Hello! I purchased my Barcelona Red 2013 in February for $8500 with only 86k miles. I was well aware of 3rd Gen issues before purchasing, but at this price in this market and lower miles I couldn't pass it over. It was driven by an elderly women who's son ended up selling, reason why being cheaper. I received full carfax with excellent maintenance history. So far, I've put 6k miles on it and it's been fantastic. I'm about to do the EGR & Manifold cleaning with PCV replacement. I plan to do this every 50k. I WFH so I really don't drive all that much, 3-4 times a week and a few trips factored in I'll average 10k miles a year. If I diligently stay on top of regular maintenance and regular EGR/Manifold cleaning, can I realistically expect this car to last longer than 200k? I know head gasket issues are inevitable, but I'd hope to surpass 200k before that happens with proper maintenance. I got this car to save as much money as possible. Even with potential Hybrid battery replacement, water pump or gasket issues I'll be saving more than I would with a car payment. I would love for it to last me at least a decade.
Welcome to PriusChat and congrats on a great price... Folks like @Mendel Leisk and @bisco have Gen3 engines that never have much problem due to regular maintenance and you'll likely be as successful as them at avoiding engine problems, especially if you avoid long drives during the hottest weather of the year. And if you set aside money each year to deal with the engine, if all goes well you'll have more than enough cash to swap the engine with a Gen4 Prius engine in a decade so you can keep this Prius for another decade after that. Gen4 engines from a wrecked Prius are cheap and there's a guy on here who's based in Oklahoma who will do one of these engine swaps in your driveway in one day for $1500.
If you haven’t found already, some relevant links in my signature. On a phone turn it landscape to see signature.
Unfortunately, at less than 30,000 miles, mine is stuttering and jittering. I’ll be approaching my mechanic for a talk about the egr circuit, I hope he’s amenable
Nobody knows how long your head gasket will hold. Some fail before 100k. Some endure well past 200k. It depends on maintenance (past as well as future), how you drive it, and luck. Even if the engine is trouble-free beyond 200k, the traction battery or the expensive part of the braking system may give up before then. That said, mine has had zero electrical or mechanical issues, so far. (Body is another matter ... )
Congrats on a great buy. Some years ago I got something similar. I got it to about 220k miles before issues started showing up. There are a lot of different strongly help opinions on PriusChat but for what it’s worth I think the keys are: garage your car, don’t let anyone work on it unless you personally know they are experienced Prius experts, drive like an old lady, check your oil and other fluids regularly. This will drive people here crazy, but I never change oil, other fluids, or mess with any parts unless they have failed. I believe these cars were built by Toyota to last about 150k miles and 10 years max. After that all bets are off. A lot of items fail after that time no matter what you do - from integrated circuit boards to batteries to suspension parts. Priuses are basically cheaply built, highly complex and computerized cars, built as light as possible to save weight with light weight non-durable components designed to last just through warrantee periods. I have 4 and I’d buy more at the right price, but I try not to delude myself. Learn all you can and do all your work yourself and you’ll be fine. Also if you find another good deal like you did, buy that also. Having multiple vehicles takes the time pressure off making repairs.
Drive Less than 10,000 miles a year On a Prius to save much Money as possible? I’ll let someone else be the bad news bear.
I never change the oil in Prius. But when I do, I use wd40! That way it will clean out the build up of oil on the rings..
Yes they will last, most stuff is DIY if your handy... Head gasket cost me a £1000 as I didn't have time myself. I think the main problem with prius is if your after saving money on motoring you need to be a higher mileage driver, as they age thing will need replacing... Battery ect... And these are not cheap but if your doing lots of miles the car works out very cost effective as most of the issues tend to be age related more than miles. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I agree. I have had a Ford mechanic work on my 2005 before it got totaled and that was the last time he worked on it. I either do the work my self, (such as changing hybrid batteries, inverter pumps, oil, filters etc.) or I have the dealership do it (trans fluid, alignment, etc.) Tires I had Discount Tire do, because tires are tires at the end of the day. I know I'll probably have some people comment and think I'm crazy to take it to the "stealership" (which I can agree at times) but most of the stuff that's oem Toyota parts last longer and are made a lot better than aftermarket cheap Chinese stuff. I like my Japanese car and my Japanese parts. The dealership for maintenance (I'm talking about real maintenance, not the stuff that's money wasting maintenance.) isn't actually that much more expensive. I just had an alignment done and with my $10 off coupon, it came to $99. If I took it somewhere else (which I have in the past and they made my steering wheel crooked and not straight like how they found it.) It would have cost me either $79 or $89. $10 to $20 more to not have to have someone else redo it, I think is pretty good.
By the way, yes it will last along time depending on maintenance and how it was driven. I have 226k mi. on mine with original everything. It doesn't burn much oil if at all. I'd say a half a quart or less every 5k mi. Seems to burn less when driven highway speeds most of the time vs city driving. Oil being changed every 5k mi. and EGR was first done at 216k. mi. (That was because I bought it at 195k mi. and it was driven highway miles most of its life.) But I agree, do the EGR every 50k mi.
