> >> I just want to add that, if driven sensibly, the regenerative braking can
> >> dramatically extend the life of the brake pads and rotors.
> >>
> >
> > Oh my yes (he says, noting that he's now 67K on the brakes and the
> > rotors are still perfectly straight when they're invoked).
>
>
> No matter the metal-on-metal shriek...
Nope, none here.
> I am looking at buying a newish car. I have been driving a 03 Mits
> Lancer, but because of the Milage, and lack of AC, I must sell it.
> Through my searching I found a Honda Fit. I loved this car and it
> seemed to be the perfect car. My only gripe with it was that I felt
> that the Fit was a little small in the back seat. I have also been
> told that the fit basicly has to have the Engine replaced at 180,000
> miles. Other than that, I have been told that it is a great car and
> that it didn't need many trips to the shop.
The Honda Fit engine probably will last way over 250,000 miles
(or 20 years) if you take care of it. If you garage the car and
don't get into any accidents the body will probably last just
as long (but the cloth seats will be unraveling by then). The
Fits nicest ergonomic feature is the "magic" seats. Sometime
in the next three years Honda plans to introduce a mild hybrid
version of the Fit.
I still have a 1990 Honda Accord LX albet its body is a bit rusty.
It been hit multiple time and now has a salvage title but it
still get 22 mpg (down from 25 mpg when I got it new).
Honda's weakest components are the alternator, electric
motors (e.g. power windows, power antenna). While the
stero cassette tape player gave out on the 10th year but
the FM radio still works after 20 years. Due to road salt
during the winter - the lower suspension and exhaust
system are prone to rusting away. To keep the front
seats in good condition I have seat covers over them.
> On the other had I like the Prius. It gets great gas milage, the
> inside is like a spaceship, and it has plenty of room. The only thing
> that I worry about this is that I have heard that at 180,000 you have
> to put $000 worth of batteries into it. Since it is a hybrid, I
> assume that it uses different parts than your typical car such as all
> the electric motors, CVT, and all the the electronics. Do these parts
> go out more often than a typical car, and are they going to be more
> expensive?
It's not how may miles but how old the batteries
are that seems to matter. In Prius forums, I've
read a few account of 1998-2003 Prius High
Voltage(HV) traction battery are dying after about
8 to 11 years of service. Of the sporadic accounts
I've read the mileage when the battery fails
varies greatly. FWIW - extreme temperatures
and draining the batteries to a very low tends to
accelerate the aging process for a battery.
I've also read that the regenerative braking
system tends to extend the life of the braking
system.
> >> dramatically extend the life of the brake pads and rotors.
> >>
> >
> > Oh my yes (he says, noting that he's now 67K on the brakes and the
> > rotors are still perfectly straight when they're invoked).
>
>
> No matter the metal-on-metal shriek...