If the OP was in the market for a new car, he wouldn't be here asking about used. I wouldn't, maybe 2013 and up, but I guess that would cost more than what the OP is looking for/can afford. Yes it is and I sure don't like it. More reason not to get a Gen 3. lol. I get the feeling the OP is more budget conscious, and you have made your point, so stop badgering him.
Yes I have driven a prius before and yes I was not looking for a new car. My main concern was the 10 year old battery . I think mainly due to never owning a hybrid.
What kind of truck? (Just curious). I think price is high and I think you do not need to worry about the battery. For one it is basically a myth that they go bad. See it time to time but very rare. And you're looking @ $400 for a mobile hybrid tech to come to your driveway and fix it on the spot so who cares if it goes bad anyways? Very cheap repair. Coming from the diesel truck world you probably shouldn't worry about miles. I buy nothing but 250K-300K mile trucks sight unseen and 9 times out of 10 I do fine. Got a 2006 F350 dually with over 300,000 miles....that the auction had zero pictures of...all I could go by was the side of truck on my computer which appeared and disappeared within 20 seconds. Had shipper (going from TX to MI) snap a few pics and I'm very happy. Got them yesterday. I didn't know if it was beat up, cloth, manual windows....Nothing. Well, looks like a beauty and it's a lariat package. It's the 6.0L. Another myth is that this motor is problematic. Long story short price is more important than miles. But I guess that is just my opinion.
I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 with 285000 it has the 5.9 Cummins in it. I got it with only 30000 miles on it in 2006. The price is a little high but I think I can get it down some more.
So I should be good with the battery until around 200000 miles. I know it is not a sure thing just average
Consider that you could purchase a higher mileage car AND install a brand new battery for cheaper. Main thing would be to watch out for elevated oil consumption, and ensure that the car has had all maintenance performed. I picked up a 2008 for only 4k, albeit with twice the mileage. Battery seems to be fine, and I've had it for about 5000 miles/6-7 months.
There is a 2012 for sale near me but has 121000 miles may could pick it up for around 7000. Would that be a better ?
If you are going Gen 3, try for a 2013 or newer. 2010-2012 can have pre-mature oil burning issues. 2009 is the best bet, then add $2500 (to accommodate worst case scenario of battery replacement) to the price and see if you think is good value.
From new in California the main battery warranty is 150K or 10 years, so it's safe to assume the battery should last that long. To me the 12 sounds good, it the first year of the mid cycle refresh of the gen 3.
I would say so. Drive both. Try extending your legs all the way with the seat pushed all the way back on the gen 2....You won't be able to. Then when in the 2012 do the same thing. You'll notice a lot more leg room. Plus the 2012 will keep its resale value, the gen 3s look better, they drive better, they are more comfortable on the inside, they do not have hybrid battery problems, and I think either most or all of them come with lifetime satellite radio. Both the gen 2 and gen 3s have oil burning problems. But you won't know until you drive it a few thousand miles and a lot of them don't develop this problem (neither my 2012 or 2008 burn oil). The only downfall to the gen 3 that I am aware of is the EGR gets clogged which is pretty easy to clean out. If you drive it around clogged with the CEL on with EGR codes you'll blow a head gasket. But other than that, if it is well maintained, they last just as long. People claim that 2010 is bad....etc. etc., but as far as I know, the 2010-2015 all have the exact same motor...They are 100% interchangeable so I think it is another myth.
edit: I drive a 2008. Matter of fact try swiping your knees left to right when you test drive a gen 2. It's so crammed up that your knees are going to hit the steering wheel! Your legs won't be able to extend all the way. I mean it is tolerable and really isn't that bad but you get so much more space in a gen 3. My 2012 has 223K miles, I have seen many "I have over 300K miles" posts on the 3rd gens. I know they last just as long. We don't really know the history cause we bought it with 220K. The only preventative maintenance we did was replace the EGR valve and EGR cooler.
