High Mileage 2007 Prius

If you can’t do repairs yourself you should probably go with a Corrola. The battery could last for years or it could fail next week. You have to be prepared for that. Also a new factory battery is around 2000 dollars to replace, if you do it yourself. You could go aftermarket new from 2k1 Toster for less but it’s still do it yourself.

 

Maybe.

But probably not because at 11 years and 168K miles, it almost certainly will be due for a HV battery soon.
And the cost of that is between $1,500 and $3,000.

Most mechanics and even most Toyota shops have no CLUE how to test a hybrid battery to make a guess at it's health.
Each individual cell has to be measured and that's not a really easy task.

IF.....that can be done with a scan tool and Toyota software, then it is fairly easy.

ASK point blank if they know of anything wrong with it......including using oil between changes.
Most people will "forget" to mention some things but usually won't point blank lie.

If the HV battery weren't an issue, do you think the car would be worth $6,000.........because that is likely what you will end up paying for it.

 

How dependent are you on this car? If you need it every day I would pass. No sugar coating here, sorry.

 

Looks like a great deal... Perhaps you're maxing out on what you can afford in the moment? If you have a plan to have more money for more repairs in the future, it'll work out well... If it's going to make you broke for a while the risk increases. Sometimes people have warning lights come on week(s) after the purchase.

 

agree with the corolla recommendation. much easier to find a mechanic to work on it. do you know any hybrid mechanics?

 

just say NO to all 12 year old cars, take your 4000 and find something newer and make small monthly payments... you will have something reliable and build your credit for other purchases like a house.... an old hybrid is a money pit thats why people unload them

 

Chapel Hill Craigslist has gobs and gobs of Toyotas in your range that aren't Priuses. Also, lots of Scions. Please buy something that isn't a Prius. If you're stretching your budget at $4k, you can't afford a Prius.

 

This is our reasoning.
While the Prius has a good reliability record on average, you are not buying the average, you are buying one example.
Because the Prius is an 'odd' car, few mechanics, at Toyota or Independent, will actually be able to repair parts. They will replace entire subsystems, and those subsystems are not cheap. (Junk yards and DIY will be cheaper, I am going to use Toyota repair prices.

$5000 Transaxle - Maintenance is to replace the ATF WS every 100,000 miles. ($110 at my dealer)
$4000 Inverter - Never jumpstart another car, try not to jumpstart your Prius. (a new 12 battery is at least $150 - $250)
$3000 Battery - Heat is your enemy, use B mode going down long hills (660 foot drop). Do not tow.
$2000 Engine - Keep oil in it, change it every 5000 miles

Any of these repairs will leave you stranded as your budget is lower than that.

Best of luck!

 

Ill add the ABS actuator pump at $3200 dealer installed another common part to fail on Gen 2's

 

Don't listen to 'em... Having debt and being owned by a lender you owe is a hundred times more life ruining than a 12 year old Prius that might run without issue for several years. Even if you do break down and it takes a little bit of time saving up to get back on the road: STAY DEBT FREE!!!!

 

The exception MAKES the rule.
A small car payment over say 12 months does NOT violate the "stay debt free" rule.

Of course, the best thing to do would be to find something without this "ticking time bomb" along with it without spending more than what he has. But that might not be possible or practical.

Listen to EVERYBODY and make up your own mind.
But the comments so far seem to be about 10 to 1 for finding a different car.

 

The ticking time bomb is a good credit rating that leads to more borrowing, not owning an older car... Many of us have never owned a car that's not at least 7-12 years old before we buy it with cash... It's way less wasteful and let's debt ridden owned-by-banks wage slaves drive the car till it's a good enough price.

Prius are some of the most reliable older cars you can buy.

Personal debt on the other hand... Y

ou don't want that kind of gateway drug that gets you living beyond your means. It'll rob you of your soul!!!

 

If you are ok with 19 MPG 4 runners are pretty much bulletproof. Plus the 4WD versions can go anywhere.

 

When it comes to a bit over $25 for a full tank and 400 miles of range... As in if you want most affordable least polluting personal long distance transit option...

 

I paid cash for everything for the first 20 years of my adult life and when I applied for a home loan it was rejected by 4 major banks for lack of payment history... you have to have a good payment history to get a loan when you need it.. so if you start early you are better off..