Hybrid (Corolla, Camry, Civic) vs none Hybrid?

[sevbucmash]

The simple math man. 50k miles divided by 55 miles to a gallon for hybrid you getting 909 gallons. 909 gallons is 2700 bucks.
50k miles divided by 35 miles to a gallon for normal you getting 1428 gallons. 1428 gallons is 4285 bucks.

In 50k miles you are saving 2000 bucks.

It's not worth it.

What are you thoughts?

 

[The Duke]

The simple math man. 50k miles divided by 55 miles to a gallon for hybrid you getting 909 gallons. 909 gallons is 2700 bucks.
50k miles divided by 35 miles to a gallon for normal you getting 1428 gallons. 1428 gallons is 4285 bucks.

In 50k miles you are saving 2000 bucks.

It's not worth it.

What are you thoughts?

Whats the initial purchase cost for each car? The hybrid has an electric motor/battery as well as an engine. Thats two systems to keep running properly. $2000 in savings won't go very far towards a lot of repairs beyond maintenance.

 

[Bible_Belt]

New cars have always been a scam. Fun fact : every auto manufacturer now harvests and sells your data. That's why they have the car synch with your phone.

The right beater is always the best value. My old truck cost about $3,000 but will go 200k miles, which is about 15 years of use for me. It gets almost 30 mpg. I don't have to carry full coverage insurance or pay interest on a loan. There's nothing complex or expensive on it to break. I've never had a car payment and never will.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Depends. Is it a serial hybrid or parallel hybrid?

Also, hybrids and EVs use primarily their regenerative brakes instead of the friction brakes, which means you’ll likely never need a brake job on hybrid cars.

 

[sangheilios]

New cars have always been a scam. Fun fact : every auto manufacturer now harvests and sells your data. That's why they have the car synch with your phone.

The right beater is always the best value. My old truck cost about $3,000 but will go 200k miles, which is about 15 years of use for me. It gets almost 30 mpg. I don't have to carry full coverage insurance or pay interest on a loan. There's nothing complex or expensive on it to break. I've never had a car payment and never will.

That sounds well and good, but even used car in decent shape are still going for the price of a literally brand new vehicle. Most people don't have the ability or tools to do any serious work on their vehicle, so they need something reliable and not something that will be constantly in and out of the shop.

 

[sangheilios]

The simple math man. 50k miles divided by 55 miles to a gallon for hybrid you getting 909 gallons. 909 gallons is 2700 bucks.
50k miles divided by 35 miles to a gallon for normal you getting 1428 gallons. 1428 gallons is 4285 bucks.

In 50k miles you are saving 2000 bucks.

It's not worth it.

What are you thoughts?

Depends. Is it a serial hybrid or parallel hybrid?

Also, hybrids and EVs use primarily their regenerative brakes instead of the friction brakes, which means you’ll likely never need a brake job on hybrid cars.

Whats the initial purchase cost for each car? The hybrid has an electric motor/battery as well as an engine. Thats two systems to keep running properly. $2000 in savings won't go very far towards a lot of repairs beyond maintenance.

I drive a Toyota Hybrid that I bought brand new, so I have some input on this.

You definitely save a lot of money in gas for sure, no real debate on this. Hybrid cars actually do better with regards to fuel economy if you do a lot of suburban or urban driving under 50 mph, efficiency goes down a bit when you are at highway speeds. I drive a lot so this was a huge factor as to why I bought it.

I've literally done no work on the car other than basic maintenance items AND with well over 100k miles I'm still on the original brakes.

With regards to the Hybrid battery itself, Toyotas come with a 10 year/150,000 mile warranty for them. IF you need to replace it after the warranty is expired, it costs around 3k. There is a company called green bean that will literally come to you and replace it. Dealerships offer replacement for this price tag as well, I've called up and asked out of curiosity. They also come with a warranty, though not as extensive as with the original battery.

Toyota is the leading manufacturer when it comes to vehicle longevity AND with hybrids as well. You really can't go wrong with a Toyota Hybrid if this is something you are interested in.

