I was wondering when you all plan to sunset your gen 2? I got a 06 with only 160k miles. Its still on original hybrid battery. I had a conversation with ai about it. AI thinks i am solid through 2031 (can get classic title stop smog) and sunset by 2036. It says by 30yrs old its just time. A round of belts and hoses is more than the car is worth at that point. I am just starting an end of life plan for the old prius and i am wondering what you guys are doing. I feel sad after that though as i might be going back to conventional which seems wildly regressive. I wont be driving as much in old age.
AI is worthless. The worst part is that it doesn't look worthless. Imagine a steaming pile of crap that looked exactly like a solid gold bar. No matter how much you want to have that gold bar, it's still a steaming pile of crap. Is it worth it questions are much more dynamic and complex than KBB value minus cost of parts. There are so many variables that go into it that are impossible to quantify. If you look at a car through the lens of the big 3 simultaneously: reliability, economy, and cargo space, what can beat a gen 2? I won't hold by breath.
Twenty years is plenty for the average high quality car but only as a second car in my view. Does not mean you can't keep anything running if you don't mind an expensive downtime on a regular basis. Some people don't want a primary car to have any unexpected downtime and trade every three years. With higher costs upfront and better quality, my 2017 primary was sold in 2022. Some who run on tighter budgets might go ten to fifteen years. A twenty year old car is usually bought used, often diy'ed because of economics and can generate a fair amount of stress as major items need replacement. Especially hybrids. Or is babied by a retired grandfather.
