So, when I finished chemotherapy 12 years ago,

[TNNurse]

We knew we would no longer be working the same shifts. We worked at the same hospital which was about 20 miles away. I was not going to be able to work 12/hr shifts though my husband still did. We traded our Camry in on a Prius to get better gas mileage.
Yesterday, my 12 yo Prius would not start. Did some weird stuff with lights and such. Later in the day, my husband got it to start and positioned it to be easily towed if necessary. We called the Toyota dealer and made an appointment for this morning.
This morning it started and he followed me to the dealership.
I was terrified that the "big' battery was the problem...big money. It was the 12V battery, just like all cars have.
This was literally the first incident with this car, the dealership was impressed. The original 12V battery and never a problem before with anything.
We had them drain, replace, fluids and look at everything. Yes, that will be pricey but the cost spread over 12 years is not bad.
I will soon be 75, I doubt I will need this car for 12 more years, but I am pleased that is now in good shape for the time.
It still gets 50+ to the gallon.

My "surviving chemo" present was a good choice indeed.

[maspaha]

1. Congrats!

…On the great news your Prius is in such great condition (I personally love a Toyota, especially once they pass 200,000 miles),
And, treating yourself to such a wise purchase following a major medical milestone,
And, chemo being 12 years in your rear-view mirror!

I hope y’all have at least 12 more years together.

Sounds like a great way to start the weekend!

[True Dough]

2. Great endorsement!

The Prius is a hybrid pioneer and has proven its worth to you and many others.

And your 12 years post-chemo is wonderful news. Keep that streak going for a long time to come!

[Permanut]

3. We have 2008 Prius,still going strong.

But we also had a weird problem with the 12 volt battery. Seems if we leave it unused in the driveway for a few weeks, there's just a tiny usage of the battery. Remedy for us was to just drive it, say 50 miles a week.

[TNNurse]

4. Since, we are retired, we do not drive as much,

some weeks not 50miles. Will keep that in mind.
I do love this car.

[da svenster]

5. 2005 prius, almost 250k miles, and still running strong

the 2nd gen prius is hands down the best vehicle i have ever owned. purchased at the end of 2004 when an 8+ month wait wasn't uncommon.

it's currently old enough to vote, and in just over a year, it will be old enough to drink. (it may not get the chance, i've got my eyes on an electric to replace it.)

i've replaced the 12v battery 3 or 4 times; tires... and, well the prius does chew up tires. i've gone through at least 5 sets.

i'm still on my original brakes. yep. original. the last time i had it in for an oil change/tire rotation, they were still in the green zone.

i did have an issue about 3 years ago where some kind of water pump went out. cost me about $3k (thank offler that AA covered the tow). at that point, the car had over 200k. but i've had cars with 1/4 the miles cost me more than that in the 1990s (adjusted for inflation we're probably looking at $6-10k in today's dollars).

oh, and as far as the big battery, expensive but not as bad as you might think. a person close to me had to replace the battery within the last year - it was ~$3k.

[NNadir]

6. Congrats on the 12 year car and post cancer life. I'm glad to hear it, since I have a Camry hybrid.

I'm quite sure it will be the last car I own, although I said that about the last one, which was totaled when a young woman ran a stop sign. (I had it only ten months.)

It routinely gets over 50 mpg, slightly less in extreme cold weather, but I can coax close to 60 mpg, sometimes a little above that, with careful use of the cruise control and judicious coasting.

On my grid, it actually has a lower external cost than an electric car, as I discovered recently in a journal article directed at my grid.

I covered that paper here: A paper addressing the idea that electric cars are "green."

I feel a little guilty in the era of climate change to feel great about a car, but it is fun to drive because I get to muse about thermodynamics while trying, often unsuccessfully, to avoid the reality of cobalt mining.

It turns out that on my grid, however, a hybrid is the least obnoxious car of all options purely from a climate perspective, cobalt notwithstanding.

[UTUSN]

7. Butting in here, not about cars - mother 88 yrs old biopsied & died, elder sister chemo

Now friend of 24 years undergoing the whole schmear - chemo, mastectomy, radiation - me just prostate/rqdiation

I love you

[TNNurse]

8. Yeah, I know mastectomy, chemo and radiation.

Just a miserable time, was not sure I would survive the treatment.

My husband, prostate/radiation and really awful hormone therapy. So tough.

Would not wish any of this on anyone.