Should you buy used hybrid cars?

Diesel-electric vehicles are very fuel efficient. However, it has components, failure of which can hit your pocket hard. Should you be afraid of used hybrids??

hybrid car: what is it and is it worth buying?

Hybrid drive is no longer the technology of tomorrow. Japanese companies are experimenting with it more 15 years old. The Germans and the French are trying to catch up. Each manufacturer has a slightly different understanding of the combination of internal combustion engines and electric motors.. Currently on the market are hybrids with gasoline and diesel engines., mechanical, automatic or continuously variable transmission, in front of him, rear or all wheel drive. Growing popularity of auto hybrids, batteries that can be charged from the mains.

Unfortunately, large-scale production still did not contribute to a significant drop in prices for new hybrids. For the cheapest new Yaris Hybrid you need to pay more than half a million hryvnia. Hybrid Toyota Prius will cost even more, more 15 thousand. dollars. Who can't afford to spend that kind of money, but would like to ride a hybrid, must look at the secondary market. Enough for a used diesel-electric car 5-6 one thousand dollars. User Reviews and Parts Availability, Today buy toyota hybrid battery, lexus no longer difficult (the problem was present in our market a few years ago), suggest, that money will be well spent.

most popular hybrid – Toyota Prius. The model shines in the TUV rating. Ranked number one on several occasions.. The Prius also performed well in the Dekra rankings.. He only got top marks.. Nothing unusual. At runs 50-100 thousands of kilometers 90,1% Prius did not require even the smallest repair. Average value for segment C? Total 74,5%. Also worth noting, that the failure rate of all components of the hybrid Toyota was many times lower than the average. Dekra found faults in suspension and steering in 7,4% tested compact cars. Faults were found only in 0,9% car Prius.

Excellent results were determined not only by the overall solidity of the model. Proper maintenance is also an important aspect., like the way hybrids are used, which greatly reduces the wear rate of key components. Fans of aggressive and fast driving avoid cars with alternative drive. Hybrids are best for safe driving. To get the lowest possible fuel consumption, you need to develop proper driving technique. the main thing – reduce the frequency of applying the brakes. In many cases, it is enough to take your foot off the throttle, to slow down. Hybrids have an energy recovery system, quite severely limiting the pace of driving. current, returning to batteries, can be used when re-accelerating the car.

Speaking of engines … The vast majority of hybrids have efficient and durable gasoline engines., that interact with weak electrical units. Transmissions are usually continuously variable, which are so well suited to transmission parameters, that the number of transmission failure reports is negligible.

Who's going to buy a hybrid, most concerned about battery life. It is right? In Vienna, one of the Priuss passed as a taxi … million kilometers in seven years. AT 2008 Australian corporation Black and White Taxis, having in its park 32 hybrid, reported, that the Prius passed the milestone in 550 000 kilometers. How did the batteries perform in 32 other machines? One Prius was replaced after 500 000. km, in a different – battery repair via 350 thousand. km. The Australian branch of Toyota reported then, that these were the only two battery replacements known to them since the introduction of the model on the continent.

Battery failures happen. When Problems Might Occur? Most accurate answer – No one knows. The need to replace cells during the warranty does not occur regularly. Batteries sometimes fail after 180 thousands of kilometers, in other cars they pass 250 or 300 thousands of kilometers. Of course, losers are hard to believe, that one set of batteries can drive 500-800 thousands of kilometers. Maximum safe limit – 300 000 kilometers.

What are the amounts in the order? At ASO, you have to pay for a traction battery from several thousand PLN and more. However, it is doubtful, that a driver would want to install such an expensive part for a used hybrid. So what's left to buy / in cell packaging. For batteries for the most popular hybrids – Prius and Civic need to pay at least 1500 PLN. We buy a pig in a poke? Sellers usually indicate the mileage of the car, from which the battery was removed, and also provide a start-up warranty for several days. This time is enough, to check, Does the battery hold electricity and work properly with the car. IN THE USA, where the number of hybrid cars is already significant, workshops are being created, specialized in battery regeneration. Service technicians open the case, and then check the condition of individual cells and replace damaged or worn "cells". It is not excluded, that over time such services will become popular in Poland.

There's no shortage of high-mileage hybrids in the aftermarket. IN THE USA, where hybrids are popular and long distances between cities, easy to find cars, who traveled 250-350 thousand kilometers. Does the hybrid lose its original properties after such a course?? The editors of the American monthly magazine Consumer Reports tried to test the Toyota Prius, who passed 206 000 miles (about 330 000 km). Results? Surprisingly good. Characteristics deteriorated to a minimal extent – difference in 0,1-0,4 c in run-up time or in elasticity tests can only be detected with measuring instruments. There is a slight decrease in extra-urban fuel consumption and a slight increase in city fuel consumption.

In Poland, despite the lack of concessions and subsidies, hybrids are not niche cars. The primary market is growing every year. The secondary market is also expanding. The easiest way to find a second generation Toyota Prius (from 22 thousand. PLN). Those interested in buying a Prius III must have at least 50 000 pcs. PLN.

In humans, interested in buying a Honda Civic IMA (from 26 000 PLN), there is a wide choice. You can also find Honda Insight IMA (from 35 thousand zlotys) or Auris HSD first generation (from 45 thousand zlotys). The most popular hybrid SUV – Lexus RX 400h (from 50 000 PLN). Drivers, who are looking for a hybrid, driving pleasure, also find something for themselves – used Honda CR-Z prices start at 55 thousand. zloty. More at least 10 000 PLN should be spent on a luxury hybrid Lexus GS450h.

If there is no shortage of funds and we have a lot of time to look for, you can look for hybrid Lexus LS and CT, Peugeot 508 RXH и Citroen DS5 Hybrid4. Fresh and expensive cars with low mileage are often offered by official dealers of each brand.. Exotic lovers will also find something for themselves. In Poland, among other things, you can find Hybrids Toyota Camry and Highlander, imported from USA. Who needs an even bigger car, may choose Cadillac Escalade.

The advantage of hybrids is rich equipment. They were the hallmark of the brand., therefore, they were usually prepared on the basis of top versions. The car we are interested in must be inspected at an authorized workshop or in a specialized service, which employs trained mechanics and has equipment, allowing diagnostics of the hybrid drive and batteries.

In the case of hybrids, there is no room for experimentation and error.. Suffice it to say, that air conditioning systems with electric compressors require special maintenance and special lubricants. "Filling" them with regular oil can damage the compressor. A randomly selected mechanic won't take care of the battery cooling system either. – need to know, what is she on board, not to forget to clean the filter and fan.

Of course, there are service works, with which every workshop will cope. pendants, brake and steering systems, hybrid lighting usually does not differ from solutions, known from conventional models.

Repairs will be expensive?

Main wear parts - discs, blocks, shock absorbers, rocker bushings, stabilizer link, rod ends, etc.. l. – cheap and easily available. They have a general technical resemblance to popular models.. Body parts already available as replacements. You can also find used parts. In the case of a drive, only used components or new components of an authorized service center are considered.. For your own sake, it's worth looking for a hybrid, who has not recovered from an accident or more serious injury.

Hybrid cars: advantages and disadvantages

It's time to sum up. Consider the main advantages and disadvantages of hybrid cars:

The disadvantages include also the problems with the repair – hybrid cars are not very popular in Ukraine yet, but that's the problem of small towns, in large cities there are enough specialized service stations.

Top 5 hybrid cars you can buy. Video