Retired neighbor has a six year old Kia hybrid- he's getting into non warranty repairs now, I didn't discuss any details or prices except for his comment that his summer vacation is now a staycation...whether due to car being down, costly repair depleted his fun money- or both. I have in the past been jealous about his mileage- but I suppose the rest of it is catching up.
Kia Hybrid Repairs
- Thread starter dfarr67
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wemay
Site Donor 2023
Without much more information, it's difficult to comment on the particulars.
I make no apologies for it, I like hybrids. A well designed hybrid can in fact, do everything. Be efficient, go fast on long trips, be powerful, heck, some can even plug in, etc. But the idea that they are somehow cheap and easy to build, or save money in the long run, is probably in error. Prius, Camry, Accord would be the best bets, IMHO.
However, from a MPG point of view, there is a point of diminishing returns, maybe somewhere about 35MPG, where the fuel savings may just not be worth it for the average motorist.
A family member replaced her Prius battery a few years ago. I mentioned that $4,500 buys a lot of gas. Fast forward to last month, another $5000 repair. This time, it was the motor/generator. Sure, the car has 200K miles on it, but $10,000 buys a lot of gas...
From the US energy information administration:
Like any technically complex or advanced product, there is always the risk of unusually high repair costs.
However, from a MPG point of view, there is a point of diminishing returns, maybe somewhere about 35MPG, where the fuel savings may just not be worth it for the average motorist.
A family member replaced her Prius battery a few years ago. I mentioned that $4,500 buys a lot of gas. Fast forward to last month, another $5000 repair. This time, it was the motor/generator. Sure, the car has 200K miles on it, but $10,000 buys a lot of gas...
From the US energy information administration:
Like any technically complex or advanced product, there is always the risk of unusually high repair costs.
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Series Hybrids are better.
Here my semi-practical point of view. The Accord Hybrid (a fav, despite the fact that I can't stand the seats) will get about 40 MPG with me driving. That is well down into the "fuel economy" curve.
A similarly sized conventional car, with yesterday's engines/transmissions, will achieve about 26MPG with me driving. Relatively meaningless.
Today, the Altima can return a stunning 38MPG at 90+ MPH cruise speeds. Although MPG does suffer around town.
A similarly sized conventional car, with yesterday's engines/transmissions, will achieve about 26MPG with me driving. Relatively meaningless.
Today, the Altima can return a stunning 38MPG at 90+ MPH cruise speeds. Although MPG does suffer around town.
Is he going to the right shop for repairs? ie a hybrid specialist?
Kia is NOT a Honda or Toy, but if I owned any of these in hybrid- it would be probably only when in warranty.
'cept buying a diesel car is not trivial and I think many here would argue it's not simpler--or I should say, not more reliable nor cheaper to repair (DPF, intake cleaning due to EGR, then SCR costs).
Not sure what is "complex" about the hybrid setup. At least they can be less complex. Some approaches could be more complex.
I forgot about dpf and scr, the diesels I drive are old enough that they don't have those. And computers are what's complex about hybrids, but new diesels have those too. So I suppose if you're looking at a new car hybrids are possibly better.
Other than the 12V battery, which failed and bricked the car in my driveway along with a free warranty repair of the AC, my nearly five years in service our HAH has needed nothing in its 90K + miles.
A well designed and built hybrid should cost no more to own than any other car and will obviously cost less per mile due to significant fuel savings.
And no, a small diesel really isn't in the same league for cost per mile, partly because it uses a more costly fuel.
A well designed and built hybrid should cost no more to own than any other car and will obviously cost less per mile due to significant fuel savings.
And no, a small diesel really isn't in the same league for cost per mile, partly because it uses a more costly fuel.
Chevy should have made a 3rd gen Volt as a CUV!
True, but some computer systems are simple, and some have canbus window motors and a radio control module
And where can you buy these?
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
I’d be shocked if all cars didn’t have all of that. And then some.
Heck of a plan. Hope for the best… Hoarders don’t like to give up stuff, and are the sort to usually let something rot on the shelf “just in case they might need it”. Cars like to be driven.
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I totally agree. I had a rental KIA K5, it got 32mpg at 83mph all day.
I looked at upgrading one of our vehicles to go from 25mpg hwy to 30mpg highway. The economics just aren't there. Better to just keep buying gas.
