Second hand Yaris Hybrid: good for weekend trips only?

[TG3000]

Hello,

I was wondering how a used hybrid would perform if I only drove it in the weekend? Is an older hybrid a bad purchase choice if it wouldnt drive regularly?
Not sure if there are any topics on this as I find this situation hard to google!

Thanks a lot,

Tom

[Mojo1010]

Buy a petrol not a hybrid.

There's a bloke, forum expert on theory of 12v Battery will probably come along and advise against hybrid for light use. 

[Stopeter44]

Check the threads about 12v Battery issues. If your weekend trips are long enough, then you may be OK. 

[Roy124]

36 minutes ago, TG3000 said:

if I only drove it in the weekend? Is an older hybrid a bad purchase choice if it wouldnt drive regularly?

It is the time you drive it for not the distance . 

If you drove each day for 30 minute there and 30 minutes back on 2 days you are doing well over the recommended time in Ready Mode.

 

[Cyker]

It might be okay, but TBH it doesn't make financial sense - You'll be paying a significant premium over a normal car and not really getting the main benefits.

You can get a much nicer conventional car for less money, and while the mpg will be a lot worse, if you're only using it infrequently it will still end up cheaper.

Hybrids are a bit like diesels in that regard - Both really need regular use to stay healthy and to offset the higher up-front cost; For irregular use, Petrols, and possibly EVs if the trips aren't too long and you can charge at home, are a better bet.

 

[1.33]

1 hour ago, TG3000 said:

I was wondering how a used hybrid would perform if I only drove it in the weekend? Is an older hybrid a bad purchase choice if it wouldnt drive regularly?

It's down to personal preference and usage. If you're planning on doing long motorway trips, a petrol engined Yaris will return around the same MPG as a hybrid. Also take into account running costs as the petrol versions will be much cheaper to insure.

The hybrid comes into it's own in heavy or slow traffic. I currently have a MK2 petrol and a Mk3 hybrid Yaris, and my annual mileage is less than 2k due to working from home. I've had no issues so far with the hybrid but I do leave it in ready mode 1-2 times a week.

[MikeSh]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

You can get a much nicer conventional car for less money

Depends a bit on the transmission. If the OP needs or wants an automatic then it's a bit muddier. (That's probably the main reason we got a hybrid - had to be automatic and there wasn't much choice at the time.)

[Mojo1010]

Aygo auto I would probably recommend. 

[Cyker]

5 hours ago, MikeSh said:

Depends a bit on the transmission. If the OP needs or wants an automatic then it's a bit muddier. (That's probably the main reason we got a hybrid - had to be automatic and there wasn't much choice at the time.)

That's a good point too - I consider the HSD the best autobox you can buy; No other one has such minimal maintenance requirements, thanks to its lack of reliance on friction and thus wearing surfaces.

Definitely avoid any Toyotas with an MMT autobox - It's one of the most complained about things on the forum!

The slushbox/torque converters are reliable and robust but a bit thirstier, while the newer CVT-type have been surprisingly reliable so far but have that CVT-ness which some don't like the feel of. Really it's only a problem if you treat the accelerator like an on-off switch; For a normal progressive driving style they're fine.

[MikeSh]

6 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

Aygo auto I would probably recommend. 

On what basis?

We have no idea what the OP's needs are aside from weekend use. We don't know the number of occupants, luggage, distances or any other personal must haves.

[Mojo1010]

Posted on a Yaris forum? 😭

[TG3000]

Thanks so much everyone for the replies. I am indeed doubting what to do and if a Yaris is even the right one for me. Based on the info above I guess a hybrid is not in the mix anymore. Generally I am interested in the 10 year warranty I will get if I buy a used car at the toyota dealership, so Aygo and Yaris are an option right now.

 

11 hours ago, MikeSh said:

On what basis?

We have no idea what the OP's needs are aside from weekend use. We don't know the number of occupants, luggage, distances or any other personal must haves.

