suitability of Corolla hybrid purchase

[poppy1]

We are looking to change our 11 year old Civic for a 3 year old Corolla hybrid. We both work from home, so not much driving during the week, and having read about the 12v Battery we are now wondering whether hybrids are suitable for our purposes. We are now wondering whether, until retirement and increased usage, we should be looking at  a petrol car.  If we go ahead with hybrid, buying a booster charger would appear to be advisable.

[Mojo1010]

Hybrid is quite an expensive vehicle sitting around not getting much use as well as the small 12v Battery issue. Better off keeping current car or get a cheaper petrol until such time usage increase. 

[Moleman]

58 minutes ago, poppy1 said:

We are looking to change our 11 year old Civic for a 3 year old Corolla hybrid. We both work from home, so not much driving during the week, and having read about the 12v battery we are now wondering whether hybrids are suitable for our purposes. We are now wondering whether, until retirement and increased usage, we should be looking at  a petrol car.  If we go ahead with hybrid, buying a booster charger would appear to be advisable.

What use at the weekends?

The car should be okay if it is used every week.

Time used is the issue, not so much distance.

[poppy1]

Sometimes at weekend it is only about an hour - to shops and back.  During the week - shorter trips locally. Occasional longer trips away at weekends. I’m hoping that if we have a Battery issue it will be easy to manage. My elderly neighbour has a 3 year old chr- only 5000 miles in the clock and never had any Battery issues - it seems a lottery. 

[poppy1]

18 minutes ago, Mojo1010 said:

Hybrid is quite an expensive vehicle sitting around not getting much use as well as the small 12v battery issue. Better off keeping current car or get a cheaper petrol until such time usage increase. 

Ideally we would but the civic is showing its age, and for the longer journeys we would rather have something newer. Maybe we need to reconsider but what I’m not sure. We’ve had Toyota and Honda for the last 20 years and always been happy with them. Seems alien to start looking at vw or ?

[Mojo1010]

There are petrol avensis or auris? Your usage should be ok for a hybrid if you decide to go for it. When not using at the weekends, it may need to put into ready mode for 30-60 mins. 

[Moleman]

15 minutes ago, poppy1 said:

Sometimes at weekend it is only about an hour - to shops and back.  During the week - shorter trips locally. Occasional longer trips away at weekends. I’m hoping that if we have a battery issue it will be easy to manage. My elderly neighbour has a 3 year old chr- only 5000 miles in the clock and never had any battery issues - it seems a lottery. 

This level of usage should not cause you any issues.

Carry a booster pack just in case. 

[TonyHSD]

It will be ok. We had our first hybrid as a second car and only used 20 minutes a day Monday to Friday and Saturday for around an hour to two hours drive, never had any problems with batteries. 

[yossarian247]

I work from home and our Corolla hybrid is only used perhaps every 3 days or so, mainly for short journeys. I've not had any Battery problems so far, but I do keep a booster pack in the car just in case

[poppy1]

Which booster pack do you have at the ready?

[beeblebrox]

I'd of thought a Corolla 2019 TS 1.2 turbo petrol would be ideal in your situation...if you can find one.
The hybrid small Battery is a worry as it's often reported problematic as seen elsewhere on this Corolla forum.
Petrol avensis or auris as mentioned above are good choices.

[Moleman]

1 hour ago, poppy1 said:

Which booster pack do you have at the ready?

I use the NOCO GB20

[Moleman]

18 minutes ago, beeblebrox said:

The hybrid small battery is a worry as it's often reported problematic as seen elsewhere on this Corolla forum.

I feel this is over stated by users who very rarely use their car.

I have two hybrids and have never had an issue.

[poppy1]

30 minutes ago, beeblebrox said:

I'd of thought a Corolla 2019 TS 1.2 turbo petrol would be ideal in your situation...if you can find one.
The hybrid small battery is a worry as it's often reported problematic as seen elsewhere on this Corolla forum.
Petrol avensis or auris as mentioned above are good choices.

