Which hybrid to buy? Hit me with your experience!

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Which hybrid to buy? Hit me with your experience!

Leefor

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#305945 15-Jun-2023 17:55

Hi, my beloved 20 yr old Toyota Fielder was sadly just written off so I am in the market with not an awful lot of money.

I probably have about 12K to spend and was thinking about a hybrid. There are so many choices..

As I am used to Toyotas I was thinking about a hybrid Fielder or an Aqua. I don't mind the smaller size of the Aqua and Fielders seem beyond my finances...

So an Aqua or something else outside of the Toyota family?

If an Aqua then what year and how many Kms should I be looking for? I was thinking under 100kms?

Should it be a push start model?

Also how do you check the battery?

What checks should I get beforehand?

Any recommended dealers?

Anyone imported their own for a better value?

I have all the questions!

gzt

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#3090415 15-Jun-2023 18:37

I've owned only Toyota hybrids. I think you'd get a Fielder or Alpha at that price and kms. They do handle differently than you might be used to.

How many kms do you dirve per year?

jonathan18

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#3090420 15-Jun-2023 18:51

I probably have about 12K to spend...

Anyone imported their own for a better value?

I suggest the former should rule out the latter as a sensible choice; while you could well save money at the front end (and possibly not that much at this price point?), you're also taking on all the risk if something goes wrong.

Eva888

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#3090424 15-Jun-2023 19:42

In similar circumstance I asked AA how to choose a car when replacing an old Toyota SW. I was advised to get the latest model I could afford and not worry so much about the mileage. He suggested an Aqua which is what we bought. Very happy with it economy wise. Costs about half in gas as what we spent on the wagon...but really miss the wagon. Going to Bunnings have to think twice about picking up something long or awkward so a lot depends on your use case.

Great shopping basket. It feels light and a bit tinny on the motorway, don’t like to think of a collision at 100kmh therefore I take the more solid Lexus on out of town trips. Star safety ratings vary according to the particular model.

We’ve had the Aqua for a couple years now and it’s worth about $3k more than what we paid for it then from a dealer. Aquas have gone up a lot and seem to cost more in Wellington.

Jase2985

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#3090425 15-Jun-2023 20:14

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=303991

previous thread

Leefor

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#3090487 15-Jun-2023 21:51

gzt: I've owned only Toyota hybrids. I think you'd get a Fielder or Alpha at that price and kms. They do handle differently than you might be used to.

How many kms do you dirve per year?

Over the 11 years I owned my Fielder I drove 147,000 kms so about 13,000K a year. I drive all kinds of vans and cars in my work world and own a big old Nissan caravan so I'm not too fussed on how things drive, I just need reliable and cheap to fix!

Leefor

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#3090491 15-Jun-2023 21:58

Jase2985:

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=303991

previous thread

Thanks, I did read that thread but it didn't give me much info on Fielder or Aqua hybrids in my price range. Interesting about the batteries lasting that long though!

Leefor

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#3090546 15-Jun-2023 22:07

Eva888: In similar circumstance I asked AA how to choose a car when replacing an old Toyota SW. I was advised to get the latest model I could afford and not worry so much about the mileage. He suggested an Aqua which is what we bought. Very happy with it economy wise. Costs about half in gas as what we spent on the wagon...but really miss the wagon. Going to Bunnings have to think twice about picking up something long or awkward so a lot depends on your use case.

Great shopping basket. It feels light and a bit tinny on the motorway, don’t like to think of a collision at 100kmh therefore I take the more solid Lexus on out of town trips. Star safety ratings vary according to the particular model.

We’ve had the Aqua for a couple years now and it’s worth about $3k more than what we paid for it then from a dealer. Aquas have gone up a lot and seem to cost more in Wellington.

So go for the latest model rather than the kms - I guess a happy medium within that advice?

I'm all good with downsizing from my wagon as I also have a Nissan van to take to Bunnings, but it is SUPER thirsty so I drive it sparingly.

Not too keen on the "tinny on the motorway" part after writing my dear old Fielder off on the motorway last week... daydreaming and drove into the towbar on the back of a truck, luckily not at high speed but enough panel damage for my insurance company to pronounce it dead as they won't pay over $2k (separate topic but I am fuming that they will not pay out to mend it for what it was insured for, and what i was paying premiums for, due to it being 20 years old, happy to take my monthly payment though).

Would an older Fielder hybrid be a safer bet then? I could get a 2013 Fielder or a 2017 Aqua...

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Eva888

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#3090627 16-Jun-2023 09:39

Am utterly not a car expert so personal not technical experience is all I can share. Your own use case is what will dictate what to choose. Example if I pick up someone at the airport I struggle to fit two cases and hand luggage in the Aqua, same for the Lexus and both get cursed for lack of space.

For day to day use, it’s small and easy to park. We haven’t had anything done motor wise in all the time we’ve had the Aqua but we don’t thrash it either. It flies through WOFs once a year. Reliable and economical.

Google compare Aqua and Fielder and there are quite a few comparisons to help you decide.

Handsomedan

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#3090634 16-Jun-2023 09:55

I'd certainly recommend a Toyota Hybrid, from experience. BUT - and that's in capitals for a reason - the Aqua is the most stolen car in NZ. I am not sure which model exactly is the easy one to nick, but it's something to consider.
Most ramraids are done with an aqua for some reason. Maybe it's because they are economical to get to the crime scene.

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Eva888

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#3090693 16-Jun-2023 11:53

Handsomedan:
I'd certainly recommend a Toyota Hybrid, from experience. BUT - and that's in capitals for a reason - the Aqua is the most stolen car in NZ. I am not sure which model exactly is the easy one to nick, but it's something to consider.
Most ramraids are done with an aqua for some reason. Maybe it's because they are economical to get to the crime scene.

We had a front body piece under the headlight stolen from ours overnight as it sat in a garage. Wouldn’t be my first choice as a ram raid car.

lucky015

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#3090725 16-Jun-2023 13:26

Handsomedan:

I'd certainly recommend a Toyota Hybrid, from experience. BUT - and that's in capitals for a reason - the Aqua is the most stolen car in NZ. I am not sure which model exactly is the easy one to nick, but it's something to consider.
Most ramraids are done with an aqua for some reason. Maybe it's because they are economical to get to the crime scene.

I believe it's due to the base model (of which seems to be 99% of them) coming with a grand total of Zero of the security features that have existed since the early 90s as a cost saving measure, as well as being one of the most common vehicles on the road today so easy to blend in with the crowd.

On another note I recently bought a 2014 Skyline Premium 3.5L Hybrid that has almost every recent vehicle feature under the sun and that I'm very happy with but I doubt that's quite what the OP is looking for.

richms

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#3090731 16-Jun-2023 13:34

Aqua is one of the few bottom tier JDM cars that still has enough safety stuff on it to be allowed to come in. When people are buying cars over there to show they support the place they work at, they get no options at all. That is why there are so many white aquas with no options available at Auction over there.

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