I'm thinking about trading my Honda insight due to decreasing MPG..... about 55..... in other words it's getting old. I see the Prius G2 (the version which copied Insight's hatchback shape) is selling about $10,000 less on ebay than a used G3. As far as I can tell there is no difference internally except engine size. Is there anything else under the hood that changed (like electric AC or some such).
The hybrid system changed in several areas. Addition of a reduction gear on MG2 is one change. Also note that MPG increases in Gen-3 due to several factors. When you get down to it, almost every system changed in some way.
Thanks. I am aware of the +3 highway MPG and other gearing/battery tweaks, but don't see those minor things worth paying an extra 10,000 dollars for used G3. Let's say I kept my used purchase another 100,000 miles, but that's only around $450 in gasoline savings: 100,000/48 (G3) == 2083 gals or $7300 100,000/45 (G2) == 2222 gals or $7777
You're not just paying for mechanical differences, you're paying for a newer car with higher value, newer features and trim, etc. Seems to me like you've already decided.
Yeah the G2..... though I filtered my search for the "touring" option. I fundamentally view cars as appliances.... they cost a lot today, half as much after they pass 6 years age, and then they go out of style (which is why even a Lexus has little resale value after 11 years).
Even though both cars operate the same, all the parts have been totally redesigned to be more efficient. For example, the ICE water pump is now electric, so the engine no longer has a belt and the exhaust is water jacketed, so the engine heats up faster.
The only thing carried over from the Gen 2 is the NiMH battery. The 1.8 litre engine is completely beltless (electric water pump, more efficient electric A/C compressor), a cooled exhaust gas recirculation system to keep the cylinders cool without using fuel and an exhaust heat recirculation system (replacing the coolant thermos in the Gen 2) to help warm up the engine coolant and therefore the engine much faster (~1 min faster at 0°C IIRC). There are LED taillights now and optional LED headlights, underbody fins to allow the air to exit in a laminar fashion, a longer underbody strengthening brace, front aerodynamic undercover (the rear "skirts" carryover), and aerodynamic front wiper design. The inverter and electric motors have been reduced in size to minimise weight gain. The MG2's power has increased slightly but torque has dropped significantly because there's a reduction gear now that can make up the difference in torque. http://www.john1701a.com/prius/images/Prius-Generations.png The larger engine allows for better highway mileage. At a $10k difference, the Gen 3 is overpriced. A 2010 Prius II started at $22,000 (Prius III at $23,000). I'm guessing a Gen 2 can be had for about $3-5k? So a $13-15k 2010 Prius II seems a bit much. I guess that's good for resale value and you're gaining 6 years over a 2004 model. (note that VSC was optional for all years and side/side curtains airbags were optional from 2004-2006)
Correct. That's why even though the G3 gets +3mpg highway, it really isn't worth an extra $10,000 cost.
For $10,000 less it seems better to get the G2 Prius it has great MPGs too. You could probably save even more on a Gen I Prius and those got really good mpgs too, like 43 or 44 as I recall.
It's the same 201.6V battery pack though. They just redesigned the cooling system and repositioned the battery module and main relay to make the unit more compact (as seen in the video above). IOW, the casing has been designed to be more compact than before, increasing cargo space but fundamentally, it's the same number of battery cells and voltage.
Heagy, you posted before that you keep you cars until they die. If your Insight gets 55 mpg then what is the problem forcing you to dump it ?
this is a good video. Prii hold value quite well. My 2006 is still $8000-9000. If you had a 2009 (Gen2) and 2010 (Gen3) at the same miles I would only expect a few thou$and difference.
. Yeah there was a power bump. I just was going off the press release that 90% of the Prius is new (the 10% being the battery). Sigh. Can't trust those press releases.
