Should I get a Prius type vehicle?

BB. said:

In California, DMV will collect the sales tax on private car sales--Based on the reported price.

Note--If the seller does collect sales tax, make sure you get some documentation that reflect that. A retailer will give a receipt and that is good enough proof. Not sure what "proof of collection of sales tax" a private seller could give you that a DMV would accept.

-Bill

They need to explain that. Adds 8% to the price. I live in the boondocks at 3% (state tax), yet about the least I ever get charged is 4% (state and county). It adds up.  
I would not pay an additional 5% and most people are just tax idiots. Shoot - we all are but some more so than others. Nobody knows all of our 75,000 page tax code. Nobody. Even state tax people have differing opinions on important issues. 

Problem with buying locally is most of the vehicles have a lifetime of bouncing around on dirt roads. I broke a truck axle last year. 

Buying a well used car is always risky as fk. I would gladly pay a good mechanic $100 to spend an hour going over it. I'm kind of new to the electrical diagnostics game. I can get codes but probably don't know the ramifications. 

Buying used cars was a lot simpler when cars were much simpler. Now it is the electronics that can drown the buyer. Auto transmissions costs thousands of dollars. So do electric/hybrid car generators. Engines are even worse. We used to be able to rebuild an engine over the week-end and it was kind of fun in a way. 

I suspect that it is improvements in oil formulations that allow many modern car engines to last so long. People may also pay more attention to mtce when a new car costs $40,000 instead of $3000. Average used car maybe had 70,000 miles years ago. Might be 150,000 miles now. Seen a great many with over 200,000 and a couple over 300,000. Is anyone going to pay good money when a car has seen over 300,000 miles? Doubtful. 

On a lark I bought a 2006 "Salvage Title" Ford F-150. It was totaled due to hail damage though it needed front brakes and three front end suspension parts. There is also an engine tick that does not sound too ominous to me. 

Being a 2006 2WD with a 4.6L engine and a back seat - ideal dog hauler, I think the highway gas mileage will be at about 20mpg. I have a light foot as a rule. 

How long would it take 35mpg to pay off vs 20mpg - that is the question. The answer is likely - almost never - unless the 35mpg car was less that $3000. With the costs of modern transmissions, engines, electrical work, and plates - the math doesn't look to great.

But it is hard to spend $10-$20 a couple times/week for hiking trips. Then again, it takes a long time for $10-$20 to equal $3000 plus maintenance expenses - figuring the econobox costs $5-$10/trip. At least 400 trips. At 1-2 trips/week that is about six years. Tough call, I keep going back and forth. 

Dave Angelini said:

Hike to the hiking trip.....

Couldn't resist that could you? Seriously though - Highway 160 cuts through the valley and many cars are traveling at ~75mph. I wouldn't consider crossing that with my dogs. Neither them or the driver would have a chance. I try to avoid it with my Jeep too - everything I did made it a better climber and a worse cruiser. Killed it with the 35" muds and cargo top tent.

Grandpa lived next to a country road that people often took at high speed. He lost every single one of his dogs on that road. I think many dogs can do the "math" on 20mph but not 70mph. Driving  trips are either 3 or 6 or 12 or 16 or 22  or 40-60 miles (all one way distances). I've done the shorter trips so very many times that they are not as interesting as they were. Living in the flats was a good building decision but a poor entertainment decision. At least winter is a month shorter. 

My suspicion is that I'll find an econobox - someday. 

Marc Kurth said:

Fuel economy is a wonderful thing. As a former backpacker, outdoorsman and off road explorer - I would be most concerned with vehicle reliability, as opposed to trying to save a few gallons of gas. As you know, the world can change dramatically and quickly in the high country.

Good thinking. Toyota Corolla, Camry, or Celica are pretty much impossible to beat for reliability. Or a Honda with a manual transmission. Four cylinder for gas mileage. 

Yes - getting stranded in poor weather may not be pleasant. Good thing about being a prepper? Usually some blankets and clothes amidst my mess. Intentionally done of course. Have generally been quite strong in the "Be Prepared" department. To the point of getting laughed at. Guys are over confident. They look at preps and scoff, saying "You probably won't need that." Well - I've seen a LOT of exciting adventures. Used to be fun. Now I tend to think "Oh shit, another adventure." Adventure meaning the unexpected happened. 

"As a former backpacker, outdoorsman and off road explorer" Sounds like you got married and do married stuff. Pros and cons to everything? 

What part of Texas are you in? They could have made 3-4 states with that land. I've lived there a few times - Midland. Texas gets in your blood and makes you proud for some reason. They should secede - I'd move there. They have everything they need to make it alone. 

icarus said:

Just for grins... a different season..

Different season? Thinking that is regular season in the frozen north. I love everything about the north except for the darkness of the winter solstice.