My thoughts as a Camry Hybrid owner (and a car guy)….
I agree with what everyone has said here. Unless you are just rolling in $$$ and get insanely tired/bored of a car after 2/3 years, why waist the money??? I understand that you want to make sure your wife is in a reliable car and I know how unreliable a Ford can be (Calm down! I own a Ford (so I can joke) AND I’m kidding about the last part!). But 45K miles is NOTHING!
As long as you do all of the regularly scheduled and any preventive maintenance (including changing the oil at 4K – 5K miles, rather then the 7500 miles they suggest), I agree that getting 200K miles should NOT be a problem!
On the Prius MPG: My ex had two different Prius’, a 2004 (bought used) and a 2006 (new). For some reason the ’04 Prius got slightly better mileage then the ’06. The only difference was the ‘06 had leather interior and Navigation, go figure. The ’04 would routinely average 48 – 50 MPG combined (65 - 70% fwy) and the ’06 was 45 – 47 MPG.
The cost of the Hybrid version of (what ever) is usually a lot higher then the “regular version” of (what ever). If you are thinking “Oh I will get that better gas mileage with the hybrid…” yes you may, however it’s not an instant, automatic thing. You will need to “re-learn” how to drive a Hybrid and modify your (right foot) driving style accordingly in order to milk the best mileage out of it. More gentle acceleration away from a stop, then lifting your foot and coasting long before you reach your next stop are key.
BUT how long will it take to offset the extra cost of the Hybrid with the added fuel economy you’ll be getting?
Another thing is a lot of people think they want to “Be Green” and drive a Hybrid. That is fine and dandy, but being “Green” is NOT only about getting better fuel economy, it’s also about the technology that goes into MAKING all of the bits and pieces that go into a Hybrid. One thing people do NOT think about is the hybrid battery. There are many who say ALL the processes that are required to build that battery are EXTREMELY damaging to the environment, not to mention, what do you with the battery and the other components when they have to be disposed of. It’s something to think about.
A little of my (high mileage) car history to bore you (haha).
I had a 1980 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (diesel). Bought it with 120K, it had a NEW (not rebuilt) engine and other stuff. The car was slow as hell, but would manage 20-ish MPG around town and 28 MPG on the highway with A/C blowing ice cubes. For the H U G E boat (and all that luxury) this kind of MPG was really GREAT! I finally sold the car with 180+K miles ONLY because the car itself (not the engine) was falling apart. Trim pieces falling off, various electrical items progressively stopped working, just a bunch of little niggley stuff going wrong. That and I could tell the transmission was on its way toward failing again for the 4th time (the tranny was a piece of crap).
Next: the 1989 California Highway Patrol Chevy Caprice. Bought it from the CHP with 98K. It rode great, handled great, was FAST and a lot of fun to drive! Sold it with 160K ONLY because I was ready for some luxury and got a really good deal on a Lexus.
2003 Lexus LS 400 sedan. VERY nice car! The 4 liter 32 valve V8 was SOOOO smooth and ran flawlessly! I bought it with 168K on the clock but had NO fear of the miles. I talked with friends I know that work at Lexus corporate and the service departments of dealerships. They ALL said “These early LS’s were SO over built to compete with BMW & Mercedes Benz, that as long as you do all the regular maintenance, 300K miles is NO PROBLEM at all!” I sold it with 202K miles ONLY because after buying the Camry Hybrid (that is another story) I’d only put 2600 miles on it in a 4 year period. The LS would get 15-16 MPG in town and 20+ on the highway. That is exactly HALF the MPG the Hybrid gets and when the gas prices were shooting up, that was enough reason to sell it. I would still be driving that car now had I not bought the Camry Hybrid.
2007 Camry Hybrid. It’s a nice care, but boring as hell to drive (for me anyway). Around town I usually get about 32 – 33 MPG, combined 35-37 and best case scenario, long distance, steady speed out on the open road, 40 – 41 MPG.
My point after ALL this? Don’t be afraid of the 45K that’s on the car now. Unless it’s falling apart (and I doubt that), just keep driving it, make sure you do all of the regular scheduled maintenance and change the oil and filter ever 4000 – 5000 miles without fail. The car should last a long, long time!
Kevin
[this post was last edited: 8/19/2011-16:39]
