Small to Medium Hybrid Cars - Advice please.
Discussion
Hello,
I am just after some advice on Hybrid Cars. I have considered looking into them as an option for possibly my next car. Does anyone own one, any issues? I am thinking of looking at the Jap car manufactures. Ideally I have £8k to spend. But as I am only looking at them I could go up slightly if there is a decent finance deal to be had.
Thanks
I am just after some advice on Hybrid Cars. I have considered looking into them as an option for possibly my next car. Does anyone own one, any issues? I am thinking of looking at the Jap car manufactures. Ideally I have £8k to spend. But as I am only looking at them I could go up slightly if there is a decent finance deal to be had.
Thanks
I have been keeping my eye on hybrids and EV's for my next car.
I've seen your thread on the Lexus, these look nice but as your finding they seem hit or miss when they come up for sale.
Toyota auris, the car it's based on is a bit plain Jane.
BIL has just bought a Yaris hybrid and is impressed with it, unsure of the price of these.
I'm finding myself drawn to the Prius for its reputation for reliability and the clever touches it has. Although the honda insight is a common site on London roads.
I'm sure there are many others but it seems this is Japanese territory, I don't think I'd trust a vw or Peugeot etc hyrbid.
I've seen your thread on the Lexus, these look nice but as your finding they seem hit or miss when they come up for sale.
Toyota auris, the car it's based on is a bit plain Jane.
BIL has just bought a Yaris hybrid and is impressed with it, unsure of the price of these.
I'm finding myself drawn to the Prius for its reputation for reliability and the clever touches it has. Although the honda insight is a common site on London roads.
I'm sure there are many others but it seems this is Japanese territory, I don't think I'd trust a vw or Peugeot etc hyrbid.
I've owned a Yaris Hybrid and currently have an Auris Hybrid.
Yaris is fine, but the Auris is better for long trips due to being bigger and having more power.
Yaris hybrid uses an updated Prius 2 engine, whereas the Auris uses a Prius 3.
If you use Toyota main dealers for servicing, they extend the warranty on the battery pack for 12 months/10k miles each time. Up to 11 years / 110k miles from new.
They also have extended warranties up to 10 Years/100k miles - they often seem to run a 2 for 1 year promotion. As it includes full AA cover you could find the warranty part only costs you under £100 a year.
I also drove a Honda insight and a Jazz hybrid for a day each. Their hybrid systems don't compare to Toyota, which was surprising as Honda were a frontrunner with hybrid tech.
Jazz/Insights can't run as an electric vehicle so the engines are constantly starting and stopping when parking or in a traffic jam.
Whereas Prius/Yaris/Auris are actually proper electric cars at low speed and lower acceleration.
8k should get you an approved used Yaris hybrid from a main dealer, or the old model Auris hybrid. Toyota have an offer on at the moment where you get a free 2 year warranty on approved hybrids.
Yaris is fine, but the Auris is better for long trips due to being bigger and having more power.
Yaris hybrid uses an updated Prius 2 engine, whereas the Auris uses a Prius 3.
If you use Toyota main dealers for servicing, they extend the warranty on the battery pack for 12 months/10k miles each time. Up to 11 years / 110k miles from new.
They also have extended warranties up to 10 Years/100k miles - they often seem to run a 2 for 1 year promotion. As it includes full AA cover you could find the warranty part only costs you under £100 a year.
I also drove a Honda insight and a Jazz hybrid for a day each. Their hybrid systems don't compare to Toyota, which was surprising as Honda were a frontrunner with hybrid tech.
Jazz/Insights can't run as an electric vehicle so the engines are constantly starting and stopping when parking or in a traffic jam.
Whereas Prius/Yaris/Auris are actually proper electric cars at low speed and lower acceleration.
8k should get you an approved used Yaris hybrid from a main dealer, or the old model Auris hybrid. Toyota have an offer on at the moment where you get a free 2 year warranty on approved hybrids.
Edited by Whataguy on Saturday 17th February 07:34
Whataguy said:
I also drove a Honda insight and a Jazz hybrid for a day each. Their hybrid systems don't compare to Toyota, which was surprising as Honda were a frontrunner with hybrid tech.
Jazz/Insights can't run as an electric vehicle so the engines are constantly starting and stopping when parking or in a traffic jam.
Whereas Prius/Yaris/Auris are actually proper electric cars at low speed and lower acceleration.
