Advice and guidance requested

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ed-prius-need-help-what-look.html#post1215778
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...king-used-high-mileage-prius.html#post1240212

For your budget, I'd stick w/a 2nd gen (2004 to 2009 model year). Since you're in MA, which is a CARB emissions state, just to be on the safe side, I'd make sure that car was bought and registered entirely within a CARB state, such as yours, so that you get the full benefit of the 10 year/150K mile HV battery warranty and longer warranty on a bunch of other components.

The CARB states should be California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, New Jersey and (more recently) Oregon.

 

A Prius is typically very good for a commute like that. They also have a history of being very reliable and able to handle the mileage. You can find them being used as taxis in many areas and there are threads here with cars at 100,000 miles and 200,000 miles.

There are also threads with advice on what to look for in a used Prius, the search feature is your friend. Here are a couple to get you started:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ask-when-looking-used-high-mileage-prius.html
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...6-looking-used-prius-need-help-what-look.html


Most importantly - take a long test drive. The car is very different from a Volvo and you need to be comfortable and happy with it. I had problems with the seats in the pre-2010 cars, but many don't. I think they're great cars, however they're not for everyone. Nice of you to consider it!

Good luck!

 

[These are my opinions, not hard facts, but they are honest opinions]

I think the HV Battery in the 2004 to 2009 is warrantied for 150,000 miles/10 years in MA. I would try to stay in 2004 or later. there are some nicer options in the 2006 and later, but nothing that prevents driving an older Prius.

The Prius likes to be driven, do you repeatedly let your car sit for over a week at a time? If so, it really is not a good choice.

About every 60,000 miles/2 years, expect to replace tires, transaxle fluid, brake fluid, and various coolants.

The 12 volt battery lasts about 4 years, budget about $250 to have a dealer install a new one or $175 for you to do so. Try to replace your 12 volt battery at the first hint it needs it, badly jump starting the Prius can cost multiple thousands of dollars. Do not get in a position you jump start frequently and never jump start any other car.

The HV battery may last 250,000 miles or may give out at 150,001 miles. A rebuilt replacement can cost $1700, if you have it installed for you. Near as I can tell the more hours per day you drive, the longer the HV Battery will last. (if it gives out under 150,000 miles it is under warranty in CARB states)

A 22 mile commute should always let the Prius reach it's warmed up gas mileage, but in winter it may take 15 miles to get warmed up. Engine block heaters, grill blocking, not running the heater to the windows, etc. may help MPG some, as does a garage.

 

If you are able to stretch your budget a bit, they still have the 0% financing on 2010 Prius. The base model can be negotiated down (I got 3K off my prius IV), the prius II is around 22K..but I know some who have gotten it 2-3K cheaper..Couple of years back, I did get a certified used (Acura) so I trust CPO too rather than buying cold..And you get good finance deals on CPOs as well.

I spoke to a bunch of friends who had the prius (2005-2009) and every one of them was quite happy with it. But then I wanted the redesigned one...so decided to get the 2010. Good luck with your purchase.

 

Hi Curbedenthusiasm,

I switched from a 2001 Volvo to Prius in Aug 2010. It has been a great experience... ALL positive (except driving in snow: but compared to the AWD Volvo, I expected "differences").

This thread is great: "What to look for in a used Prius":
http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/85860-how-about-sticky-what-look-in-used-prius.html

I've mentioned "TrueDelta Car Reliability and Gas Mileage Information" in another thread. It is a great source for information: check your current car there... and you will understand that you are not the only one poring money in an old Volvo. :-/
Read that thread here: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/84142-new-family-car-prius-2008-2-a.html#post1175120

Good luck with the search!
-Mike

 

Can you expand on that a bit? What is the issue there? I've been thinking about getting one. Don't really drive enough to justify it, based on current gas prices, but kinda like the idea anyway. But the car would sit some; a week might be pretty common, occasionally more than that.

 

I've owned my Prius for about 4 months. Once I had it sit on the driveway for 17 days: the 12 Volt Battery was dead. I jump-started it, drove 30 minutes and everything was back to normal.

I have read somewhere on the forum that replacing the 12 V battery with one other than stock, helps.

They recommend turning of the smart-key system if you plan not driving for some days (although that didn't prevent mine from loosing power in during a 17 day break).

 

The smart key, the alarm system, and other drains on the 12 volt battery are continuous, if you plan to leave your Prius off over a week frequently, I would try to install some sort of float charger to keep the 12 volt topped up.

If you do not drive for months the HV battery may discharge. So far as I know that is ALWAYS a tow to the dealer.

Like any car, the Prius has strengths and weaknesses, the sooner you learn about them, the better chance you have to be a happy owner of whatever car best suits you.

 

Oh it would not be for months. More in the week or two range.

Meanwhile those other things sound typical for high end cars these days. I spent a couple winters in Miami Beach, and some of the seasonal people left cars there. Any of the luxury cars would drain their batteries.

Mainly I'd be concerned about the effect, if any, on the main propulsion battery (is that the HV?).

 

No effect on the HV traction battery. It's disconnected from all loads when the car is OFF, so it's subject only to self-discharge which would take several months to drain it.

