Buying a 2005 Prius. What should I check?

Other than the hybrid battery the condition of the car is my main concern. Good paint without door dings and the interior looks like it has been taken care of and maybe the history of maintenance of the car, 20,000 miles to me wouldn't be the deal breaker.
Some cars when you look at them have I don't care written all over them.

 

An old Prius with a new OEM battery is a nice find. In my experience, the owners try to pass the cost of the new battery to the next customer by jacking up the price way above book value. That kept me from buying a car with that situation. And I didn't even realize the warranty was non transferable.

An old Prius with an aftermarket battery? I'd pass based on what I read on this site. If I were to purchase one like this, I'd start a thread on this board and ask the experts what they thought. There would be good feedback.

How many miles do you anticipate driving a year? How knowledgeable are you with DIY maintenance and repairs? The answers will help determine if an older Prius is the right car for you.

 

I'm a noob, but as I consider an 06 with 104k miles, I find myself thinking about the issue like this:

 

Five months ago, I was the noob pondering a 2007 with 190k with a known battery issue. For the price the dealer was asking, I bought a 2010 Prius 3. Granted, the engine expired on me a month ago, and I went thru hell to get the one in it (2017 short block with my 2010 head) to run. But I love my 2010. It was a pre-auction wholesale car, but now I know what shape the engine is. After spending five months on the forum, and hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” on mine, I couldn’t be happier with her. Easily getting 60+mpg.

My advice, jump in with both feet where you feel comfortable. Don’t be afraid of getting dirty. Your car will be worth to you whatever you are willing to give it. I don’t regret a minute of my conquest.