a couple times a month and I drive quite a bit. I live in a rural area and everything is at least 20 miles away. My last tank of gas took me 529 miles. It was $31.09 to refill at $3.29 a gallon. It only takes a few minutes to refuel then your good to go another 500 miles or more. I know there are super chargers but the closest one to my house is about 70 miles away. This would mean it would take me hours to charge up an electric car on a regular basis.
I also really like the low end torque of electric motors. Even a car like the Prius has good low end power. I'd really like something with a little more umph but it seems impossible to find especially in new cars. Drive a new car or suv with those little bitty engines then drive one with a hybrid power-train. Its a world of difference in acceleration and ride quality. I don't think many people see hybrids this way and I was once had a different view of them too. The only way to change your viewpoint is to go out and drive one. I know all this isn't related to my question I just wanted to give some insight on the internal dilemma I'm facing.
Spend your money on your priorities. Me, I might keep the Prius and spend my money on motorcycles or a boat. Somebody else would be saving for a house down payment. From the sound of things, you might be best suited by one of the new RAV4 Primes - 4wd, great mileage, plug-in function for local travel, and MUCH faster than a Prius.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a33028735/2021-toyota-rav4-prime-xse-by-the-numbers/
If you want to put yourself in another $30,000 debt hole AGAIN, with a new vehicle, it's your choice. I would never do that. And if you think the "new technology" is better than what you already have, you're in for an expensive surprise.
I would keep it and continue driving. Newer cars are going to be far more expensive than sticking to your current vehicle and maintaining/repairing as you go. Also, overall industry reliability has gone downhill, including with Toyota, so stick to the machine you know (“better the devil you know”).
