Used 2011 Camry Hybrid (out of Warranty) - Should I Get It or should I stick with a used petrol camry ?

HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 00:04

Hi all,
I'm after a bigger car to replace my old used corolla as it has become a bit too small for us but we dont want another SUV as we already have one (kluger).

I have been thinking of getting a used camry hybrids, and recently found one used from 2011 which has about 80km mileage on it.

Been reading a number of article including posts in ozbargain forum about hybrid cars but im still 50/50 about it.

Reason I want to go hybrid is because the missus going to use it as she drives more than me especially when she needs to go to work in the city area.
Hence I thought hybrid could save us a bit on petrol and plus Camry is a bigger size than corolla.

However my concern is, this car is out of warranty and it has clocked about 80k km on it. I understand that there are lots of hybrid camry which still running on same battery beyond 200k km but should I probly just stick with petrol camry and ignore the extra petrol usage? Especially with hybrid if there's something wrong with the battery I will have to fork out at least 1k to get it replaced ?

With the corolla we bought it used in 2015 at about 66k mileage and now its around 120k mileage. So it's around 60k mileage in 4 years (15k km/year).

Hence fellow ozb'ers could you please give me some advise on this?

Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 21/12/2019 - 00:12
    +7

    New hybrid batteries have a 10yr/unlimited km warranty on them.

    80,000km on a hybrid is nothing.

    • HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 00:13

      Yes I checked that on Toyota website, but I think thats for the new hybrid batteries.
      Say this one is used and bought in 2011, so the warranty is more like 8 years hence they already passed the warranty I'm affraid :(

      • spackbace on 21/12/2019 - 00:16
        +3

        Yes, but what I'm getting at is that the chances you'll have issues with the battery are so minimal it's not funny.

        You should see the mileage that the taxis and ubers are getting

        • hmac on 21/12/2019 - 00:28
          +4

          Spackbace is right! These batteries rarely have any problems till very high mileages. The first battery to actually be replaced because it reached its lifespan was after around 400,000 km on a prius used as a taxi. Toyota is a reliable brand and their batteries are proven to last. 80,000 is honestly nothing at all

          • HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 00:50

            @hmac: Thanks Spackbace and hmac,
            you guys have put my mind at ease.

            I maybe have read too many articles and forum which mentioned how if this battery were to fail I will have to fork out thousands of dollars to replace it :(

            @hmac you mentioned Prius, I wonder if both camry hybrid and prius using the same battery ?

            Also is there any noticeable efficiency differences between Camry 2011 (xv40) to Camry 2012 (xv50) since the later edition has bigger grunt ?

  • 87percent on 21/12/2019 - 03:46

    Just make sure you get a proper inspection done before purchasing the car, or I’m guessing your next post will be “I bought a lemon, how can I get my money back “

    • Euphemistic on 21/12/2019 - 05:41

      A regular inspector probably won’t know how to check the battery condition. Not sure how to get that done though. Get you google on and have a battery condition check done before buying.

    • HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 14:55

      Yes for sure I will get an independent vehicle inspection. I'm thinking of getting "stateroadsvehicle" inspection

      • Euphemistic on 21/12/2019 - 15:06
        +1

        Before you shell out for the inspection ask them about the hybrid side of things and how they inspect that.

        • HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 18:14

          Good point @Euphemistic
          I just called them then and they say they only check the car mechanical side of things not the battery. I wonder why then they put they can also check hybrid car if they don't check the battery as well :(

          Any recommendations for car inspection service that can check hybrid car battery in Melbourne ?

          • spackbace on 21/12/2019 - 19:57
            +1

            @HmrW: Call a Toyota dealership and ask if they can check it, and how much to check it.

            I know they check it as part of CPS on the new cars

  • RockyRaccoon on 21/12/2019 - 08:29
    +3

    Doesnt it all depend on price. You are looking at paying what for that used Hybrid?

    While it will, as spackbace says last, how will someone in 5 years time look at it when they want to buy it from you?

    • HmrW on 21/12/2019 - 14:54

      Will $13k too much for it?

      • RockyRaccoon on 22/12/2019 - 23:00
        +1

        Seems a fair price looking at carsales.com

  • brendanm on 21/12/2019 - 10:07
    +1

    I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2011 hybrid with 80k on it. Make sure it's had its services.

  • ESEMCE on 21/12/2019 - 10:40

    Will the hybrid not simply continue to work as a petrol only car if the battery dies?

    • RockyRaccoon on 21/12/2019 - 10:59
      +1

      From a google search

      A Toyota Hybrid can only operate in electric mode when petrol is in the tank.

      But on the flip side, if your electric motor quits working, your gas motor will run on its own and still allow you to drive the car as a normal car.

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