Hey Scotty,
I'd like your no nonsense opinion. I work for a company who has a fleet of vehicles we use daily. The company is about to start buying new vehicles and changing out the veterans of the group. I currently drive a 2017 Toyota Prius hybrid, its an automatic and runs really strong. It's the oldest of the bunch and is gonna be the first to get retired. I'm shy about 200 miles from the 250,000 mile mark. I put about 450 to 500 miles on it daily. All highway for the most part. The company is good about taking care of our cars, anything it needs gets taken care of. We get an oil change every 10,00 miles, brakes whenever we feel like they might need them and if anything happens they pull it and fix. My question is how much life would you say the car still has left. I was thinking of asking to buy it from them as It's with me 7 days a week anyway and we know each other really well, lol. The conversations we've had on the open road together are hard to forget. Body is great, interior is worn but a good deep cleaning can bring it back, and to me she purrs even though she's not as quiet as a brand new one. If it's worth buying what would you feel comfortable paying for it? Is it worth it or will it just be a headache as the miles keep rolling. I know nothing about a hybrid, how it works or how expensive they are to fix. I could really use the help. Thanks from way out in the Woodlands!
I would get rid of it. If you're saying that it runs and drives fine with nothing serious going on, you might get some money out of it with this current market going on. The repairs for that car are pricy especially when the hybrid battery breaks and needs to be repaired.
Hey Thanks for you opinion. I just watched Scotty's videos on the Prius and I was surprised by battery cost. It runs great right now and was maybe just hoping to get it off them cheap and use it as a grocery getter. I got a question though, when the battery does decide to give out does that mean it won't run anymore? Couldn't u just use it as a gas vehicle? Or won't that work. I never liked them until I started driving this one, and I figure they might let it go super cheap since I've really been the only owner since we got it. It's almost like part of the family. I am in that car at least 8 to 10 hours a day and even though I've popped the cherry on the first new one, I put close to 500 miles the first day, I still like mine alot more. It handles different. On the highway the brand new one gets pushed around alot by the wind and passing cars. Mine just kinda seems to sit a little lower and I dont really have to wrestle it to keep it straight.
The vehicle wouldn't function properly when the battery breaks. Why did you also downvote me?
Sorry that was on accident, lol. I'm new here, it was my first post. I don't know what I'm doing and just was excited that all of you had some feedback on it, lol. Can I take it back?
Yes. You can press the up vote above the 1 and it will go back to normal.
At the right price, almost anything is worth it. If your company has depreciated it to the max, you may be able to get it for less than salvage value. Your company accountant should be able to help you there.
Gonna look into that for sure. Thanks!
Hi, These are the kinds of decisions where you're probably are going to regret it whatever you choose due to the fact at those milages it's just 100% a lottery.
If you can get it for cheap, very cheap, why not. if you're familiar with it and are going to miss it, it can be a nice second car to have. But I wouldn't spend any real money on it as these Hybrids after all of those charge-discharge cycles on the battery, inverter and all of the start-stop the motor-generates have done - you just never know.
Also kudos to Toyota, While your 250k mile Prius really sounds like it's in good shape, I have a Kia Niro hybrid corporate fleet car in my household and at 53k miles (50% highway, 50% standstill) and the gearbox jerks terribly - I just can't wait for it to be replaced in ~16 months already asked them for a Škoda Karoq Diesel (am not from the US).
That sucks. I am very impressed by the 250 as well. I have never in my life ever seen a car with 250,000. I might hit it tomorrow. I'm gonna try to get a short video of it when it hits...
If the price is right, it might be worth considering. Have they ever changed the battery? I am assuming the transmission oil and oil changes have been done as well .
Consider = Market Price ( Cost of New Hybrid Battery + Expected Major Maintenance Beyond Basic + Employee Discount ).
Scotty says that highway mileage is about X% of normal mileage when it comes to engine wear. Could be 10% or 25%, I forget. On top of that, it’s a hybrid. So less engine wear anyway.
And the car is only 5 years old.
The jury is still out on how long the hybrid battery will last on this generation Prius they switched technology from Nickel based to Lithium based.
Just based in my older Prius, it went 275K in 17 years before a hybrid battery change. Who knows if it was because of mileage or years or a little of both.
Anyhow, if the price is right, I would take the risk.
Awesome thanks. I probably will. If they are gonna start getting new ones I'm sure they just want to get rid of any headaches before they even start and hopefully I e been a good enough employee they will consider cutting me a break. No they have not changed the battery and yes regular maintenance is a must. Anytime we have an issue or something doesn't feel right our guy either fixes It or sends it out. They never try to just get by. If it needs it they get it.
Awesome thanks. I probably will. If they are gonna start getting new ones I'm sure they just want to get rid of any headaches before they even start and hopefully I e been a good enough employee they will consider cutting me a break. No they have not changed the battery and yes regular maintenance is a must. Anytime we have an issue or something doesn't feel right our guy either fixes It or sends it out. They never try to just get by. If it needs it they get it.
@daily_driver how many are going into retirement? And what would the time table be? If another one enters retirement in the latter part of this year, I may* be interested, depending on the price.
We have 5 Prius and 5 tundra trucks. They are planning are trying to move the Prius out by mid summer and the trucks before the end of the year. Trucks are beaten up though. Same maintenance but the guys are really rough on them. They got alot of cosmetic issues. I'll keep snooping around and see what I hear, Thanks for the comment!