 

..Couple of years back, I did get a certified used (Acura) so I trust CPO too rather than buying cold..And you get good finance deals on CPOs as well.
***** I'd like to ask you . . .What's a ''CPO'' ??? THANK YOU. 1 more thing if i
may: today is june 21,'12--are there any newer articles on "WHAT TO LOOK
FOR WHEN PURCHASING YOUR 1ST USED PRIUS Gen II in mid 2012"
Should I W-A-I-T 'til Aug. and have MORE hypertention fits at the pump ?
Or take a chance on a 53k car w/only a 60 day warentee ?
All of you answer questions well, but I've found so many from '11. I'm
OCDing now, truthfully, I need to start saving on GAS (yesterday). I don't
want to miss a deal I'm being offered: '08, genII Touring for $15,400 w/53k.
It sounds too good, tho it's from a dealer-not certified.
I do NOT want to rush into a sale I may regret. Your pointers r truly
appreciated, if not I wouldn't be burnng the midnight oils to learn. I just
can't seem to find anything current--perhaps it's my tired 4-eyes ?
Thanks, DJ

 

You will have much better luck getting replies if you post in live threads. The last post in this thread, before yours, was 01/16/2011 - that's 18 months ago. See the box right under the post? It has the date in it. Try recent threads. If you look at the forum list, the latest threads are at the top. Good luck.

 

JBECKER, THANKS FOR THE TIME TAKEN TO STEER ME....TOMORROW THO, i'M FADING FAST HERE.
tHANKS, ocd

 

If your budget is in the 10-12K range, you need to be VERY careful when you select the car. Right now the market is pretty tight for used Priuses, especially if you live on the left coast or you're in one of those itty-bitty little blue states.
There's NO issues for a properly maintained Gx (1,2,or 3) getting lunar mileage however (COMMA!) there might be a problem getting a dependable Gx for 10-12K. The Prius has a glass jaw when it comes to swapping paint with your fellow commuters, and we won't even get into fire, flooding, pestilence, or civil unrest. Don’t worry about the traction battery (the larger and more expensive one.) If you’re in a CARB state, it’s covered for over 100k, and they’re simply not a problem…well….not usually.
As stated above (all good points) you need to spend some quality time in a Prius before you adopt one, especially if you're clubbing down from a more luxurious (or simply a larger) make. There are some pretty interesting....ah...."features" to the whole Prius driving thing that may be a deal-breaker for some drivers. Yeah...I know. I'm an apostate, but I'm a driver...not an owner.
Finding out that it's "not your car" on the back side of a five-figure transaction isn't going to be fun.

On the other hand.....if you're commuting 40 miles a day, AND if you find one that's not a hangar queen (look it up) there's simply not many (if any) greener cars for getting you from point A to place "next". Green in this case being both the good and the evil kind.

12V battery.....Yeah. It's going to be a problem if you park the car for a few weeks on end regularly. Replace the 12V battery with one of those Gucci yellow round top ones, and you should be fine.
MY 12-v battery went TANGO-UNIFORM after 12K miles, and I've never abused it by leaving dome lights on, etc, and my usual drive interval is never more than 18 hours. It's one of those 50/50/90 things. One good/bad thing about Japanese cars. They won’t let you charge your cell phone while the car is OFF. For me…it’s bad, but then I consider myself to be a responsible adult---opinions vary, and I like making decisions for myself. Most modern cars have 12V battery management systems.

Good Luck!
If you’re a high mileage driver….I’d say look very closely at the Prius. It’s a great commuting car!

 

******(6pm edt Sat 6-30) I've finally found the time to get back here. I've learned what the accronymn
CPO means ---Daaaaa certified....Ok I'm back to trying to find NEWER articles in what to look for---other than a lower price...HIGH milage seems OK w/ most everyone here--I'm still amazed at that. Yes, I ck all the car faxes, download them all. Thanks, DJ

 

*********DEAR ETC...and my fellow members, FYI: May I explain that I have had THREE POSITIVE experiences w/PRIUS. In '08, '09 & '10 my wife & I rented those respective year's VERSION OF THE prius for 2 weeks during vacations spent in Ct. After the 1st time ('08) I anounced 2 my wife, I now had a "metal-mistress." i was astounded by the mileage/savings/performance w/ a/c running while doing hiway speeds (never over 65mph !!). After 'trying out' all 3 yrs. I know i got better MPGs w/ the '08 ove the '10 (colon) Then again, I never know of this website OR i never knew how to properly drive the electric-nelly. Hell, I never knew it had a membrain etc. Anyway, the rpices for 1 in So. Fl seem rather high, even for Hi millage vehicles. Yet, I tell my wife, we have become house-bodies/hermits since she lost her job. We are both tired of NOT going places, seeing our distant friends because of HI GAS prices. I still remember what a feeling it was to go 600 miles, getting that warning lite--filling up and it taking ONLY 8.5 gal REG. Hey(excuse that), i am NOT afraid to admit I'm scared about this purchase. If i don't, we continue to live 2 cars: 1 gets 20-24MPGs & a Vibe that gets a whopping 300 (or LESS) miles to a fillup. Tho, I've gotten 425 going 60-62MPH while praying we did NOT get rammed from behind. Don't people realize if you really do SLOW THE HELL DOWN--you WILL GET BETTER MPGs !! Even in City driving--95% of the idiots who passed me--I MEET at the next red light & I smile back at them--all the while dreaming of a PRIUS.
Now, I'm reading that the headlights (HIDs ????) are a very expensive item. Gesh.
Thanks 4 reading me. I just wanted to explain that over 3 years, for 6 weeks, I never, NEVER had to worry about going anyplace. Ciao, Dj