About to buy a used prius

Greetings! You'll find that the Prius is a very reliable, inexpensive car to maintain. My car doesn't have high mileage yet, but from what I've seen on these boards you shouldn't expect to do more than routine maintenance. No problems with any of the systems you've mentioned with the exception of the 12 volt battery, expect to replace it every 4-5 years.

You can find the maintenance schedule for the car at Toyota Parts and Service. It pretty much covers everything, but many people drain and fill the transaxle fluid as a precautionary measure (not expensive).

 

Ahhh you remind me so much of myself. Here I was! Haha:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-used-prius-in-3-hrs-what-do-i-need-know.html

Let me ask you, why the rush? Why do you need it tonight? If I could do it over again, I would not have rushed. You are in control; you are the buyer. But to answer your questions:

I get that the hybrid system doesnt need a lot of maintenance. But what about the drive train? It'll be covered for a while, but how are these cars after 120-130,000 miles?

Pretty much the same as any other Toyota.


What about the electrical system? Do these items have a low failure rate as well: keyless ignition, computer gearshift, display screen and accoutrements?

Displays might only act up in freezing temperatures and are pretty rare. Other ECU components mostly depend on the12v battery like any other car.

Anything I should be prepared for in terms of expensive routine repairs?

Not really.

Thanks for the trip to memory lane.

 

bought a used 06, 47000 miles in 08, when gas was 4+ dollars/ gal. have over 110,000 miles on it with routine maint only. got gouged by the dealer at purchase time, but who didn't. best car I've ever owned: quiet, roomy(surf boards and kitesurf gear , or 1 mtn bike , all transported inside car), fast and comfy.

 

Just a few threads down, someone's being charged 3-4K for a new battery
at 101K miles.

I think he's better off paying for a new one.

 

Just bought a used Prius. It has leather back up camera all that cool stuff..
Anyways I got it with a 128k miles on it. Its a 2007 one owner car I bought
it from Toyota as well. The car is as if its brand new I love it it seems to be
very reliable. Mileage is not really a factor just as long as its been cared for.

 

Oh Yeah Batteries are warranted through Toyota for 150,000 miles

 

Hardly ever.

 

These are NiMh batteries, how long do your NiMh AA batteries last ?
The answer is it depends.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...s-dead-hv-battery-experience.html#post1263908

 

Ha. You linked a recent thread that is fresh on everyone's mind.

The Prius wouldn't be as popular as it is if its NiMh battery was at all considered precarious. They are designed to last for the ownership of the vehicle. I stand by my answer; rarely, if any at all (battery issues).

 

I thought the HV battery had a 100K mile warranty w/ the exception of a selected few states which required a 150K warranty. Not the best @ linking/ searching threads but I read it here recently

 

Someone was quoted $3000-$4000 for a new battery. Fortunately, he had enough sense to shop around and will get an acceptable repair for 1/3 - 1/2 that price. He could have DIYed a junkyard find for as little as $300. There is no sense in paying full retail for a new battery when junkyard or refurbished batteries are plentiful. The two junkyard batteries ($320 each) sitting in my shop could have been put straight into service in spite of sitting for months.

Vastly different applications and construction comparing Panasonic EV NiMH and AA NiMH. Your AA NiMH don't last long due to cheap construction, deep cycling, overcharging, lack of thermal management, etc.

The warranty is 10 years/150,000 miles for cars purchased and registered in CARB states, 8 years/100,000 miles otherwise. These batteries are robust (while Honda are not...)

Don't all cars in the 299,999 club still have their original batteries?

 

It's warranted for 8 year/100K miles in most of the US and 10 years/150K miles in CARB (California Air Resources Board) states. The CARB states should be California, Oregon, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont although Oregon is a recent addition.

The OP might find http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...ery-reliable-vancouver-yellow-cab-update.html, http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...-aging-2002-prius-says-retains-its-youth.html and the maintenance history at Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles interesting.

 

Sure, but that poor bastard's car is the exception not the rule.

 

Old list I think. I am sure my state of NM joined, and I think WA too.

 

I don't think so for either. Someone else made the claim about WA awhile ago and it seemed to be false. I wish there were a definitive list of CARB states.

I've been mainly going by where the NAH has been available. Click on the * under HYBIRD at 2011 Nissan Altima Sedan, Hybrid | Vehicle Specs | Nissan USA.

 

New Mexico applies to model years 2011+. This was approved by the Environmental Improvement Board in 2007. Susanna Martinez removed all members of the EIB on her first day in office and is trying to repeal proposed and pending regulations promulgated by the board under Richardson.

 

This site is nice for the CARB compliant states. Mouse over a state for more info.
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards | Pew Center on Global Climate Change