Selling my Yaris, and why.

[Idahotom]

Not a pitch, I'm going to sell it to a friend. I came across a deal on a 2013 plug in Prius I couldn't resist. 33K miles, white, the color I want, "like new," as the saying goes. This will be my new company car for my business (crane service), a tax dodge of sorts that is for real in my case, and one I have been ignoring, not anymore.

I still REALLY like my '08 HB, I've liked every Toyota I've owned.....I hope I don't regret selling it! But I have a unique situation, my large grid tie solar, wind, and hydro system produces much more power then I use on a annual basis, so much that I took down one of my arrays and relocated it at my crane yard in town, 13 miles from my home, and my main commute. They tell me these plug-ins have a pure electric range of 11 miles, more if you go slower. Of my 13 miles commute, the first 1.5 miles is a rolling dirt road with no net gain or loss in elevation, but then there is 3 miles of steep grade, consistently down, 1200' ! So by the time I get to the bottom of the hill I only have 9.5 miles to go, of more or less level ground down once in the valley.

I can take the interstate, OR a 45 mph secondary road, both the same mileage. Once at my crane yard, I can plug it in, for free! Go do my job, then drive to the bottom of the mountain still in pure EV mode, then it will automatically power up to ICE mode and I'll pull the hill. As I kept careful track of what the Yaris took to do this same route, it will be interesting to see what the Prius can do.

I thought I'd drive my Yaris into the ground, it only has 102,000 miles on it, but being able to at least partially use up my excess electrical power and drive an electric car was just too cool to pass up. Just wondering, anyone else have or thinking of a Prius?

[ern-diz]

You're in a rather unique situation that sounds perfect for the change your making. Best of luck with the new ride!

[NYC-SE]

It makes sense in your circumstances. Good luck.

[SirDigby]

you should buy a Porsche 911 GT3.
you should do a burnout from the bottom of the hill to the top.
you should film that shit.

[Deathegg]

only 11 miles range? Wouldn't a Volt better suit your situation?

[Idahotom]

I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, it all kind of clicked, and I am NOT a guy who usually goes to a dealership to shop for a car!

I trust Toyota a lot more then GM, and I was born in Detroit so I feel kind of bad about that. What I like about the plug in, is that when you're not in pure EV, you are pretty much in a regular 50 mph+ Prius, and that ain't bad. The only drawback to them is maybe some push back from those that think you're a earth weenie for driving one, you know, a stereotypical greenie, which I AM, and AM NOT! I'm not trying to save the world by driving it.....but I do appreciate the engineering, and how it does more with less. The same things I like about the Yaris.

BTW, the stealership offered me 3 K for it as a trade in, 102K in great shape outside but the interior a bit bit rough thanks to my 4 legged co pilot. I'm either selling it to a friend for $3500.00 cash money and as is, or when all buffed out and the rear seat and everything else I've had out all the time I've owned it back in, 4 to 4500.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

only 11 miles range? Wouldn't a Volt better suit your situation?

Yeah, the Volt has a longer range, but once it's out, you're left with a car that gets 37 mpg (if comparing the same year) on premium gas vs the Prius Plug-in's 50 mpg on regular. Also, the 2013 Volt only seats 4 and has much less cargo space. It also forces you to deplete the battery pack first before using the gas, unlike the Prius Plug-in that lets you choose.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, it all kind of clicked, and I am NOT a guy who usually goes to a dealership to shop for a car!

I trust Toyota a lot more then GM, and I was born in Detroit so I feel kind of bad about that. What I like about the plug in, is that when you're not in pure EV, you are pretty much in a regular 50 mph+ Prius, and that ain't bad. The only drawback to them is maybe some push back from those that think you're a earth weenie for driving one, you know, a stereotypical greenie, which I AM, and AM NOT! I'm not trying to save the world by driving it.....but I do appreciate the engineering, and how it does more with less. The same things I like about the Yaris.

BTW, the stealership offered me 3 K for it as a trade in, 102K in great shape outside but the interior a bit bit rough thanks to my 4 legged co pilot. I'm either selling it to a friend for $3500.00 cash money and as is, or when all buffed out and the rear seat and everything else I've had out all the time I've owned it back in, 4 to 4500.

Unfortunately, the Yaris does not book well and retails for 7-8k bucks with that MY and miles. Factory in smog, safety, and a used car detail (and then some due to your co-pilot), and the dealership is already out 600 bucks. Then they would have to do any reconditioning needed in order to get it front line ready, especially anything that would be related to safety (tires, brakes, headlights, taillights, mirrors, etc).

They would have to try to get a profit out of it since new cars no longer make a dealership profit these days, and they rely on used car sales to keep the business open.

[Idahotom]

Yeah, the Volt has a longer range, but once it's out, you're left with a car that gets 37 mpg (if comparing the same year) on premium gas vs the Prius Plug-in's 50 mpg on regular. Also, the 2013 Volt only seats 4 and has much less cargo space. It also forces you to deplete the battery pack first before using the gas, unlike the Prius Plug-in that lets you choose.


Exactly......That was my thinking also. Just drove it home, up the mountain no sweat, got it plugged in right now. :w00t:

[bentjazz]

Traitor.

Just kidding. Good luck to you, Idahotom.

[ern-diz]

Traitor.

Just kidding. Good luck to you, Idahotom.

