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Which car should my father buy?

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
So the lease on my father's 2007 Camry Hybrid (75,000km) is about to expire at the end of this year. There's $2000 left on the car at this point. The car has been in 2 accidents (thanks to me 😳 😳 ) which makes it very hard to unload but it's otherwise in perfect condition. There's no way he's going to lease a car again, bad idea the first time. Oh and he's 63 and is looking to retire at around 68 or so, though given his habit of spending and not saving he may have to draw that out a few years more.

There are 2 cars he's looking at getting at this point.

The first is a used 2009 Camry Hybrid with 47,000 km on it. It has heated leather seats and a moon roof which his current car lacks. $23,000 (+ 12% tax). 5.5% interest over 5 years. $475/mth.

The other car is a new 2010 Prius, base model. $26,000 (+ 12% tax). This car would probably get something like 1/3 better gas millage than the Camry. 4.8% over 5 years $563/mth.

The Prius is new of course and costs more but gets better millage and will not need to be repaired as soon or as often. However it's a very basic base model and doesn't have some of the things like a good radio, and generally nicer "feeling" build quality that his current car has. The Camry on the other hand is used but is cheaper and is more my fathers style of car as he's gotten very used to the sedan feel and likes the extra bling on that model.

The 3rd option is to buy his current car out which would cost $18,000 all in (including taxes). But the warranty runs out at the end of this year and will likely start to age faster than the above 2.

Note about getting a hybrid. He wants a hybrid more for environmental reasons than the gas mileage, the the mileage matters too. Yeah I know ATOT will laugh at that but that's the way it is.
 
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How many annual miles? If you don't drive a hybrid a LOT, the savings in gas mileage doesn't outweigh the initial purchase price.
 
Don't buy a hybrid.

You'll save more money buying something else for cheaper.

So, unless you actually LIKE the aweful looks of the Prius, there's no reason to choose it over, say, a 5-door Yaris (the 4-door sedan Yaris is a piece of crap).

Or you could get a diesel engine and get better performance AND better mileage than the Prius.
 
This one.

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BoomerD said:
How many annual miles? If you don't drive a hybrid a LOT, the savings in gas mileage doesn't outweigh the initial purchase price.
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My father estimates about 17,000 km or about 10,500 miles. Thing is he likes the hybrid more for environmental than gas millage reasons. Yeah I know ATOT will laugh at that but hay that's the way it is.
 
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Locut0s said:
My father estimates about 17,000 km or about 10,500 miles. Thing is he likes the hybrid more for environmental than gas millage reasons for say. Yeah I know ATOT will laugh at that but hay that's the way it is.
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You should do your research then. Hybrids aren't more environmentally friendly...they just use less gasoline.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1645089/is_your_hybrid_car_doing_irreparable.html?cat=27

There are even many people who claim that the Prius does more environmental damage than the Hummer...(I don't necessarily agree with all of their assumptions in making such a claim, but many are valid)

Your dad just needs to understand that a hybrid isn't necessarily better for the environment...he'll just use less gasoline.
 
1. Garage --->
They can suggest something better than we can.

2. Don't buy out the lease. I know you're not thinking it, but just don't. Not a good idea.

3. Boomer is absolutely right about hybrids. Not the most environmentally sound option, nor the cheapest. Changing your driving style is the more effective option. If he absolutely must get one, the Ford Fusion hybrid is highly recommended.

(Oh, and maybe ask for some recommendations for a beater for yourself while you're over in the Garage so you can get some practicing in 😉.)
 
It would be faster to take public transportation in traffics congested HongCouver, hence it would make more sense to get a Prius.

The taxi drivers in my area claims that their Prius gets 5L/100km and I have talked to a fews taxis that currently have more than 400,000km on their Prius on original engine & battery pack.

A few taxis in my town drives Camry hybrids that claims they average 6.5~7L/100km.

Gas price is around $1.10~1.12 per L (is likely to be more expensive in the future)

Camry 14km per L of fuel.

Prius 20km per L of fuel.

75000km / 4 year = 18750km/year

Camry 18750km / 14km * $1.12= $1,500 per year of fuel

Prius 18750km / 20km * $1.12 = $1050 per year of fuel (a different of $450 saving per year, which amount to about 1 payment).

$18,000 for the 07 Camry, and $21,000 for the 09 Camry for a different of $3000 (indicates that the the 09 Camry is the better deal IMHO).

