Avalon ---> to Prius - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

benalexe · 03-08-2008, 08:14 PM

I am a very happy and proud owner of a 2005 avalon. I have owned the car for about 3 months and it has 16k miles on it.

This is by far one of the most comfortable full featured cars I have ever owned.

With gas the way it is and going the thought has crossed my mind more than once to trade it in for a prius. would be nice going 600 miles without a fill up and when you do fill up it in take about $30.00 opposed to $50.00

What do you guys think?

I have also heard rumors that they are coming out with a plug in prius. if that happens my mind may be made up quickly.

00avxls · 03-08-2008, 10:02 PM

I've been thinking of trading mine in also. I have a 06 avalon limited with the special edition package and like the car, but lately I've been thinking of a 02-03 bmw 745Li or 04-05 lexus ls430. I really can't help you with your decision seeing that I'm going the other way as far as with the gas issue.

benalexe · 03-09-2008, 07:25 AM

I would not go for the beemer considering the cost for maintence. it is crazy high

***Tom in Tacoma*** · 03-09-2008, 10:40 AM

Benalexe - I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing right now.

osidepunker · 03-09-2008, 01:24 PM

lol

I'm not. I like my ride, I think I'll keep it.

benalexe · 03-09-2008, 04:07 PM

I love my ride as well but a quick calculation. the fuel tank is 18.5 gal Lets say you fill it up 17 gals at 3.29 would cost you $55. Now my 2005 is not great on gas unless the driving is all highway. i get avg of about 18mph. So i can get about 306 miles to the tank for the $55. By the way I usually get just under 300 miles to the tank.

Now the prius. Has an 11.9 gallon tank. Lets say i put in 10.5 gallons at 3.29 would cost $34.54 per fill up. now the prius get 46 mpg combined city and highway so I would get 483 miles to the tank for 34.54.

so each tank would cost me $20 less and I would go 183 mile more.

Or another way to look at it. 12,000 miles a year in the avalon would cost me $2,192 per year vs the prius would cost 854 per year to drive. a savings of $1,338. That is based of course on the price of gas not going up. So the real question is would I want to drive the big comfortable powerful avalon that can comfortably fit my family of 5? or would i rather save the money get the prius not be as comfortable. be in a much smaller car etc...

hmmmmm

CassisPearl · 03-09-2008, 04:24 PM

You really need to look at the total expense involved in the transaction.

Only if the loss you'll encounter from trading in the Avalon is exceeded by the gain you'll receive from the difference in gas mileage would such a deal be worthwhile. Here, let's run some numbers using average MPG:

For the Prius:
100,000 Miles / 27.89 MPG (AVG) = 3586 Gallons
3586 Gallons X $3.00 Per Gallon = $10,758

For the Avalon:
100,000 Miles / 23.56 MPG (AVG) = 4245 Gallons
4245 Gallons X $3.00 Per Gallon = $12,735

The difference, then, is a mere $1977 in savings, if both vehicles are driven 100,000 miles. Spread those 100,000 miles over a 5 year period and you get a not-so-impressive savings of $394 per year.

For the serious financial hit you're going to take trading in your Avalon, you really have to consider how worthwhile it would be.

I cannot see any possible scenario where it would be a wise thing to do.

00avxls · 03-10-2008, 02:12 AM

After reading some reviews I seen where alot of people were having electrical issues and problems with the i-drive. Now I'm leaning more towards the ls430 or keeping the avalon and buying a car just to drive back and forth to work in and letting my wife drive the avalon. Right now she's driving a 07 expedition EL that has a 32 gal. tank and avg. 14 mpg. I've already seen the car that I want, it's a 1995 acura legend coupe with 114,000 miles and the guy said I can get for 3800 cash which I think isn't a bad price.

benalexe · 03-10-2008, 05:59 AM

CassisPearl, interesting analysis and I think the other thing is the avalon is such a great car to drive so comfortable luxerious etc. having said that I think your #'s may be a little off. I think the avg on the prius is low and the avalon is high. Also gas here on Long Island is $330 today but hear it is going up much higher.

My avalon may be only avg 17 or 18 mpg becasue of the tranny TSB. Which is it going in today for repair.

silverxls · 03-10-2008, 09:40 AM

benalexe....i think you stated it yourself...which is more important to you. to get the benefits of lower gas prices with the prius, or having the safety, comfort, and luxury of the avalon. even tho the gas prices are tough on my pocketbook, i still feel it is worth the money to have the comfort and power of the avalon. and if fuel economy is the main issue, there are alot of other cars out there that out perform the prius, but then there is the "green" issue. reduced emissions etc, but then the other side is all the resources it takes to make the batteries and even more to dispose of them .... the debate goes on and on.....lol 00avxls.. i like the idea of replacing the gas hog expedition.... and if you still want to drive a car that can stir your blood with performance...then get the beemer...

fake_usa · 03-10-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CassisPearl

For the Prius:
100,000 Miles / 27.89 MPG (AVG) = 3586 Gallons
3586 Gallons X $3.00 Per Gallon = $10,758

For the Avalon:
100,000 Miles / 23.56 MPG (AVG) = 4245 Gallons
4245 Gallons X $3.00 Per Gallon = $12,735

Those numbers are way off, according to Consumer Reports, the Prius averages 44MPG.

That would make it's 100k mile fuel cost $6,818, about 6k less then your figure for the Avalon.

CassisPearl · 03-10-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fake_usa

Those numbers are way off, according to Consumer Reports, the Prius averages 44MPG.

That would make it's 100k mile fuel cost $6,818, about 6k less then your figure for the Avalon.

The figures I used are straight from the EPA using their real world average driving criteria. These are the mileage numbers you will really experience when owning and operating a Prius.

Remember that the 44 MPG that Consumer Reports may have achieved is not according to the criteria that the EPA uses. The new guidelines the EPA now uses are very stringent and calibrated for various conditions, distances, speeds, loads, etc. based on actual data.

And for propulsion by electric motor on a Prius, you need to be traveling at very low speeds and for very short distances. Normal driving consists of neither of these.

Today's hybrids really aren't genuine hybrids, per se. What we have today is limited technology that makes use of lost energy from braking to recharge batteries, not true internal combustion to electric locomotion.

But, I still love the Prius and would have one as a daily commuter, definitely!!

benalexe · 03-10-2008, 06:58 PM

I also wished my avalon got 23 mpg avg. I get about 17 or 18.

But today that may change as they are doing the TSB on my tranny

CassisPearl · 03-10-2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benalexe

I also wished my avalon got 23 mpg avg. I get about 17 or 18.

But today that may change as they are doing the TSB on my tranny

I expect that you'll see an improvement.

I've been lucky lately getting over 24 MPG on my last several tank fills. I think it helps that it's summer weather again and I always seem to do better with the warm weather gasoline blends.

benalexe · 03-10-2008, 09:17 PM

as my avalon is in the shop for the TSB they gave me a psion xd. what apiece of _ _ it.

If this feels anything like the prius I could never ever go there