PIP Shopping...what do I look for?

OK, so I've made up my mind on the next Prius I will be buying. I've had my 2007 Touring for 5+ years now. My daughter will be inheriting that as I am looking to purchase a low miles, used PIP Advanced. I've test drove a few gen 3 Prius' already. I ended up really liking the PIP.

The first PIP I drove was a blue 2014 Base PIP with 20k miles. Got to take it home overnight, charge it up and drive to work on EV this morning. I really liked all that but I was missing things like leather, homelink and the JBL stereo, all things I currently enjoy in my Gen 2. Turns out I really liked the color, despite the ribbing I got from the guys in the office.

After taking that back to the dealer I headed over to the local Carmax. I had them bring up a white 2012 Advanced with 69k mikes from another Carmax and it was ready today. The moment I sat in the leather I was hooked and glad I waited to see an Advanced. I also loved all of the upgraded everything, the HUD, the stereo/NAV. I really loved the car. I wasn't crazy about the high mileage and white to me is just blah. But I'm sold on the advanced trim. They didn't have a charger for it and wouldn't let me take it home overnight, even if they did.

Tomorrow, the wife and I plan to take a bit of a drive to go see three Advanced 2012's, all with 35k'ish miles. I will probably leave with one if one of them checks out. It's a bit of a drive to get to them, but it's a toyota dealer so that helps me as they are all certified.

So my question to all you PIP owners out there: What are things that I really need to check? I'm talking the little things that might not be so obvious. Things that after you had your car for a while you think "I wish someone told me THAT". Just the little nuances that I might want to be sure to check. I have techstream on a laptop along with my mini-vci cable so that I can check the car's systems out. Anything else?

Thanks.

 

Well, thanks for the assistance. I got my PIP today. I'll post more info later.

 

Well, this one is an upgrade from my 2007 as my daughter is inheriting that one. In a few years when my son is ready to start driving electrics will be even further along. I'm just riding the wave for the moment.

BTW, I settled on a 2012 Clearwater Blue PIP Advanced with 34K miles on it. I got to become very familiar with it on the 150 mile drive home from the dealer. EV had zero charge when I left there. I still averaged 55mpg for the trip. I even had a point where EV was good for about a mile.

Been a long day.

 

Yes. They still had three PIP advanced to look at, which was a good thing. I test drove two blues before I popped the hoods. Strangely, one had a lot of corrosion under there. Mostly the aluminum head, inverter box with the orange cables. Even rusted bolt heads and hose clamps. The car was from Mass., originally. I ended up taking the other one. Few thousand less miles. Little more expensive.

For the ride home the most interesting experience would have to be what I'll call Radar Cruise Control Anxiety. It takes trusting the systems in your car to a whole new level. I love it now.

 

Yes! This. Soooo much this. Can't tell you how tired I get of looking at the same old shades of black and white. I really did end up liking the blue more than I thought. And it is unique to the PIP which is nice. My first car was an '81 Mercury Lynx with a very similar color. My other current car is '06 Brazen Orange Metallic Pontiac GTO. Can't miss that in a parking lot.