:laugh:

[SirDigby]

if someone makes fun of you for your battery car just explain to them about the terrible ecological disasters created by the Brazilian lithium mines; show them a youtube video or something. then show them the processing plants. then show the giant freighters that ship it to spain for further processing. then the plants in spain. then the shipping freighters again on the way to china, then more processing plants, then to japan, (sometimes) then the freighters going across the pacific. then the battery finally makes it to your car. explain how your battery travels like 30,000 miles and kills everything with it's toxic waste. that's what I tell people who drive hybrids to "help the earth"

[Idahotom]

I'm heavily into lith-ion electric bikes, so I guess a little more earth killing won't matter much.

I just had to run back into town, to the crane yard anyway, and made the entire 13 miles with NO gasoline, all EV power, with 3 miles range left over. There is a slight downhill grade a couple miles before my yard, and with the Yaris I would often slip it into neutral (when traveling 50 mph) and by the time I got to the driveway I could just coast in, having slowed to less then 20. I would only do this if no one was behind me, as the speed limit is 45. Today, for the first time, I slipped the Prius into neutral, at the same place and speed, and by the time I got to my turn I had started thinking that it was still in drive...... I was going 30+ mph, but then realized I WAS in neutral! The thing is that aero efficient, more testing to continue.

[Bluevitz-rs]

I'm heavily into lith-ion electric bikes, so I guess a little more earth killing won't matter much.

I just had to run back into town, to the crane yard anyway, and made the entire 13 miles with NO gasoline, all EV power, with 3 miles range left over. There is a slight downhill grade a couple miles before my yard, and with the Yaris I would often slip it into neutral (when traveling 50 mph) and by the time I got to the driveway I could just coast in, having slowed to less then 20. I would only do this if no one was behind me, as the speed limit is 45. Today, for the first time, I slipped the Prius into neutral, at the same place and speed, and by the time I got to my turn I had started thinking that it was still in drive...... I was going 30+ mph, but then realized I WAS in neutral! The thing is that aero efficient, more testing to continue.

You're wasting the re-gen by putting it in neutral. Leave it in D.

[Idahotom]

Yeah, I hear you. I just did it to check the aerodynamics. I also just upped the tires to 45 psi, they were at 31.

I got 68 mpg driving home today from the crane yard, pulling the 1200' hill the last 3 miles.

Got it registered, and got a wakeup call: Idaho charges $75.00 MORE a year because it's a hybrid! Can't beat a Yaris for overall thrift, for sure!

I spent yesterday putting in all the crap I took out of the Yaris for the last 6 years:rear seat, spare, jack,carpet, pretty much everything aft of the front seats! Carrying it all down the stairs from the shop loft, I was reminded how much it all weighed, over 100 lbs probably. But of course to sell it, it had to go back in. My friend who was going to buy it, can't, so it's cleaned up and has for sale signs on it, $4500.00, we'll see what happens at that price.

[billfires]

Tom, good luck with the Prius. Also, thank you for your post on removing the passenger seat to make the sleeping platform. I will probably do something similar when I retire and tow my dual sport motorcycle out west. Bill C

[Tamer]

You're in a rather unique situation that sounds perfect for the change your making. Best of luck with the new ride!

[Idahotom]

An update, now that I have a few miles on the PIP. It is indeed proving to be perfect for my somewhat narrow application. I have the habit developed of plugging it in once I get to the crane yard and as soon as I get home. The mpg numbers for this are insane, like the other day I needed something from a auto parts store in town, and the display showed I got 600 mpg on the 17 mile drive to the store! The only reason it wasn't 999/infinite was, as the weather gets colder, the ICE comes on a bit no matter what the big battery is charged to, as it needs to be warmed and ready to deliver power at all times. So I might have 12 miles of range EV, but still have a few minutes of engine on.

Such is the compromise of a hybrid. My first 400 mile road trip showed 61 mpg, at a cruise controlled speed of 73-75 mph, with about 30 miles of town driving mixed in. Later that day I had a leg of 80 mph, and it showed (going by the pump fill up method) 41 mpg. No surprise, excess speed costs. My more typical mix of local driving is yielding 72 to 79 MPG on fillup, my best ever mpg of 17 miles was 939 mpg.

My dog is loving having rear opening windows, he hated that about the 2 door HB Yaris, hated it! I should have gotten a 4 door Yaris, but I stupidly assumed the rear windows opened on the 2 door, my mistake, and one my dog is still pissed about. My 3 other rigs (Rav4, one ton flatbed, and the crane) have him trained and expectant, to have opening windows where he rides, simple as that. To my surprise, I have not sold my Yaris yet, I have lowered the price to $3500.00, conveniently located in Pocatello Idaho . Gas is too cheap, and it's (gasp) a 5 speed, and that has been the deal breaker so far.http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu213/simkot/IMG_20161016_134954605_zpssu8m0yjy.jpg (http://s649.photobucket.com/user/simkot/media/IMG_20161016_134954605_zpssu8m0yjy.jpg.html)

[ern-diz]

Great pic.

Have I mentioned I love pics?

[NYC-SE]

Looks like a happy pooch.

[Idahotom]

I was on my way out to that butte to ride my electric mountain bike up it. 68 mpg for that trip, some dirt road as shown but mostly 65 mph open road.

The car.....http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu213/simkot/11-2-16%20001_zpsmhymlqcx.jpg (http://s649.photobucket.com/user/simkot/media/11-2-16%20001_zpsmhymlqcx.jpg.html)

[eseibel67]

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu213/simkot/IMG_20161016_134954605_zpssu8m0yjy.jpg (http://s649.photobucket.com/user/simkot/media/IMG_20161016_134954605_zpssu8m0yjy.jpg.html)

You live on the moon? Cool!

Just kidding. That air looks like it's completely tasteless. Unlike the stinky soot most of us are forced to breathe.

Energy efficiency is a nice hobby. Trust you are enjoying the tiny fuel bills.