Buying high mileage Prius C

I would recommend to pass on that one.
But depends on your goals.

Knowing what I know and having priuschat help, I think that is a hefty price
to pay for the age, mileage and history of that car.
Add to the assumption of the HV battery being shot due to age, temp/location and mileage
with no warranty....unless you can get it for half price to purchase a new/used batt to change out.

There is no limit to how many miles a car can go, except money and sanity

It may be a decision due to financial reasons, but purchasing a car with multiple
accidents would not be in my desires unless it is strictly a beater/second/project/free car.

If you have patience, keep looking.
Something will come up and possibly be a better deal for you.

This is just my honest opinion.
Coming from someone that no longer likes surprises or headaches.

 

While one owner is usually a good thing, a *few* accidents (few meaning more than 2?) would make me think twice. But as dig4dirt mentioned, one of the major issues at that mileage is the hybrid battery. While there are cheaper ways to get one, if purchased and installed by a Toyota dealer, a new battery would cost you a little more than you are paying for the car.

If the car is in excellent condition inside and out, the price is not unreasonable, but without access to a maintenance record, if you are not prepared to spend another 3 grand after purchase, I would be very cautious

 

What I look for...

Low Mileage and....

Clean accident history....

So this wouldn't be a used car I'd be interested in. But with a $3000 buy in price, you buy this vehicle hoping these factors don't come back to bite you.

The one owner is good.

Also as pointed out...approaching 10 years. the Hybrid Battery does start to become an issue.
So at some point, you would have to ask yourself if you have the resources to replace the battery if it becomes necessary.

With a vehicle with 200k miles, and an accident history, you also need to be prepared for any and all maintenance it might need.

In all honesty, this is a deal I personally would probably pass on.

 

Age & heat kills the hybrid batteries. They don't really care much about miles though. A 2012 from Phoenix? That's probably 98% used up by now.

Miles affect the rest of the car the same way they do any other car. So the suspension, seats & paint etc. have all been pounded on for 200k miles.

Honestly I wouldn't expect to get much use out of this particular one without significant rebuilding.

I'm certain that somebody could rebuild that car and get another 7-8 years of trouble-free service out of it, but that would be a $3k+ investment to properly do all the things needed to let that happen, on top of the purchase price.

This is a fixer upper starter kit, not a jump-in-and-go car.

 

While this might not look like it, it IS help:
Likely this is NOT a good plan.
Save your money and get something newer with less mileage.
OR try to get over your hybrid obsession and get a good used Corrolla for instance.

High mileage hybrids generally are NOT good values.......unless you have some experience being your own mechanic.

 

You want to own a Prius....but you probably don't want your Prius to own YOU.
YOU probably need to pass on this and re-assess your car requirements.
Generally speaking a car with a non-minor accident history should be worth, at most, about 60-percent of the street price for a "clean" titled vehicle.....and they USE the word CLEAN for a reason!!!

Accidents are like social diseases.
There really ARE no minor ones.


Here's the thing.
Me?
I'd buy that car in a heartbeat....but NOT at the asking price.
However (comma!)
I can write a check for the car....more than once.
I can write a check for any repairs that might be necessary for the car.
I have other cars.
I live 3 miles from work, and I can dither my schedule around a dodgy vehicle.

In other words, despite having an income that is probably firmly in the lower half of Priusdom......I can AFFORD to drive a cheap car.

YMMV.....

 

I’m sure many Prius c models will join the 300k mile club. When I was shopping for used hybrids a couple months ago I often saw them for sale with 100-150k+ miles. They’re Toyotas, after all, and the Prius c is considered one of the most reliable subcompact cars on the road right now. But I agree with many of the points others have already made. You would need to be prepared to make some potentially expensive investments after purchasing this car, and the price tag seems a bit high for 200k miles and an accident history.

 

I never really have trouble buying a car that’s been in an accident and rebuilt title… You can have some good bargains.

besides the mileage what else is wrong with the car? If the traction battery goes out you can get them rebuilt/exchange for like $1500 now.

If a rebuilt car has 50,000 miles since accident four years later on it’s odometer I don’t believe that any problems related to titled car would arise by now.

 

Price seems low. Not enough info re car. You r not a mechanic and need one to check it. This model is known for a reliable engine. I'd be interested in it.

 

I'd buy it for that price

 

Did you buy it? I bought a 12 with 140k miles with a few beauty marks around it lol and it's been great.
before that i had a 13 C3 which i loved nad should have kept..
I would be all over that $3000 deal. Did you get it ? how has it been if so?

 

one post 05/19/20

 

yes but sometimes people get email notifications so...