Toyota Prius MPG-Real World Numbers

Replying to: vanderhorstg (Aug 23, 2009 7:54 am)

Replying to: montecristo (Sep 01, 2009 4:48 pm)

On the vehicles alone it's a nobrainer in favor of the Camry
 
Total payments over 60 months
Camry $19900
Prius.. $27600
 
Now fuel 2500 mi / mo over 60 months; 150,000 miles
Camry 26 mpg = 5770 gal used x $3.25 / gal = $18752
Prius 50 mpg = 3000 gal used x $3.25 / gal = $9750
 
Vehicle + Fuel
 
Camry : $19900 + $18750 = $38650
Prius.. : $27600 + $9750 = $37350
Ooops the entire vehicle savings have been used up in fuel burned.
 
Then there's the question of resale value which is almost never discussed.
5 y.o. Camry LE w/ 150,000 miles is 'worth' about $3500 in trade
5 y.o. Prius base w/ 150,000 miles is 'worth' about $5000 in trade
 
Your net cost if you were to dispose of the vehicles after 60 months and 150K miles would be
Camry : $38650 - $3500 = $35150
Prius.. : $37350 - $5000 = $32350
 
This assumes that over the next 5 yrs ( 2015 ) that the price of fuel only averages $3.25 a gallon which is not entirely unreasonable.
 
All-in-all it's close to a wash. Choose which vehicle pleases you better.
 
PS: Geopolitical question. Do you want to give your $9000 to Big Oil and help support OPEC or would you rather give it to Toyota ( $3300 ) and whichever lender you choose ( $4300 ). Me? I'd go with Toyota and my local credit union over Big OIl and OPEC....and save $2800 to boot.

Replies to this message:
• dmathews3 (Sep 03, 2009 12:43 pm)
  • kdhspyder (Sep 03, 2009 2:03 pm)
    • dmathews3 (Sep 03, 2009 2:13 pm)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Sep 03, 2009 11:43 am)

Replies to this message:
• kdhspyder (Sep 03, 2009 2:03 pm)
  • dmathews3 (Sep 03, 2009 2:13 pm)

Replying to: dmathews3 (Sep 03, 2009 12:43 pm)

From the OP's post I'm assuming that he has a discounted Camry LE $19900. He also mentions a $23200 Prius. The Camry has 0% for 60 months so the total cost of the financed vehicle is $19900. The $23200 Prius he mentions can be financed 7% for 60 months which comes to $460 x 60 or $27600 in total payments.
 
I was just using his given numbers.

Replies to this message:
• dmathews3 (Sep 03, 2009 2:13 pm)

Replying to: kdhspyder (Sep 03, 2009 2:03 pm)

Replies to this message:
• dewey (Sep 11, 2009 6:26 am)
  • ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 6:33 am)
    • dewey (Sep 11, 2009 6:59 am) and 21 more...
• rep5858 (Sep 12, 2009 3:29 pm)

Replying to: prius2007 (Aug 22, 2009 4:21 am)

Pardon me for the belated response since I have not visited this site for quite a while.
 
Thanks for the information. I am getting better mileage by picking routes that are more flat or that are downward sloped verus upwards.
 
I salute you for your great mileage. I am not there yet but right now I am enjoying my 2010 Prius with fuel costs that are equivalent to 24 perecent of what I spent on my 2007 BMW 335i. Also paying for non-premium gasoline versus premium gasoline with my BMW also reduces costs.
 
Funny thing is I am having as much fun driving my Prius as I did with a BMW 335i. Both cars involve different mind sets and I feel priviledged in having both those mind-sets. One big bonus: No speeding tickets. My BMW 335i made me drive like a speed demon and now with my Prius that demon has become exorcised. Now I dont feel so stressed out while driving. I am just enjoying the scenery and the dashboard trip/MPG displays
 
Nice to know you are a fellow Torontorian. Thanks for your offer. If I do need further information from you I will keep you in mind.
 
Take care

Replying to: john1701a (Sep 08, 2009 8:35 pm)

Shhhhhhhhhh,
 
not so loud the folks at the VW GTI versus Prius forum may hear you.

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 6:33 am)
  • dewey (Sep 11, 2009 6:59 am)
    • ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 7:22 am) and 20 more...

Replying to: dewey (Sep 11, 2009 6:26 am)

  Nah ,no big deal. Same same.
 
122,000 miles on a 2003 Jetta TDI , the mpg is app 50 mpg. It is/has been driven in perpetual "italian" tune mode.
 
Actually it is not bad since the European version is 1. set up for more power 2. 6 spd manual vs 5 speed manual 3. 51.12 mpg US converted vs 50 mpg, which is what I get
 
The truth is I wish I had the European version. Hopefully for obvious reasons, I think the mpg would be closer to 52/53 mpg converted but that is conjecture on my part.

Replies to this message:
• dewey (Sep 11, 2009 6:59 am)
  • ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 7:22 am)
    • john1701a (Sep 11, 2009 5:36 pm) and 19 more...

Replying to: ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 6:33 am)

Obviously Mr. and Mrs. Taylor from the Guiness Book of World Records and yourself do not drive much in Toronto traffic.
 
I drive 95 percent in the city most of it congested city driving. With your TDI I would get at most 30MPG and that is assuming I am lucky. I know this as a fact since my cousin lives and works in the city and is not too pleased with his 2005 VW Jetta TDI mileage just as I am not too pleased with my MB300 diesel mileage. If I drove significantly more on the highway my views on diesel would be different
 
I guess you work and live by a highway and your non-highway driving consists of empty roads. That is an ideal not a reality at least for me.
 
Anyways interesting topic. But wrong forum for this debate.
 
But it's nice to know Ruking1 that you have such a keen interest in the Prius. I knew you would come around and see the light. When are you trading in your VW TDI for a Prius

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 7:22 am)
  • john1701a (Sep 11, 2009 5:36 pm)
    • ruking1 (Sep 11, 2009 5:52 pm) and 18 more...