Under 98,000 miles, high MPG, ~$9k. Are the parts common and relatively inexpensive as it's a toyota, or does it suffer from mechanics rarely having parts for electric/hybrid cars? How much would it cost to secure my catalytic converter?
Under 98,000 miles, high MPG, ~$9k. Are the parts common and relatively inexpensive as it's a toyota, or does it suffer from mechanics rarely having parts for electric/hybrid cars? How much would it cost to secure my catalytic converter?
The Prius looks very appealing, but I don’t know. I know all these security measures are just deterrents, and even rebar can be cut if they have enough dedication, and then there goes $600 and a $2k converter. Not sure if I want to gamble on whether it’ll last a few weeks or a few decades. One suggestion I’ve seen floating around is replacing the OEM CC with a cheap aftermarket one, and if it gets stolen then it’ll be cheap to replace. Do you have any knowledge on the difference between aftermarket and OEM CCs?
My understanding is that all the guards or barriers around the catalytic converter are meant to make it more difficult or time consuming for a thief, so that they're more likely to skip it and try another car rather spend half an hour risking arrest and/or a broken saw blade.
A cheap aftermarket cat will still be hundreds of dollars, plus more for installation. It might make sense to get one after the factory cat is stolen, but I wouldn't change it beforehand.