You must know how cheaply it was possible to pick up Series 3 & 5 BMW's and still is when out of Manufacturers Warranty and not with FMDSH or even when the big service schedule has passed and not been done.

Bulbs & Fluids all changed etc.

A lot of corners get cut when people buy once expensive, old 'premium' cars, but the likelihood is they will run with a few dashboard lights on and perform reasonably well with slightly ailing mechanicals. but if your battery-pack is dying, you aren't going very far or having your cars features work for long. I am interested to see if the slightly different customer base that many electric and hybrid cars attract, will turn out to be happier to keep the car well maintained. If I buy a cheap old fast car I know that I might have big bills, but the customer that buys an old electric based car, may not see it the same way. We should see the first results of this soon though.

It is interesting that although we see a vast proportion of the more elderly Prius still being serviced by the network, quite a lot are now being looked after by the independants judging by the parts being sold through the trade counter.

 

The super long term of the battery life (ie 15 to 20 years old) are going to be put to the test in the next few years I imagine but at £800 for the main hybrid battery is it that expensive? I wonder how many Turbochargers or DPF's will have been got through in 20 years?

 

Like I say, people pays the money they make the choice, they are not for everyone, but as an easy to live with economical hassle free car they do the job.

 

The market in general is more accepting nowadays of the whole hybrid ethos so they are benefitting from strengthening residuals as well as time goes on.

 

I drive daily a Lexus IS300h 2.5 Auto Hybrid, 223bhp rear wheel drive saloon, zero road tax, quick enough, fantastic build quality and still does 52mpg day in day out. Plus with the Lexus it's still different enough to stand out in the heavily Germanic populated company car arena.

BMW were quoting 10 years for their Hybrid 3 series battery, although it might not be as big as a proper electric vehicle.

 

This Autoexpress article claims the Nissan Leaf batter is guaranteed for 8 years but should be good for 10! and that an out of warranty replacement will cost £5,000!!! although you get a £1,000 rebate if you trade your old one in. If these figures are correct then I fear for the long term future of secondhand electric cars. Also who pays the recycling cost of these rare earth metals?

Good cars though from the No.1 Biggest Car Manufacturer in the World.

They had Supply Issues, recalls and issues but were open and honest, we hope.

 

More than can be said for the No.1 Biggest Car Manufacturer in the World this time last year.

VW were neither open or honest and after decades have failed to get to grips with Chains, Tensioners, Belts, Seals, Door Seals, 

Painting and Anti Corrosion, even electrics.

Recalls not their best Customer Services success either.

3 Year Warranties only 2 years in some world regions.

 

Vorsprung Durch Technik.

Lets hope the Volkswagen Group have learned something in the past 12 months.

All the best with their future hybrids.

Good point, if anything Toyota are too keen with customer recalls, if anything it doesn't dent the customer satisfaction with the brand. The big recall in 2010 was our best ever year for sales!!

 

The warranty goodwill is also staggering, stuff that would get laughed at by other manufacturers is covered by Toyota, a very genuine desire to keep customers happy took me by surprise at first!!

Lady Elanore, Chill, if people are leasing then they are not worried, 

and let those that buy cars as keepers do the worrying.

Lady Elanore, Chill, if people are leasing then they are not worried, 

and let those that buy cars as keepers do the worrying.

 

 

Horizontal at the moment, but thanks for caring If the Autoexpress article is right, they are claiming that the Leaf (it seems the worst example by far) not only has catastrophic depreciation, but it will be worse for people who lease their batteries. Perhaps Toyota have got it right and Nissan have scored an own goal?

I should add in fairness, that the Leaf is a full leccy not a hybrid so probably has a much higher battery cost. I tried to find a replacement cost for the BMW hybrid 3 series but failed :(

I think as a brand Toyota wont rush into full scale electric car production due to range issues, lifespan etc.

 

All we hear at the moment is Hydrogen fuel cell with the Mirai... pig ugly thing. The UK's infrastructure for Hydrogen is 20yrs away at best so don't get too excited by that lol

Damn,

i was going to lease a Leaf from Motability as well.

(Doh, silly me, it would be going back anyway in 3 years.

 

So now i think it will be a Toyota Hybrid i get, an Auris Sport Wagen (Touring / Camping / Dogging Sports)

i get fed up plugging my Extension cable in to keep the Greenhouse Heater on in the cold weather or for battery chargers, 

so a EV is just going to be a PITA.

Edited 18 February, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

I found a Sunday Times article about the 5 series Hybrid and it said BMW wouldn't quote them the cost of a replacement battery, but an independent BMW specialist (Dmworx) thought around £5,000. Yikes. Looks like it's Toyota all the way at the moment.

Edited 18 February, 201610 yr by Lady Elanore

I'm waiting to see what happens in a few years when the batteries on all these hybrids start collapsing. If the cars are say 10 years old and not worth much, the cost of a new battery pack may well write the car off. This, I guess may lead to the collapse of the hybrid car... well possibly.

I recently traded my Octavia tdi for a Toyota Auris Hybrid, 2000 miles later and my opinion is that it's awesome. The technology is proven, just Google "300,000 miles Prius".

With regards to the hybrid battery - Toyota guarantee it for 10 years/unlimited mileage as long as you take it for hybrid health check every year (cost £39.99 or free if you have dealer servicing).

https://www.toyota.co.uk/caring-for-your-toyota/service-and-maintenance/hybrid-health-check.json

Edited 18 February, 201610 yr by classic

If a battery goes on a older Prius and it costs £800 thats no different to a old car needing a turbo/cat/dpf really. I'm off to look at Prius' on ebay  

yes ^^ as I said it looks like Toyota has is sorted. But if the BMW figure is right! Who knows what others might charge?