Hi there... I am new here, but have recently stumbled across an opportunity to purchase a 2012 Prius Two with 172,000 miles. It appears to be in good condition, except for a reversible dent in the rear bumper near the Q2 panel and 3 missing hubcap covers. Those are cheap to replace, and tires are also in good condition. Please don't mind my bombarding of questions, as I am not very familiar with these cars. Exterior: 8S6 Nautical Blue Metallic Interior: Bisque The owner is asking $4900 - Reasonable? I'd be coming from a 2010 Dodge Caliber that was bought with 23k but now has 43k, and I've already had a handful of problems with it that I'd rather not deal with. Not to mention the 23-25 MPG average that I get on the highway. Would insurance (By estimate) be cheaper for me? Are these cars reliable around 170k? The battery - Should I have to worry about it? I do a lot of field service tech work that requires I drive far distances — That's why I'm looking into a Prius. What are the differences between modes - Eco, EV, etc... I hope this is enough info - thanks! PS: This Prius had not been equipped with a backup camera. Would a factory camera be equippable easily, plug and play?
welcome! at 170k, you're probably gonna need a head gasket sooner than later. the battery is 'probably' good for another couple years eco, normal, and power mode are throttle mapping settings, each one requires less throttle input for the same power until you floor it, then they're all the same. ev is for no engine start for very short distances if the car is warmed up. close to useless. prius are very reliable, but if you're unlucky, repairs can be very expensive. i would also look into number of owners, service history and car fax/accident repair all the best!
That seems on the high side. It's a 7 model year old car with a lot of miles and some expensive stuff on the car is nearing end of life.
I would try to find out if it is consuming oil. Many Toyota Prius cars of that age have this issue. Hopefully there will be a class action lawsuit like with the Toyota Camry.
Also add the EGR system will need cleaning ASAP. This is a major preventive maintenance item not covered in the owners manual. There are many threads on PC that discuss this topic. Also check out @NutzAboutBolts maintenance videos in the preventive care section. Good luck with your Prius search.
Is Pa a CARB state and what is the warranty on the hybrid battery? I'd choose a Prius that has a battery that is still under warranty.