As for the different in price between the 09 Camry vs. 2010 Prius is a different of roughly $500 per year (factor in fuel saving different, but not factoring insurance if there is a different or tax incentive if there is one) or a total of $2500 for five years indicates that the Prius is a way better deal than the 09 Camry.

IMHO, the Prius is the better way to go, but if cash is an issue in the short term then the 07 Camry is the way to go.

<--- proud owner of an 07 Camry V6 SE @ 45000km (average City/Island Hwy 12km/L).

Ps. 09 Camry with 47,000km (if it is a local car) suggests that it is a 2 year old car.
 
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InflatableBuddha said:
1. Garage --->
They can suggest something better than we can.

2. Don't buy out the lease. I know you're not thinking it, but just don't. Not a good idea.

3. Boomer is absolutely right about hybrids. Not the most environmentally sound option, nor the cheapest. Changing your driving style is the more effective option. If he absolutely must get one, the Ford Fusion hybrid is highly recommended.

(Oh, and maybe ask for some recommendations for a beater for yourself while you're over in the Garage so you can get some practicing in 😉.)
Click to expand...

Meh would like to get my full licence but with my current job it's just so much easier to take public transit.
 
skip the Camry Hybrid and the Prius. You can lease the 2011 Hyundai Sonata for $260 a month and $0 down for 36-months with a buyout of around $10,000 at the end of the lease.. better vehicle then the Camry and better warranty.
 
Locut0s said:
Meh would like to get my full licence but with my current job it's just so much easier to take public transit.
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So? You don't have to drive to work; I almost never do as transit works fine for that.

I was just suggesting to pick up a $1500 beater to practice driving on between lessons. I only use my car to run errands on weekends and go out to social events where transit isn't a great option. Even though I drive fairly little, it's very useful to have a car in this city.
 
Tell your dad to stop being an wiener and just get a 4-cyl Camry or Fusion. No, they won't get MPG as good as the hybrids. However, they will cost thousands less and be better for the environment as the manufacturing process is FAR less involved.
 
Has he considered a Fusion? It does come in a hybrid version, too. If he is used to driving a Camry, I'd suggest test driving a Taurus, too.
 
Locut0s said:
My father estimates about 17,000 km or about 10,500 miles. Thing is he likes the hybrid more for environmental than gas millage reasons. Yeah I know ATOT will laugh at that but hay that's the way it is.
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I would have said buy out the Camry but I can buy a brand new Camry in the US for $21k and that one already has a decent number of miles. 50k isn't much for a camry but $18k for a 50k few year old camry vs $26k for a new Prius I'd think strongly about the Prius.

He could also buy an older Prius if he insists on a hybrid. If he is pretending to retire in a few years and sucks with money buying a new car is not very clever.

In the end, a really great way to slow the onset of retirement is buying new cars and getting rid of them when they are barely used (frankly 50k on a camry is nothing, it's not even hit puberty yet).
 
OK thanks for the suggestion guys. Seem the consensus is not to go with a Hybrid. Get a regular small compact instead or a regular Sedan. Thanks for the Fusion Hybrid option IB and others. I'll look into that.
 
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StageLeft said:
I would have said buy out the Camry but I can buy a brand new Camry in the US for $21k and that one already has a decent number of miles. 50k isn't much for a camry but $18k for a 50k few year old camry vs $26k for a new Prius I'd think strongly about the Prius.

He could also buy an older Prius if he insists on a hybrid. If he is pretending to retire in a few years and sucks with money buying a new car is not very clever.

In the end, a really great way to slow the onset of retirement is buying new cars and getting rid of them when they are barely used (frankly 50k on a camry is nothing, it's not even hit puberty yet).
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Remember that he's not in the US - we get screwed on new car prices. The base Camry starts at $25k; convenience package bumps it to almost $27k.

The buyout price of $18k seems steep. A quick search of local Camrys shows he can get an 07 hybrid (or a V6) for that same price. For $15-16k he can get a 4-cyl 07 with about 60-70k km, which also hasn't been in any accidents.

At that point, he's talking about a car comparable to his current one, which would be about HALF the cost of a brand new Camry hybrid (base price $31k).

I think that's the smartest move, given his Dad's upcoming retirement.
 
OK well my father bought the used 2009 Camry Hybrid. It looks to be in perfect shape, however it WAS a rental car for a period so not sure about that. Still it has fewer miles than my fathers current car and is newer. Also has some nice extras like a moon roof and heated leather seats. 🙂

Still has a few months left on the bumper to bumper warranty. Would you recommend taking it into to another Toyota dealership and having them give it a really good once-over?
 
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