Smoking Hot Deal – New 2021 Toyota Prius Prime LE for $15,787 + TTL and Reg

Hi RedylC94:

I wish I could have found them for that price!

The Gen 4 does not need the cowl removed like I had to with my sons PHEV. The later model 2nd gen primes only need a plastic pieces snapped out and you can get to the fourth plug. The first three plugs are open.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

2021 Toyota Prius Prime


Driving past the "I was standing on the corner in Winslow AZ" of Eagles fame location on July 3, 2024. Marian is behind the wheel.​

250k miles and counting. I was ~ 13-miles past Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX and parked at a Sam's Club refueling when I snapped this pic.

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Nothing new to report actually as it just keeps going and going.

Regarding the Trade-in value, $8,500 according to KBB maybe???

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02/07/2023 with 160,000 miles - $14,181
11/14/2023 with 200,000 miles - $10,679
07/07/2024 with 250,000 miles - $ 8,506

New 2021 OTD cost of $15,787 + CA TTL = $18,460.

Fuel - $11,750 gasoline and $175 for electricity = $11,925
Depreciation - $9,960
Insurance - $2,550
Maintenance and Repair - $1,950
TN Plates and yearly registration - $380
Total Cost of ownership = $26,765 or $0.107/mile after 250k miles.

With just over 251k miles on her clock as I type, new tires will be heading her way in another 35 to 40k miles. I hope that will be all?

This result continues to be an incredibly low number vs anything else I have completed a TCO on. Just like before, it was the obscenely low upfront price ($15,787 + TTL) that was the largest factor in the low TCO. If I had to purchase a 2025, its upfront would be somewhere south of $34k + TTL and the residual would not be much more than the 2021 after 200k miles.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Just a quick addition to the Prius Prime's ongoing story...

I topped off at a Shell in Clifton, CO for a work request in Grand Junction. I was requested to choose between Grand Junction or Albuquerque and since we had not driven the 70 in such a long time, I chose the former.

7-27-2024 - Shell - Clifton CO - $3.139 w/ the $0.05 off per gallon Fuel Rewards discount.​

Now how is she going to make it to Phoenix, AZ on the least amount of fuel and at the lowest cost after visiting Arches National Park, back up and around to Bryce Canyon National Park, down to Flagstaff and continuing on to Phoenix? Very carefully of course...

Arches National Park






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Temps were in the mid 90s to low 100s while in Arches so hiking 2 to 3-miles into the back country to grab pics of the most iconic arches will have to wait for another day. In either case, beautiful. But not as beautiful as what is coming up in Bryce Canyon.

Bryce Canyon National Park


Arch tunnel when entering the area.





Second Arch tunnel when leaving.​

So here is the conundrum. How much more fuel do I need to travel from Kanab, UT to Phoenix, AZ with < 1/8th of tank in the car and 340 + miles ahead? The Shell in Kanab is at just under 5,000' elevation and my final stop in Phoenix is at ~ 1,300' ASL... How about an additional 3.378 gallons added to the maybe 2-gallons left in the car? Yeah, that is a smart move. Said no one ever.

7-28-2024 - Shell - Kanab UT - $3.699 w/ the $0.05 off per gallon Fuel Rewards discount.​

For the above fill, the pump display was half burned out so I posted the Shell fuel receipt instead.

Running on fumes, I made it to Glendale, AZ with 3-miles DTE on the Prius Prime. And 7-miles to the local Costco in Phoenix the following morning. Ok, I am about 4 to 5-miles into DTE=0 miles and how much will she hold?

7-29-2024 - Costco - Phoenix AZ - $3.199​

After over 950-miles and this refuel in Phoenix, the 10.6 gallon capacity rated 2021 Toyota Prius Prime took on 10.611 gallons. I should have taken that pic instead. Boy was that close. And of course Marian was a little ticked off for me pushing the envelope across the Arizona desert.

As parked in Glendale, AZ, she now has 257k miles on her ticker with hopefully many more to go.

Wayne

 

Hi Bill:

Just my standard top off refuel and this one took on 10.611 gallons with DTE = -4 to -5 miles.

