If your decision is purely a financial one, you should buy a 10+ year old used non-hybrid, like a Corolla or Civic.

Given your short commute, it makes no sense to have a Hybrid, unless you are just wanting to put some money behind your commitment to saving the environment.

14 year old car...time to move on.

I would replace it. In addition to maintenance costs, safety is a big factor. There are lots of new safety features in post-2012 cars (better and more airbags, stability control), antilock brakes) that were not in earlier models.

+1 been through this decision process a few times. Comparing the cost of the repairs to the blue book value of the car is only part of the equation. The other part is the total expenditure over the next several years if you can reasonably expect the car to last for a while after the repair. We did this with an old Accord and got several more years out of the car despite it not making sense based on the KBB comparison approach. A few more years in an old car is always cheaper than the alternative.

I would fix it if you have no other concerns about the car. I would not look at the value, but instead think about the repair costs versus getting a replacement. However, your repair cost are only going to increase. I just traded in my 2002 with very low miles because it was starting to need significant repairs (all the wiring and rubber parts were starting to harden and breaking apart).

Anonymous wrote:2001 is the last of the first generation, IIRC. I know two who have owned these and dumped them several years ago due to brake issue (which will affect the regen braking system). If you bent your axle, I'd say get rid of the car now.

Think we got the brakes replaced in 2012. We're leaning to just fixing the axle, but it's a close call.

2001 is the last of the first generation, IIRC. I know two who have owned these and dumped them several years ago due to brake issue (which will affect the regen braking system). If you bent your axle, I'd say get rid of the car now.

Hybrid batteries are. ~4000.

Ours was 3000. After 12 years of reliable driving, we sucked it up and didn't feel bad about it.