I’ve spent the past fifteen years in a world of old trucks and 4X4s, invariably gas-powered, essentially unchanged from the things I used to lean over and curse when I was wrenching in the late 70’s/early 80’s. I still think of electric and hybrid cars as this class of promising but quasi-experimental vehicles not ready for prime time, like pre-WWI airplanes.
And then I’m filling water bottles at the laundromat in the crappy little (very) rural town nearest where I live, and I see…
…a sun-faded, beat-up, worn-out, Bondo-bespackled Prius that looks like it’s been around since the invention of the assembly line.
Yup. Way to make me feel old, Toyota…
Yea, back at the turn of the century I expected the Prius to end up as a short-term experiment like the Chevy EV-1. Wrong! It’s actually one of the most successful model lines ever.
EV’s and hybrids are wonderful until the battery pack goes south. The cost of a replacement for a battery pack makes the price of your Jeep’s transmission look like pocket change.
The problem with EV battery packs is that with every year of use the performance degrades and sooner than you expect you’re looking at replacement of the battery. The battery on the Toyota Highlander I once drove for work went south and the quote for replacement was over eleven thousand plus tax, labor and recycling.
I have an 07 Camry Hybrid and it’s in the shop now for an oil change, state inspection and a hybrid battery. They’re doing a “reconditioned” pack, which means they take all my cells, test each one, replace the bad, re-equalize the pack and reinstall it. Total bill is just shy of $2000. 2 year warranty.
Mike, the secret is don’t take it to a stealership. They already got you when you bought it, why give them an extra bite at the apple?
Sorry to make you feel even older, but that’s not even the “old” Prius. The first ones in this country were considered 2nd generation and are approaching 20 years old now. I think that’s the fourth generation, so it’s just well used, not particularly old.
@ The Freeholder – I couldn’t agree with you more about dealers and off warranty stuff. However, it was policy for the city I worked for to only deal with the place where the vehicle came from. Stupid? Yep.
The cost of the replacement was whittled down by half when the city bean counters from purchasing got involved and the dealer was told lower the price of be placed on the “don’t buy from them” list. In the end the price was halved, but at $4,500 plus labor and taxes, that’s still a big hunk of change.