I'm running numbers for a budget for a Gen 2. What is your average annual cost of maintenance? Please tell me your average mileage, current mileage, and big ticket repairs. Do you do repairs yourself or have the shop do them? Thanks!
I have a 2009 Gen II level 5 Prius with 64,000 miles on it, bought on March 28, 2009. (60,000 miles was March 18, 2011) Nine oil changes and tire rotations at $46 each (two more were free) Engine and Cabin air filters $67 At 60,000 I insisted they change the transaxle ATF (they tried 3 times to talk me out of it) for $107 All at Kirk Toyota and that is 2 years expense so divide by 2 to find my annual costs. I bought 4 GoodYear Viva Authority Fuel Max tires at two Walmarts, at $85 each, $220 total. I was hit (while parked) by a drunk driver and had $500 deductible, fixed at Kirk Auto.
2005 - 133,000 miles I perform most of the work myself except oil and transaxle fluid changes. Annual 2 oil changes @ $30 1 air filter @ $12 Wiper blades @ $30 Every 2-3 years New tires @ approx. $400 MAF sensor cleaning @Free "Big Ticket Items Thus Far" Transaxle fluid change @ $90 Spark Plug @ $40 (done at 120,000) PCV valve cleaning @ $5 for a can of cleaner Headlight Restoration Kit @ $29.99 These are needed items. I spend a bunch of money on other things like cleaners, waxes, mods, etc.
2009 w ~45k, not quite 2.5 years of ownership but I've annualized the costs using that figure. Average annual cost ~$240 Includes oil changes done by me, an air filter change (just the filter cost) and one change of tires (including labor). I'm due for a cabin filter, wipers, and probably a transaxle fluid change, all of which I plan to do myself. The tire changes were driven by punctures, so that cost is front-loaded a bit and I'd imagine the actual annual number is a bit lower. Only big ticket item was related to some idiot hitting me, and was not paid by me.
Majority of regular maintenance on Prius can be done by owner. Oil changes while I use Amsoil you can buy 5 quarts of Mobil 1 full synthetic at Wal-Mart for 24.99. I use wix professional oil filters cost me 6 dollars. Prius Long Life inverter coolant from Toyota 21 dollars a gallon , trans axle fluid costs 32 from Toyota , Air filter 10 eBay, and great Carbon cabin filters from eBay as well 10 dollars. A couple of aluminum washers 1 dollar. One of the cheapest cars to own if you do regular maintenance.
2009 with 61K miles bought in September 08. 12 oil changes at $11 each ($5 qts of 5w30 Supertech from Wal-Mart in 5 Qt containers. Use 3 qts for each change. Case of Toyota filters cost including delivery just under $5 each. Transaxle at $60K - $28 (Did the fluid exchange myself with a marine fluid extractor). 2 air filters $10 each. New tires Touring model Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 installed at Costo with hazard insurance $462. Lifetime alignment at Firestone for $159.
Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles might be of interest to the OP. http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-edmunds-long-term-test-wrap-up-04-prius.html might be of interest as well, but please see my comments there as well as those of others. CR2032 batteries (one for each key fob) can be had for <$2 each at Fry's Electronics and even less at some other places, apparently.
Since these batteries are so common in other things we have, I bought 25 of them for $6.28 at Amazon free shipping no sales tax: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RAWGIW They've worked great and held up for a long time on high draw applications like our pedometers which eat them about once a month. They last about as long as the Energizers. Cost 25 cents / battery.