If we don’t pursue the Corolla hybrid we’ve been offered, I suspect this may be the way to go. 

[poppy1]

11 minutes ago, Moleman said:

I feel this is over stated by users who very rarely use their car.

I have two hybrids and have never had an issue.

The 3 year old we’re looking has had one owner and was part exchange, so you’d imagine it hasn’t been an issue for them if they’re getting another Toyota. That’s just guesswork and  it could be we will be one of the unlucky ones.  As it’s from a Toyota garage, we may see if they’ll offer some warranty on the 12v Battery. 

[Parts-King]

I have had half a dozen Corolla's, when I had Covid, the car never moved off the drive for 2 weeks, started first time. Problems arise for people who hardly use the car

[poppy1]

What constitutes ‘hardly using’? Last year, we probably only covered about 7k miles.  If work is busy then the car can go a week without being driven. Are we falling into the ‘risk’ category? 

[Parts-King]

5 minutes ago, poppy1 said:

What constitutes ‘hardly using’? Last year, we probably only covered about 7k miles. 

As in popping for a paper twice a week and a weekly shop at the co op around the corner, 7K will be more than adequate. The car should be run for an hour a week at minimum  

[Moleman]

48 minutes ago, Moleman said:

I use the NOCO GB20

Never used it on a hybrid, but helped out many other normal petrol car drivers who car's have failed to start in car parks.

[Stopeter44]

7 hours ago, poppy1 said:

and for the longer journeys we would rather have something newer

Thought about car rental for those longer journeys ?

[poppy1]

It is something we have thought of, but would rather find something more permanent. However, we  may return to that option if we decide against the hybrid our local dealer has. It could bridge the gap before retirement in a year’s time when we would hope to be driving more. 

[Mojo1010]

24 minutes ago, poppy1 said:

It is something we have thought of, but would rather find something more permanent. However, we  may return to that option if we decide against the hybrid our local dealer has. It could bridge the gap before retirement in a year’s time when we would hope to be driving more. 

7k a year mileage is more than fine as long it's on ready mode at least an hour a week, especially in the winter. Then doesn't need to look for another car in a year. The auris hybrid is a cheaper and a bit older option. 

[Niky]

A bit out of topic

I know it's a Toyota forum, but.....

Why don't you check the Lexus ES300H if the car size isnt an issue and budget allows it

Budgetwise 3-4 years old Lexus with 40ish k miles should be around £22k vs  £15ish k for a low spec corolla with the same miles - can go up to £20k for higher spec same age and miles

I want an ES300H for myself, and cant stop looking at them, unfortunately my budget and the Mrs aren't with me on this.

The Corolla is a great car(I love mine), but can't compare with the Lexus - complete different league. Will have one in few years

 

[AndrueC]

2 hours ago, poppy1 said:

What constitutes ‘hardly using’? Last year, we probably only covered about 7k miles.  If work is busy then the car can go a week without being driven. Are we falling into the ‘risk’ category? 

Until I retired while working from home I was only  using the car twice a week and only doing about 5k year. I've had my car 4.5 years and it's only just done over 32k miles. That includes 10k in the first year when I was commuting and more miles (almost daily use, lol) now that I'm retired.

Never had a problem. I also think that the issue of the 12v Battery is overstated and probably just from people who left the car unused for several weeks during Covid lockdowns.

[Mojo1010]

39 minutes ago, Niky said:

A bit out of topic

I know it's a Toyota forum, but.....

Why don't you check the Lexus ES300H if the car size isnt an issue and budget allows it

Budgetwise 3-4 years old Lexus with 40ish k miles should be around £22k vs  £15ish k for a low spec corolla with the same miles - can go up to £20k for higher spec same age and miles

I want an ES300H for myself, and cant stop looking at them, unfortunately my budget and the Mrs aren't with me on this.

The Corolla is a great car(I love mine), but can't compare with the Lexus - complete different league. Will have one in few years

 

Cheaper and a bit older, I would be fine with this if can have a bigger car.  The only upgrade from normal Toyota so to speak, would be a lexus for me.