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2008 Prius for 6000 dollars with 127k miles(should buy or not?)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by SlipperyWhenWet, Jun 28, 2024.

  1. SlipperyWhenWet

    SlipperyWhenWet New Member

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    Hello everyone,

    I am new to PriusChat and would like to seek for opinions regarding a 2008 Prius selling at just under 6000 dollars with 127k miles. I've been in a bit of a headache trying to figure out exactly what years to buy, what to check for in a used Prius before buying, and if a car is worth the price. I've seen conflicting opinions about whether to buy gen2 or gen3 each with their own problems and with the only relatively agreeable opinion being to avoid 2010 Prius. Regardless, this current Prius I am looking at seems to be a decent deal however I've check its maintenance history on the official Toyota website and found that it was last serviced in 2021 at around 117k miles which means its probably been sitting around for a bit. I want to know how long the Prius can last if I were to switch out the hybrid battery for a used or new one(if that is needed) and if there would be anything else that needs to be serviced. Furthermore, I would like to know what I need to do during the visit at the dealership because I do not know if a standard Pre-Purchase Inspection in enough to tell if the Prius is actually good and I've seen people give advice such as hiring a Toyota Specialist to accompany during the visit. Lastly, if you believe that this 2008 Prius is not a good deal, given the current market, what should I be looking for at a budget of below 9000(including hybrid battery change if that is needed) and the need to travel around 45 miles one way per day.

    Thank you in advance for reading this and I appreciate any advice and tips anyone may have regarding this.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk what a good deal would be, but if you can't diy, i think you're better off with a corolla or other that any mech can repair at a reasonable cost.
    you might get a cherry and another 100,000 relatively trouble free miles, or you might get a dog and wind up replacing the battery, brake actuator, engine, and etc.
    and what about the stolen cat problem?
     
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  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Corolla, Yaris, Matrix, Altima, Sentra, Civic, Fit, Accent, Elantra...

    You really don't want an old hybrid when you're constrained by both budget and schedule.

    The way to win the economics game with a Prius is to save enough money on gasoline that you can afford the extra cost of 1) buying the hybrid in the first place and 2) managing the cost of a replacement hybrid battery if needed.

    A simpler car would serve you much better, and the MPG won't be much worse.

    It's very hard for a newbie to get a good Prius (one worth keeping) out of a $9k budget.
     
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  4. SlipperyWhenWet

    SlipperyWhenWet New Member

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    Thanks, I'll take the advice and look for a Corolla instead. PriusChat as well as other sources has indeed taught me that buying a used Prius really does require a lot of knowledge and perhaps some luck. At the beginning when I didn't even know what years were considered good and bad, I did a pre-purchase inspection on a Prius and found an illegal catalytic converter fitted on it after the real one was apparently stolen(electric saw made a hole above the catalytic converter). But regardless, I will try and find a good Corolla, any tips on that? Or can I really just buy any Corolla with low mileage that fits within the budget?

    Thanks
     
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  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Pretty much anything that fits is good. Every corner garage has somebody who knows how to fix Corollas so you can save a lot vs. dealers or hybrid specialists.

    Personally I might shy away from the ones with the new continuously variable transmission. It might be okay? It's the one thing in that car I haven't really experienced or studied to the point where I'd recommend it as a used item. I believe you'd find these on some 2013 and newer models, and not on older ones.

    Good luck!
     
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