2010 Prius Build Thread

[hayden55]

Its a rubber plug and sticks up about a 3/16". Slide into my DMs if you want it lol
Im just gonna assume i need some energy saver tires at this point. I'll wait until hot weather rolls in and see how the car does then to decide.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I don't know why everyone including vehicle manufacturers think you need to accelerate at a snails pace to conserve fuel.

I imagine one part of their job is selling people what they want and another is convincing people to want what they are selling.

[hayden55]

Actually looking into driving for Uber or Lyft in Memphis. Anybody drove for the two and know which is better to drive for? I am already an apprentice electrical contractor driving from Jonesboro, AR to Memphis (mid-town), TN every damn day in a company truck as a carpool so Memphis consumes most my time. It seems like when I turn 21 in March that it could be a great opportunity to make a lot more money after work then going to work for 12-16 dollars per hour at a local restaurant in Jonesboro after my full time job. Uber reports their average hourly driver wages is hovering at $24 dollars per hour. I maintain my own vehicles 100% and buy parts in bulk so it seems like running cost could be extremely low in the Prius. And i'm not too afraid to put miles on the Prius since I bought it as a do everything mile absorber since it has Toyota's bulletproof reliability.


Alignment from when I bought the car I finally found it!
LF
-0.1 camber, 0.12 toe
RF
-0.5 camber, 0.12 toe
LR
-1.0 camber, 0.31 toe
RR
-1.7 camber, 0.00 toe

Alright, camber is fine it doesn't really scrub the tire much differently but toe is when your wheel isn't pointed straight and you are essentially scrubbing the tire as you drive down the road. From what I saw their is something about the rear beam that needs to be shimmed to bring it back in and that the left rear being so out of line is acceptable... BUT not for an ecomodder! So in trying to cost cap I'll buy a lifetime alignment from firestone and get them to bring everything in to spec. I may even slip the tech a 20 if he can help me zero toe the car since nobody wants to ever set an alignment to a specific value but just try and argue that the car in "spec" which is vague an unacceptable...


With depreciation, gasoline, tires w/ mounting, brake rotor/pads, oil/ filter, inverter coolant, engine coolant, spark plugs, transaxle oil, air filter, our best case scenario for me averaged out to be ~7.1c per mile of maintenance cost, and if you averaged 25 dollars per hour, 17.5% of your income went towards vehicle expense. Also, a lot of these were figured on 100% diy maitenance, no surprise fixes, and conservative warranty mileage replacement figures with good parts. I could realistically go cheaper with longer intervals and cheaper items, so I feel like I probably hit the nail on the head.

For me: Working two days per week, 15.75 hours, driving an extra ~51,000 miles per year, making before expenses 25 dollars per hour, it looked like I could make about $20.50 per hour after expense.

Chart of cost:
Gasoline: 2.079/gal (48mpg... hoplefully)
Tires, shipping, and mounting: 580.62/65k
brake rotors: 102.36/ 90k
brake pads: 46.85/ 45k
oil/filter: 25.00/ 10k
Inverter coolant change: 13.76/ 150k
Engine coolant change: 27.51/ 100k
Spark plugs: 20.92/ 120k
Transaxle oil: 54.67/ 60k
air filter: 8.87/ 30k
depreciation: $622 per 10k... guesstimate

I may play with the intervals and setup too, and i guessed off 48mpg since I figure warm weather should pull me up a little bit.

And you could actually probably keep up with receipts and have a tax write off at the end by claiming your repairs and depreciation and basically pay for the vehicle.

Also vehicle was purchased with 93k miles. I'd probably stop driving with whoever once I could get enough side electrical work to do by myself. So 1-2 years, vehicle mileage addition @ 100k?

[Xist]

You put a great deal of effort into those calculations. I have a friend that drives for Lyft here in Phoenix. She says Uber pays better, but the drivers hate it more. She has some good nights and others when she does not have a single ride for an hour or two. Everyone says Uber and Lyft provide their own insurance, but I have also read multiple times that the driver's insurance still goes up. Perhaps the insurance companies do not trust the Uber and Lyft to come through.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Actually looking into driving for Uber or Lyft in Memphis.

If I were in your shoes, I'd focus on completing that apprenticeship so you can make a good wage. Don't waste your youth working extra jobs for relatively low pay. What do you need the extra income for? If it's to further your career, then go for it, but if you just want more spending money, then it's not worth the lost time.

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

If I were in your shoes, I'd focus on completing that apprenticeship so you can make a good wage. Don't waste your youth working extra jobs for relatively low pay. What do you need the extra income for? If it's to further your career, then go for it, but if you just want more spending money, then it's not worth the lost time.

Heck ya I agree. Im actual make relatively little as the electrician since there is no minimum wage for electricians licensed or unlicensed or as an apprentice in AR. I just make due since I need my on the job training hours to get my license after 3 more years. I make a lot more (eventually) driving for Uber, running my lawn business, and all my other things and still have a great balance of time to hang out with friends since i only work Mon-Fri. Currently working for entertainment while most of my friends attend college classes so I can pay off my house, my car, and save up to start my electrical company, since the owner makes a fortune vs our hourly wages.

[ThermionicScott]

Originally Posted by hayden55

Im actual make relatively little as the electrician since there is no minimum wage for electricians licensed or unlicensed or as an apprentice in AR.

Hopefully you're not complaining about that, being a conservative and all.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[hayden55]

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

Hopefully you're not complaining about that, being a conservative and all.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Once i open my own business Hell ya ill appreciate it lol but I until then inflation is getting me lol. Contemplating working for a Memphis based company. Tennessee based and they start with 50% higher wages for the same job. Blew my mind when i asked another first year in the job what he was making. And they allow overtime. Solution found. 👀

[ThermionicScott]

Wow, nice!

[redpoint5]

Location has a lot to do with potential income for most people. Different markets pay different amounts for labor.

Sounds like you're well on your way to developing a comfortable living.