Article Comments - 2008 Honda Fit vs. 2008 Toyota Prius

92 messages, Last post on Jan 25, 2009 at 10:36 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Toyota Prius, Car Comparisons, Hatchback

2008 Honda Fit vs. 2008 Toyota Prius - Thanks to a proprietary function called Edmunds.com True Cost to Own, we can answer the $8,425 question when it comes time to determine the relative value of the 2008 Honda Fit and 2008 Toyota Prius. (more)

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#46 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [kdhspyder] by danbeau Aug 08, 2008 (2:41 pm)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Aug 08, 2008 9:05 am) These days, a $16K Prius would likely have in excess of 100K miles wouldn't it? I'd challenge lower operating costs of a 100K mile Prius versus a brand-new Fit/xD Replies to this message: kdhspyder (Aug 08, 2008 4:47 pm)
#47 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [kdhspyder] by backy Aug 08, 2008 (4:16 pm)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Aug 08, 2008 2:38 pm) That's fair, since I can't believe you actually posted this statement, without any substantiation: Between the Fit $16000 and the xD $16000 and a 3 y.o. Prius $16000 the latter costs the least over whatever time frame your want to choose. I choose a 12-year timeframe, driving 20k miles a year. And the 3-year-old Prius already has 60k miles on it, so it's out of warranty (except the emissions warranty, which runs longer and covers the battery). What are the odds that the Prius' battery pack will need replacing in that timeframe, within 300k miles of use over 15 years? I'd say they would be pretty good. Add that to the TCO for the Prius, please. Also add any repair costs that would be covered by the factory warranty on the Fit or xD but not on the Prius. Replies to this message: kdhspyder (Aug 08, 2008 5:11 pm) backy (Aug 08, 2008 5:58 pm) tiff_c (Aug 09, 2008 3:42 am) and 1 more... gas2hi (Oct 17, 2008 4:18 pm)
#48 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [danbeau] by kdhspyder Aug 08, 2008 (4:47 pm)
Replying to: danbeau (Aug 08, 2008 2:41 pm) Disregarding the unusual resale market over these last 3 months the Prius has gone down in value about 10% pa each year. A $23000 MSRP vehicle in 2005, mine for example, with normal miles of say 36000-45000 miles normally should be retailing for about $16000 right now ( 70% of $23000 ). The whole concept of this original article was a 5 yr driving cycle of about 75000 miles. Add 75000 onto say 40000 miles and the 5 y.o. Prius would just be broaching 120,000 mi. I know personally that the Prius needs less maintenance than a Corolla, a Yaris, a Fit, an Elantra, a Malibu, etc, etc, etc. even up to 200K+ miles. A 3 y.o. Prius needs almost nothing extra over the next 75000 miles that a brand new vehicle would get over the same 75000 miles. Surprising but true. Actually it's all in the Scheduled Maintenance guide. In fact the Toyota hybrids need less maintenance than ICE vehicles. Now if you're talking about unexpected 'stuff' occuring then I will grant that it might occur but there's no definitive method to measure what is the frequency and the cost of what this 'stuff' might be. The only two guides are Consumer Reports and JD Power both of which rank the Prius as the most reliable vehicle in its class ( presumably costing the least to the owners ). What I do know from personal experience and contacts is that owners in the 100K - 200K mile range are not spending much of anything other than normal maintenance. Again to make this comparable and accurate for the original article a normal 3 y.o. vehicle that has about 40000 miles on it should cost LESS to maintain over the next 75000 miles than a new Fit/xD.