 

[Bible_Belt]

Every Prius prior to I think 2015 has a defect that makes the engine blow head gaskets. A sensor under the bumper clogs up and it makes the engine run too hot.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Whats the initial purchase cost for each car? The hybrid has an electric motor/battery as well as an engine. Thats two systems to keep running properly. $2000 in savings won't go very far towards a lot of repairs beyond maintenance.

There’s very little maintenance in modern hybrid systems. I have a plug-in hybrid that is also series hybrid under gas power. That means at non-highway speeds engine only operates as a generator to replenish the batteries. Propulsion is done fully by the electric motors, which means far quickie acceleration and less mechanical wear vs conventional ICE over time. Think of modern diesel-electric train sets.

An example of a non plug-in series hybrid is the Honda Accord Hybrid. If you haven’t driven one, try it. As far as I know nearly every plug-in hybrid EV is also of the series variant.

The Prius is historically a parallel hybrid, which means the engine and electric motors work in tandem at all times. That works and drives differently.

 

[Scaramouche]

Whats the initial purchase cost for each car? The hybrid has an electric motor/battery as well as an engine. Thats two systems to keep running properly. $2000 in savings won't go very far towards a lot of repairs beyond maintenance.

Hi Sevbucmash,
I'll buy an EV when they put a crankhandle on them LOL.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi Sanghelios,
100.000 miles+on the original linings?...That's amazing,you are one very careful driver....I agree with your comments on Toyota,I have one and maintain another two for my Daughter and my leading Lady...Soo reliable and when you do need to do something,Mechanic friendly.

 

[sangheilios]

Hi Sanghelios,
100.000 miles+on the original linings?...That's amazing,you are one very careful driver....I agree with your comments on Toyota,I have one and maintain another two for my Daughter and my leading Lady...Soo reliable and when you do need to do something,Mechanic friendly.

The only big work I've had to do was replace the motor mounts and shocks/struts. Mounts I had done recently at 130k miles and shocks and struts when I was a bit over 100k miles, these also came with a lifetime warranty through Monroe so I'll never have to do them again. Outside of this, was just stuff like oil changes, replacing cabin and air filters, tires, etc. I had to replace the standard car battery at a little over 70k miles and the one I got through the dealer has an 84 month warranty. I also replaced the spark plugs for the first time ever just a couple months ago, I did this as a precaution just in case, I saw them and they were getting old and worn but weren't gone if that makes sense.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi Sanghelios,
You are wise to remove the plugs every year or so....They can get corroded in...very nasty...I clean them with a bit of wet and dry emery paper...I find they go better on synthetic oils...From talking to Toyota Mechanics,the weak link is the automatic transmission...The four cylinder models give problems around 150.000 miles...Perceived advice,at first sign of problems get rid of them,they are not amenable to repair.

 

[sevbucmash]

Hybrid engine must start and stop often. Which guess what, results in premature wear.
For such an engine you must use specil oil, 0W-20, synthetic. Which offsets the cost of ownership.
You will replace battery somewhere around 150k miles. Unknown about motor and generator.
Belt driven transmission is another unknown.
Your resale cost at 80k is less than that of a normal car.

All the while, you are saving couple of thousand dollars, not at once, over the years of usage.

So question here. Get a variator hybrid or get a normal car, perhaps with manual transmission, Civic Si for example, and just enjoy it. Come 80k miles, get rid of it, get a new one.

 

[Scaramouche]

Hybrid engine must start and stop often. Which guess what, results in premature wear.
For such an engine you must use specil oil, 0W-20, synthetic. Which offsets the cost of ownership.
You will replace battery somewhere around 150k miles. Unknown about motor and generator.
Belt driven transmission is another unknown.
Your resale cost at 80k is less than that of a normal car.

All the while, you are saving couple of thousand dollars, not at once, over the years of usage.

So question here. Get a variator hybrid or get a normal car, perhaps with manual transmission, Civic Si for example, and just enjoy it. Come 80k miles, get rid of it, get a new one.

