We had a large diesel truck, new fancy ram 2500 diesel, pulled our house, a 5th wheel around the country for years. it was really nice, we bought it brand new (a first for us) and really enjoyed its styling and power.
What we didn’t enjoy was the cost of ownership. great when you’re needing to pull 18k pounds around the country, not great if you’re using to commute in a small town we settled into. We got a house and sold the big RV we’d been living in for the past 6 years – a large 5 slide 5th wheel, 18k pounds.
We fit in well driving this giant diesel around our small hill country town, but I wanted a small, reliable, low cost of ownership car. So I asked Jenn, ‘what about a Prius?’
You’re not getting rid of my truck for a fucking Prius
And that’s how we ended up with a Porsche Panamera e-hybrid.
It was fast. Very fast. We’re likely to go to jail fast if we don’t learn how to chill out. We LOVED that car. We were so proud of it, and it sometimes made us feel rich and douchey. We don’t want to be douchey. Rich would be nice, but…
We’re not. And that car is. We reasoned it was the cost of a new fancy truck ($80-$100k). We got in used with its lions share of depreciation at $89k. A few years old, several thousand miles (30-40k?).
I reasoned I could plug it in like a Prius Prime – we got ~30 miles on electric only power. There were many times we’d drive to town and use no gas, only mileage. I can claim a ‘commute’ at 90mpg.
But here’s a few things we didn’t consider. It was fast. Supercar fast. The twin turbo racing engine and an electric motor built from racing technology – it wasn’t particularly meant to be economic. And it wasn’t. We stomped it often.
The maintenance didn’t care if it was electric only or gas engine miles either. We bought it from Porsche San Antonio, CPO with a warranty that requires maintenance. Every 10k miles. At the dealer.
The first 10k miles for an ‘oil change’ cost 5 days in a rental car (no loaner for the mediocre) and $1800 – to change the oil! …and the required service of the brake fluid flush (uh, regen?) and 180 gazillion point check serviced next to GT3RS. Or no warranty for you and your $30k hybrid battery and quickly depreciating car.
We kept if for about a year and another almost 10k miles (just before the other required service at a budget friendly $800 before getting the next 10k service at $1800 again). We only lost around $30k on the depreciation.
The Lincoln hurt my ass. We didn’t like it. And that’s how we ended up with the same truck in a smaller version and burned through some newer cars fast. Don’t recommend.
2026.
Jenn – check out this Lexus. Ok. (Test Drive). LOVE IT! It’s a Prius.
Now I’m wanting to trade our VW for a CT200H. A Fucking Prius. But that’s a different story.