I've got a Jazz Hybrid.Jazz/Insights can't run as an electric vehicle so the engines are constantly starting and stopping when parking or in a traffic jam.
Whereas Prius/Yaris/Auris are actually proper electric cars at low speed and lower acceleration.
Edited by Whataguy on Saturday 17th February 07:34
Just to correct this, the Insight and Jazz Hybrid can run on electric power only but not like the Toyota systems do. There is no button to lock them into electric mode, but on a light throttle at low loads they will run on electric power alone. Aside from the obvious silence of the engine, the live readout on the dash indicates electric running with an 'EV' symbol. It will use stop start in traffic and then cut the petrol engine almost immediately after moving off, as soon as the throttle in feather to enter electric running mode. The stop/start system and the cold start are very soft though, as the electric motor is used to start the petrol engine rather than a conventional starter, so the engine purrs into life rather than making a cranking noise, and the stop/start is all controlled by the brake in traffic. I've sometimes used the electric only mode at upwards of 70mph on downhill sections, and the last mile and half of my commute is never done on petrol - it's all downhill off the throttle or using electric mode through my village.
That said, there is no denying that Toyota are the leaders in the field. The Honda system is great in isolation but lacks a push button electric mode to lock out the petrol engine. The Toyota engines are more powerful but conversely, the cars are more expensive with it. I've had my Jazz for two years now, bought as a commuter car after I got rid of my XJ. I will keep it a couple of years yet, then move it on. It's been great.
My mum got a 16 plate Yaris hybird Sport for just over £10k in September. It was a cheap find considering other Yaris hybrid sports were going for around £13k. Great little car and is very easy to drive. A full tank is around £35 and it lasts her a full month which equates 250-275 miles of town driving.
The first time I filled up, I thought the pump had cut out early at only £35! It certainly made a change from the 32mpg I was getting in a manual Honda Accord.
My long term average was 55mpg in the summer and 50mpg in the winter (you get less in the winter as the petrol engine has to run to provide heat.)
In slow speed traffic, you can easily get 60mpg or more.
My long term average was 55mpg in the summer and 50mpg in the winter (you get less in the winter as the petrol engine has to run to provide heat.)
In slow speed traffic, you can easily get 60mpg or more.
Edited by Whataguy on Saturday 17th February 20:26
All sounds good but I think that they could be the right choice as I mostly sit in stop start traffic to and from work so for that the electric would be great. Then I have the petrol if needed. The specs are not too bad either they mostly have everything you could need. I also like the extended warranty. A neighbor has just got an 13 plate CT200h F sport so I may ask him what it’s like. The Yaris would be okay for my needs as I bet it’s more roomy than my Mini Cooper.
Plenty of room in a Yaris, I've had 5 adults and a couple of big suitcases with no problems.
Handling on Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres was as good as minis I've driven. Low rolling resistance eco tyres are to be avoided as there's not that much of an extra fuel saving, but less traction.
The Yaris has 38hp less than the Auris/CT but performance up to 40mph is quite similar, you only really notice the extra power at higher speeds.
Handling on Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres was as good as minis I've driven. Low rolling resistance eco tyres are to be avoided as there's not that much of an extra fuel saving, but less traction.
The Yaris has 38hp less than the Auris/CT but performance up to 40mph is quite similar, you only really notice the extra power at higher speeds.
Whataguy said:
Plenty of room in a Yaris, I've had 5 adults and a couple of big suitcases with no problems.
Handling on Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres was as good as minis I've driven. Low rolling resistance eco tyres are to be avoided as there's not that much of an extra fuel saving, but less traction.
The Yaris has 38hp less than the Auris/CT but performance up to 40mph is quite similar, you only really notice the extra power at higher speeds.
I will have a look at both and see, I’m liking the Yaris, seems to tick the boxes Handling on Dunlop Sportmaxx tyres was as good as minis I've driven. Low rolling resistance eco tyres are to be avoided as there's not that much of an extra fuel saving, but less traction.
The Yaris has 38hp less than the Auris/CT but performance up to 40mph is quite similar, you only really notice the extra power at higher speeds.
My partner has had a Honda CR-Z from new and in 8 years and 80k miles absolutely nothing has gone wrong. She gets it serviced at Honda every year and has only spent money on tyres and brakes. You could easily get a nice reliable one for £8k
Edited by htid on Sunday 18th February 10:58
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