#49 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [backy] by kdhspyder Aug 08, 2008 (5:11 pm)
Replying to: backy (Aug 08, 2008 4:16 pm) This is so easy to show that I can't believe you missed it. First this article wasn't talking about 12 yr or 240K miles. The original article spoke about a 5 yr ownership period and 75000 miles of driving. Let's not change horses in midstream. The original article is dumb from paragraph #2 onward. It's fodder written for the slow summer season probably by summer interns. The whole concept is stupid because it picks two data points that are only vaguely related; 4c 5 dr hatchbacks. Other than that there is no similarity. My basic question is why choose two vehicles so dissimilar in price. Why not compare these two vehicles with a similar price, $16000? But to address your specific question let's do this precise calculation: New 2008 Fit $16000 and 5 miles 3 y.o. 2005 Prius $16000 and 40000 miles Both will be owned for 5 yrs and driven 75000 miles over that time. Both will depreciate 10% pa over that time. That's a wash. Insurance pa is equal as per TCO. That's a wash. Both are very reliable and likely will need no significant out-of-warranty repairs over that time. ( Prius hybrid system is still well withing the CARB warranty period even at the end of these 5 yrs ) Maintenence on the Prius is less than the maintenance on the Fit over these 5 yrs !!!!!! It's true. Up til now it's pretty much equal. Except for the cost of fuel. Average price of fuel over the next 5 yrs? $4.75/gal seems low but reasonable. Fuel used: Fit 30 mpg EPA combined = 2500 gal Prius 46 mpg EPA combined = 1630 gal Cost of fuel for 5 yrs and 75000 miles Fit....... 2500 x $4.75 = $11875 Prius.. 1630 x $4.75 = $7750 If Edmunds can make an arbitrary and illogical comparo between two vaguely similar NEW vehicles then it's just as valid to make a similar comparo between the same two vaguely similar vehicles, one NEW and one USED. In Edmunds comparo the less expensive new vehicle is the 'better buy' no question about it. In mine the more efficient used vehicle is the 'better buy'. BTW why wasn't the NEW Jetta TDI Sport Wagon considered in this goofy little exercise? Replies to this message: backy (Aug 08, 2008 5:58 pm) tiff_c (Aug 09, 2008 3:42 am) skeptical (Aug 09, 2008 6:47 pm) gas2hi (Oct 17, 2008 4:18 pm)
#50 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [kdhspyder] by backy Aug 08, 2008 (5:58 pm)
Replying to: kdhspyder (Aug 08, 2008 5:11 pm) Let me know when y'all decide whether this comparison of a Fit to a Prius is legit or not. First I hear it's not, it's "arbitrary and illogical" etc., because the vehicles are so dissimilar. Then you write a very long post comparing the two cars, the only difference being one is new and one is used. So it appears it is legitimate to compare them, as long as the criteria are to your liking. First this article wasn't talking about 12 yr or 240K miles. Correct. You were the one who introduced the concept of "any time frame you choose." All your lengthy comparison demonstrates is the well-known fact that it's almost always less costly to buy used vs. new, unless there's a huge difference in operating cost. Which I find kind of funny, given the shots that have been taken here about the comparo in Edmunds.com being "stupid" and written by summer interns to take up space during the slow summer season. One might consider a lengthly post that only illustrates an obvious point to be of the same vein. FYI, Edmunds.com isn't the organization that has evaluated both the Prius and the Fit and found the Fit superior overall to the Prius. CR is another one, even though the price difference between the two cars was about $8,000. Must have been a slow month for CR, too. Replies to this message: tiff_c (Aug 09, 2008 3:42 am) skeptical (Aug 09, 2008 6:47 pm)
#51 of 92 wretched car comparos by saabgirl Aug 08, 2008 (8:11 pm)
Interesting thread. I can almost smell the beer and pizza. It seems to me that the comparo is fair enough. The unspoken premise is that your choice is limited to economical, utilitarian, Asian automotive transportation that will provide predictable and reasonable service over X amount of time. The question, "Do I like it?" must not be asked. Because if you do ask that question, it's unlikely you'd take either one of these homely, tiresome creatures to the prom. I realize we're at the end of the Golden Age of Automobiles, but there must still be a market left for those who insist on a bit of fun in their driveway. Here's my idea for a comparo, Mr/Ms Editors -- You have $25K burning a hole in your pocket. What do you buy and why? You could say, I'd take the Fit and keep the change. You could say, I'd take the Prius. Or, you might opt for a four-year-old Audi 6. IMHO, this is the kind of thought process buyers should go through. Just MHO. Replies to this message: backy (Aug 08, 2008 8:16 pm) irnmdn (Aug 16, 2008 1:29 pm)
#52 of 92 Re: wretched car comparos [saabgirl] by backy Aug 08, 2008 (8:16 pm)
Replying to: saabgirl (Aug 08, 2008 8:11 pm) Sounds like a good idea for a Town Hall discussion. Why not start it?
