I’ve been a mechanic since the 1960s – hybrids can spell bad news when you’re buying used cars

AN EXPERIENCED mechanic explained why motorists should avoid hybrid models when looking to buy a used car.

He explained why hybrid cars are not the most cost-effective option, which is usually the case when buying a used car.

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Scotty Kilmer (@scottykilmerofficial) has been a mechanic for over 55 years and now has over 700,000 followers on TikTok who watch his frequent videos of driving tips.

The problem with buying a used hybrid car isn’t the price of the car itself, Scotty said in a video with over 120,000 views, but the repairs.

First, Scotty said the batteries in hybrid cars cost a small fortune because “they’re big electronic batteries.”

He said sometimes an alternator in a non-hybrid car needs to be replaced, which would only cost a few hundred to swap out for a new one.

Hybrid cars do not use alternators but generators.

According to Scotty, replacements cost at least over $5,500 on some Prius models.

However, he said the costly replacement of the Prius alternator is incurred on a car with more than 165,000 miles on it, and if the car’s mileage is in the 50,000 to 60,000 mile range, a buyer could go for a while without a replacement.

These tips are all based on the assumption that someone can find a mechanic to work even on a used hybrid car.

“If you find it difficult to find a good mechanic to work on a gas engine, try to find one who can fix a gas-electric hybrid,” Scotty said.

He mentioned that he usually tells people to go for used rather than new.

But he urged his viewers to stay away from used hybrid cars in this case.

Some people went to the comments and expressed their own regret that they bought the model they were meant to avoid.

“Looking at this after buying my Highlander Hybrid with 160,000 miles,” one person commented.

“I’ve just hit 100,000 miles on my 2007 Prius and the other day the hybrid master warning lights came on,” repeated another.

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