Another pic of the Prius Prime at Arches National Park.​

Wayne

 

Hi Bill:

She does not have to know everything.

Given I drive through some very remote regions and the mini-spare I had onboard is not only 10-years old, it was good for just 5-miles before going flat the last time I used it so... I added some bling to the 21 Prius Primes onboard carry. This time, a Full sized spare. Although it takes up more cargo volume than the mini, for a few $s less, if I ever do need to change out a flat in the middle of nowhere, this one will go for 50k miles vs 50 to just a few hundred miles.

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If you have ever visited White Sands NP, you will know what I mean by desolate.

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265k miles and it keeps on ticking.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

Yesterday, I crossed over the 280k mile point and thought it may be time to bring the ongoing TCO up to date.

To date, I have replaced one new air filter ($12), cabin filter ($15), and (4) new wiper blades. 26 OCs for $50 a pop on average with my own Mobil1 0W-16 and Oil Filter, 2 set of new Dunlop Enasave's for $1,280 balanced and installed, 1-new full-sized spare, 2-months of auto washes for $60, set of plugs ($20), Inverter and Transaxle fluid changeout ($384).

In terms of fuel, the average cost of fuel was ~ $7,500 for the 2,000 gallons at $3.75/gallon through 150k miles, $2,000 for ~ 700 gallons at $2.90/gallon through 200k miles, and 78,000 additional miles at 75 mpg = 1,040 gallons at $2.75/gallon gasoline = $2,860.

The electricity was ~ $100 for the 70-charges she has consumed through 150k, ~ $40 for the 40-charges she has consumed from 150k through 200k, and $53 for the last 55 charges covering 2,000 additional miles at 36-miles per 6 kWh charge at $0.16/kWh.

Insurance has been running just over $1k per year with its yearly registration costing just $80 in TN through 200k. My insurance is up $100/yr and TN registration last month was $180. They upped it for HEV/PHEV/BEVs by $160/year.

All-in, the TCO including depreciation (TIV on good condition at $8,580 on KBB as I type) looks like this:

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New 2021 OTD cost of $15,787 + CA TTL = $18,460.

Fuel - $12,360 for gasoline and $193 for electricity = $12,553
Depreciation - $9,882
Insurance - $3,100
Maintenance and Repair - $2,300
TN Plates and Registration - $380

Total Cost of ownership = $28,215 or $0.101/mile after 280k miles.

I have another set of Dunlop Enasave's coming up within the next 10k miles which will add a touch over $600 to the total plus an air, cabin, and battery fan filters. When the KBB TIV reaches $3k - if I ever reach that level of miles, I am going to drop insurance collision which will help on that particular cost. My fingers are crossed this ridiculously low TCO continues.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

I quick update as the 21 Prius Prime broke through the 300k mile barrier on Dec. 25th, 2024 in Oceanside, CA. 301, 253 miles on Jan. 1, and so on and so on. Today, she has just over 308.1 k miles.

I took a pic of the plugs I pulled out at 275k miles as well. They could have used a change at 250k and I stretched it... IIRC, it was less than an hour to change.

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And another update...

Parked along the waterfront in San Diego Harbor...


KBB's residual still seems extremely high for a vehicle with over 300k miles?​

New 2021 OTD cost of $15,787 + CA TTL = $18,460.

Fuel - $13,469 for gasoline and $326 for electricity = $13,759
Depreciation - $10,404
Insurance - $3,700
Maintenance and Repair - $2,440
TN Plates and Registration - $497

Total Cost of ownership = $30,800 or $0.0999/mile after 308.3k miles.

I ordered another set of the P195/65R15, Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) 540AB rated, Dunlop Enasave A/S' for just $322.83 incl. tax and disposal from Walmart. They install them for just $72 when they arrive as well. With 118k miles on this set - just over 2/32 front and 3/32 on the rears. I may just run them out to just over 120k, surpassing the 120k miles I received from a set of Michelin MXV4 Plus' on my 2005 Honda Accord almost 2 decades ago.