 

I did take the liberty to ask a similar but different question in the main forum, also detailing our scenario:

 

Probably 50% to 75% of our car usage would be on the highway, so thats where the Aygo seems less ideal (power & noise). I think this we will need to judge by a test drive. A Yaris is almost twice the price of the Aygo, which I find hard to justify just for the comfort alone. We also use public transport for work.

[MikeSh]

2 hours ago, TG3000 said:

I did take the liberty to ask a similar but different question in the main forum, also detailing our scenario:

Ah.

I don't know about the current Aygo but the only way to get a Labrador in the previous version that I had would be on the back seat or with same folded down. Tiny boot.

Dog + luggage ... Interesting!

TBH I think even the Yaris might be a bit tight for the dog. I suspect a lot of dog owners may get the Auris.

2 hours ago, TG3000 said:

A Yaris is almost twice the price of the Aygo

A hybrid quite possibly. A manual should be a lot cheaper.

[Cyker]

On a side note, you can buy *any* Toyota less than 10 years old from *anywhere* and it will qualify for the Relax warranty - All you have to do is service it at a Toyota dealer and you get 1 year of warranty, and this can be repeated until the 10 years is exceeded.

You don't have to buy it from a Toyota dealer.

Your use-case sounds a bit weird - So you'll rarely use the car, but when you do it'll be for motorway runs? If you don't need to go into a city, I'd be tempted to recommend a Yaris Mk2 D4D!   It has the most flexible interior space of any of the models of Yaris, and the main weakness of modern diesels not liking short slow runs won't be an issue if you're going to mostly use it for motorway runs, where the D4D excels, and you'll get the excellent economy of the 1.4 D4D.

 

[TG3000]

9 minutes ago, Cyker said:

On a side note, you can buy *any* Toyota less than 10 years old from *anywhere* and it will qualify for the Relax warranty - All you have to do is service it at a Toyota dealer and you get 1 year of warranty, and this can be repeated until the 10 years is exceeded.

You don't have to buy it from a Toyota dealer.

Your use-case sounds a bit weird - So you'll rarely use the car, but when you do it'll be for motorway runs? If you don't need to go into a city, I'd be tempted to recommend a Yaris Mk2 D4D!   It has the most flexible interior space of any of the models of Yaris, and the main weakness of modern diesels not liking short slow runs won't be an issue if you're going to mostly use it for motorway runs, where the D4D excels, and you'll get the excellent economy of the 1.4 D4D.

 

Yeah thanks for that clarification on the 10 years. The thing I dont want to run into is that if I buy a toyota that hasnt been serviced at dealer, I potentially get a (big) bill the first time I bring it to the toyota dealer, or that the dealer says there are unofficial parts in it or whatever. Just wanna be safe on this topic.

 

My use case is indeed weird, I live in a major city and I need the car to be allowed into the city for the forseeable future (so no diesels). I also plan to at least drive it 12 times per year to visit my parents, which is a 500-600km drive each time. Nowadays we dont have a car, so its certain it at least be used for 7k on the highway per year.

 

Not sure if there is an other toyota model I should look at the reliable/cheap/highway combo.

[Cyker]

Hmm, how about a GT86??    

I reckon you should look for an old Lexus, like an LS or IS - They depreciate like crazy so you can usually get them 2nd hand for surprisingly cheap, and they are much better motorway cruisers than most Toyotas (Sooo comfy  ), but retain that Toyota reliability.

 

[MikeSh]

1 hour ago, TG3000 said:

also plan to at least drive it 12 times per year to visit my parents,

If you may only use it once a month then you may have problems with the Battery on almost any modern car, not just hybrids or EVs. They all have electronics that gradually drain the Battery - 2 weeks is usually fine, but 4 weeks is getting iffy.

Assuming you don't want to get a 15 or 20 year old car then you should definitely get a charger and give it a (eg) weekly boost or leave it on trickle. If your garage doesn't have power you'll need a portable pack to either charge it periodically or boost it when it's dead. (The latter is bad because it'll damage the Battery and it'll eventually let you down in a less convenient place.)

Or you could actually disconnect the battery when you park it up. That may be annoying when you reconnect it, but for a long trip once a month as you are suggesting it's probably worth it.