#53 of 92 Re: Makes sense to me ... [backy] by tiff_c Aug 09, 2008 (3:42 am)
Replying to: backy (Aug 08, 2008 5:58 pm) Let me know when y'all decide whether this comparison of a Fit to a Prius is legit or not. First I hear it's not, it's "arbitrary and illogical" etc., because the vehicles are so dissimilar. Then you write a very long post comparing the two cars, the only difference being one is new and one is used. So it appears it is legitimate to compare them, as long as the criteria are to your liking. kdhspyder is a car salesperson. So no surprise about his opinion regarding the cars. Car dealers do not want you to think you can compare dissimilar cars based on THEIR criteria. bottom line I can compare a Ferrari to a Fit if I want to, it only has to make sense to me. Car dealers hate that because they are trained to deal with customers based on similar models Accord vs Camry etc... I also cross shopped a bunch of dissimilar cars and none of the dealers liked it. It's my money! If I want to cross shop based on Fuel economy and not size or price that's my choice. The Fit, Aveo, xD, Yaris, Prius etc... Any hatch or even sedan that is fuel efficient counts if YOU want it to. I can afford the $24k for the Prius, and I certainly afford the Fit etc... But neither car worked out when i purchased and I ended up with a Civic Si. Buy what you like. You don't have to justify your purchase to anyone except yourself, unless you want to. That's my take on it. Replies to this message: skeptical (Aug 09, 2008 6:47 pm)
#54 of 92 my two cents by skeptical Aug 09, 2008 (6:47 pm)
Replying to: tiff_c (Aug 09, 2008 3:42 am) I liked the article even though I do think it rather an ambitious endeavor to compare a Hybrid with an economy car simply because the market is changing so fast in both realms...particularly the Hybrid market. Articles like this need to be kept in perspective and taken for what they can offer.. I think pausing to compare also gives a timely reality check at a time when some have gotten a bit swept away with Prius fever and many are paying well over MSRP (or MSRP) for a car whose mileage may double in a couple of years and is about to meet up with some mighty stiff competition from the Hybrids Hondas in store. The compact car and hybrid markets are changing so fast in fact that I don't know I'd do a five year comparison--I think three years would be a neat comparison. Because for the first time in my life I'm only looking with the next two-three years in mind. And if I had a decent enough car now, I'd hold off altogether for a couple of years. (Of course in four- five years, we'll have even more clarity on which of the newer releases are proving to fare well and which not--buying a car in it's first year of release is not always the best thing to do). In any case, I say kudos to them for tackling the finance issue--clearly their goal was not to cover everything--it's just impossible to tease out all the variables--there are simply too many. Things like whether you will finance the car, whether or not you need the extra money now versus later, your age, your income, how much you drive, whether or not you value paying the extra dough for the comfort or some other attribute or whether you instead value (as I think backy noted) investing that money now toward something else like a retirement fund or a charity.. In the end of course, it's such a personal and private decision ultimately--one that requires knowing yourself, your values, and also knowing that there is no perfect choice and there is no absolute right choice--only what's perfect and right and meaningful for you, at this time in your life. But meanwhile, I say bring on the comparisons--I love 'em!
#55 of 92 Re: wretched car comparos [saabgirl] by irnmdn Aug 16, 2008 (1:29 pm)
Replying to: saabgirl (Aug 08, 2008 8:11 pm) Or, you might opt for a four-year-old Audi 6. This is a great choice is you happen to own Audi service center or you feel indebted to send mechanic's son to college.