I received a chip in the windscreen a week ago. Safelite wanted $175 to repair it and I turned that down. Most of the local glass shops were charging $75 so that is where I ended up.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

The full-sized spare came in handy last night as the TPMS light appeared yesterday afternoon. A quick stop at a Discount Tire for a 26-psi reading on the driver’s side rear and refill to 44 psi all around and it was cleared. 5-hours later, it reappeared meaning an active leak. I drove home, installed the full-sized spare, took it in this morning and Discount Tire fixed the Dunlop. The full-sized spare was not exactly needed but I was able to complete a few jobs while running on it last night. Just three days after loaning my compressor to my son so he could do some woodwork at his home, 80-miles away.

A great $166.44 insurance policy for when I am far away from home. Nice to have for closer in convenience like last night. ​

With 3 to 4/32's on the rears and 2 to 3/32nds upfront, the new set I purchased from Walmart is scheduled for install on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

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Until the mount, balance, install and old tire disposal is complete for an additional $77, I will hold off on calling this a "Hot Deal" but so far, 119.6k miles in with drivable tread on the P195/65 R15 Dunlop Enasave's and an excellent $322.83 replacement purchase, I could not ask for more.

I have to drive up to San Francisco early on Tuesday morning with some radio-pharma which will easily push her over 310k and 120k on this set even if I do not drive another mile this evening, tomorrow, or Monday. Full sized spare in the hatch and along for the ride of course.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

$403.82 later ((4) tires @ $322.83 incl tax + $80.99 install and disposal), a new set of the P195/65R15 Dunlop Enasave AS' have been installed.

On the rack receiving its new Enasave's earlier this morning.


The new tires were manufactured/created during the 33rd week of 2022, same as those I ran out to 120k miles.​

The original OEM P195/65R15 91S' with the Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) of 340AB lasted 95k miles from initial purchase through two replacements at 95k and 190k miles. For the last set, I purchased the P195/65R15 89S' with a (UTQG) of 540AB and they made it all the way out to 120k miles before needing replacement.

The former 91S' were the OEMs and are lighter at 16 lbs. vs 18 lbs. for the 89S'. They also have a 9/32 tread depth when new vs the 89S' at 8/32. The latter really does last longer and while the OEM Load index of 91 appears to be higher than the 89 rating of the replacements, that number is generated at max sidewall. The 91S' have a 51psi max sidewall vs the 89S' 44 psi max sidewall.

I had to replace the key FOB battery from a 12 pack at our home and will replace the other when I see that notification in the Prius Prime pop up.

With just over 310k miles on the clock and an oil change to go along with the new tire installs, her TCO bumped up a touch but still just a touch under $0.10/mile as detailed below.

New 2021 OTD cost of $15,787 + CA TTL = $18,460.

Fuel - $13,554 for gasoline and $329 for electricity = $13,883
Depreciation - $10,404
Insurance - $3,700
Maintenance and Repair - $2,440
TN Plates and Registration - $497

Total Cost of ownership = $30,924 or $0.0995/mile after 310.5k miles.

Wayne

 

Hi All:

And another update. This time, the Prius Prime received a coolant, Inverter coolant, and transaxle fluid change out.

Coolant and Inverter coolant can be seen draining whereas the Transaxle fluid drain plug is about to be pulled.​

Total damage? $230.90.

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The two coolants were really clean and could have easily gone another 100k miles. The Transaxle fluid was a little darker red vs lighter red new so it was probably just about right. The tech also looked over the suspension, hubs, brakes, and anything else he could find underneath. Brakes are barely touched and everything else was tight.

With 310,900 miles on the clock as I type, her TCO bumped up a touch and now over $0.100/mile as shown below.

New 2021 OTD cost of $15,787 + CA TTL = $18,460.

Fuel - $13,592 + for gasoline and $331 for electricity = $13,923
Depreciation - $10,404
Insurance - $3,700
Maintenance and Repair - $2,671
TN Plates and Registration - $497

Total Cost of ownership = $31,195 or $0.1003/mile after 310.9k miles.

Wayne