Hi Sevbucmash,
Unless you put up very high mileage,Petrol is the cheapest factor in owning a Car....You talk of resale....Here in Australia they are not sure how they are going to dispose of E.V Batteries,that will certainly create a disincentive to own one...I live half an hour from a Town with 200.000 People,it has six charging stations,from two to six outlets...During the Holiday Season must be murder getting a recharge....Owners have coined a new phrase "range anxiety"The chorus from the back seats will change from "When are we going to be there"to "how long before we get topped up again".

 

[EyeBRollin]

Hybrid engine must start and stop often. Which guess what, results in premature wear.
For such an engine you must use specil oil, 0W-20, synthetic. Which offsets the cost of ownership.
You will replace battery somewhere around 150k miles. Unknown about motor and generator.
Belt driven transmission is another unknown.
Your resale cost at 80k is less than that of a normal car.

Amazing how everything posted here is false. Why the fear mongering?

Hi Sevbucmash,
Unless you put up very high mileage,Petrol is the cheapest factor in owning a Car....You talk of resale....Here in Australia they are not sure how they are going to dispose of E.V Batteries,that will certainly create a disincentive to own one...I live half an hour from a Town with 200.000 People,it has six charging stations,from two to six outlets...During the Holiday Season must be murder getting a recharge....Owners have coined a new phrase "range anxiety"The chorus from the back seats will change from "When are we going to be there"to "how long before we get topped up again".

EV drivers charge at their home not in public.

 

[New_Journey]

Depends. Is it a serial hybrid or parallel hybrid?

Also, hybrids and EVs use primarily their regenerative brakes instead of the friction brakes, which means you’ll likely never need a brake job on hybrid cars.

Do they come for men also? Or its only for women?

 

[Scaramouche]

Hi EyesBeRollin,
"EV drivers charge at their home not in public." Sorry but they just don't make extension leads long enough when you travel on holiday....Best proposition would be a two vehicle set up,so commuting and the like could be done in the E.V and a bigger vehicle for tough jobs and long distance...Old Cars are cheap,I am one guy yet own a 2005 Carolla for running into town,an '85 Ford Falcon wagon for Holidays,lending to visitors,and have my Cousins '62 Series 2A LandRover for work around the Farm,getting Firewood,Hunting...Works well.

 

[The Duke]

@EyeBRollin you might never need a brake job, but you will spend more on tires. You wear out tires braking just as much as you do accelerating. The traction forces act in equal and opposite directions. It takes traction to stop just as it does to accelerate. The tire is the tractive device. On cars that don't have brakes, the tire is equivalent to the brake pad. You also have the extra weight of electric car batteries to accelerate and deaccelerate adding to more tire wear.

Brakes are cheap and last a long time. Tires are not.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Hi EyesBeRollin,
"EV drivers charge at their home not in public." Sorry but they just don't make extension leads long enough when you travel on holiday....Best proposition would be a two vehicle set up,so commuting and the like could be done in the E.V and a bigger vehicle for tough jobs and long distance...Old Cars are cheap,I am one guy yet own a 2005 Carolla for running into town,an '85 Ford Falcon wagon for Holidays,lending to visitors,and have my Cousins '62 Series 2A LandRover for work around the Farm,getting Firewood,Hunting...Works well.

Why are you so bothered by EVs? They’ve been mainstream for more than a decade now. EV owners charge their car right at their house with no issue.

I’ve had my plug-in hybrid for 7 years. And it’s still under warranty (NJ and all CARB compliant states warranty EV powertrain for 10 year, 150K years by state law).

Also, the OP is asking about conventional hybrids, not EVs. As such for him I still recommend getting a series hybrid over a parallel hybrid. As the series hybrid is essentially a self-sufficient EV rather than an e-assisted ICE.

 

[EyeBRollin]

@EyeBRollin you might never need a brake job, but you will spend more on tires. You wear out tires braking just as much as you do accelerating. The traction forces act in equal and opposite directions. It takes traction to stop just as it does to accelerate.

There’s been no difference whatsoever in tire wear in my experience and I’ve never heard this be a concern among hybrid or EV cars.