Is PRIUS for me? Or shall I stick to Skoda?

bluedrop

Hi all,
We've now zeroed on PRIUS and Skoda (octavia/fabia estate).

To recap on my situation:

We dont drive to work. The car will be used on ocassional evenings and weekends, on long Motorway trips 4-5 times a year. I dont see us going over 3000 miles a year.

Since the car will be parked on the drive most of the time, I need a reliable car, low maintenance, low on road tax and insurance. I need a spacious car (to fit in a buggy, a few bags etc) given that we need it for long trips.

we've nearly zero'ed on Prius - 1.5 Tspirit, 2008 reg with 50k miles. Its a toyota approved used car, listed at £8k. I like the fact that its a green car, Good safety featuresa, high MPG, Zero road tax.

Does anyone here have experiences with Hybrid Prius? Is there a reason why I should forget Prius and just stick to Skoda?

EDITED TO ADD: What age/mileage is acceptable for my usage? am I being too paranoid - Im looking <4 yrs old cars under 60k mileage.

Johnmcl7

Have you actually looked at the Prius you're considering? Personally I thought the boot space was pretty small particularly compared to the Octavia estate which to be fair is pretty large for its class.

John

BeenThroughItAll

bluedrop wrote: »

I dont see us going over 3000 miles a year.

Since the car will be parked on the drive most of the time, I need a reliable car, low maintenance, low on road tax and insurance.

If I were going to leave something parked on the drive 90% of the time, I'd want something as simple as possible. That means either a petrol or non-DPF diesel for me. I certainly wouldn't want something with a load of expensive batteries sitting there being ruined by not being regularly charge-cycled.

forgotmyname

Stick with the Skoda or get yourself a Focus. For half your budget you will pickup a 1.6 petrol engine with with sensible miles.

OK it will cost more to tax. But wont have £4000 worth of depreciation. Thats a lot of years worth of road tax.

Fuel consumption wont be far off.

Trebor16

The Octavia hatchback also has a big boot, is that also under consideration?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Prius come into their own on short stop start and in traffic when they are more economical than on journeys.

If the majority of your journeys will be long motorway runs then a Diesel would be better, if the majority is stop start dodging about then thats Prius' forte.

Wh05apk

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Prius come into their own on short stop start and in traffic when they are more economical than on journeys.

If the majority of your journeys will be long motorway runs then a Diesel would be better, if the majority is stop start dodging about then thats Prius' forte.

Over 3000 miles fuel costs are insignificant, compared to other costs (depreciation/servicing/tax/insurance etc)

bluedrop

Wh05apk wrote: »

Over 3000 miles fuel costs are insignificant, compared to other costs (depreciation/servicing/tax/insurance etc)

Thats PRECISELY my point. Thank you for articulating it for me.

Weird_Nev

Yes, I'd be looking at a simple petrol engine for that milage and usage pattern. You won't be maximising the economy benefits you pay a premium for in a Prius, and the same goes for a diesel, with the added problems of short journeys and infrequent use that plauge cars with Diesel Particulate Filters and complex diesel turbo EGR systems that gunk up.

Get an out of favor nicely specified petrol engined car, and revel in the simplicity and low maintenence costs a modern petrol engine brings.

Since you won't be putting many miles on it, there's not much point paying a premium for a particularly low mileage car. 3 years is about the right age to avoid the big depreciation hit but get something that feels fresh and modern.

Seeing as it looks like you've got up to £8k to spend:

FOrd Focus C-Max, 2010, 33,000 miles 1.6 petrol Would be very high on my list. Decent to drive, choice of a few, practical and spacious without being space ships. Ford are NAILING this kind of car - they're excellent.

Skoda Fabia 1.2 Estate (low tax, not much go!) 36k miles.

Hyundai i30 1.4 estate, 33k miles, 2010 car one owner

Skoda Roomster 1.2 2011 car with 29k miles These are supposedly fantastically practical and quirky cars. this one is turbocharged, I believe - 138g CO2, whatever that equates to.


I'd happily have any of those for your usage profile. All will be a much better bet than a Prius or Diesel car. Just avoid the Vauxhall Merivas/Zafiras that plague the market at this price point. Hateful, woeful cars.

DKLS

There is nothing green about a Prius unless it was ordered in green paint.

worried_jim

bluedrop wrote: »

Thats PRECISELY my point. Thank you for articulating it for me.

for 3000 miles a year get a big Volvo estate with a big petrol engine- they will cost peanuts to buy and will save £k's over a Prius.