I'm looking at a 2001 prius as my first car. It's at 174,105 miles and looks like it's very well taken care of, one owner, and the carfax has an average of 2 maintenance reports per year. The battery concerns me, given it is the original. Is it reasonable to believe I can find a refurbished electric battery kit for around $600. Is it a bad idea as a first time car owner to buy a 2001 Prius? I've driven many Prius' and love them however, owning is different than driving. Any advice is welcome.
Did you maybe start by reviewing this thread? Who should and should NOT buy a 2001-03 Prius | PriusChat If the battery is original it is on borrowed (some would say stolen!) time. If you want some long term reliability I'd expect to spend about $2,000 for one. A recent poster reported having one installed by the greenbean battery company which comes with a lifetime warranty (Prius runs again!!!!! | PriusChat.) If you managed to find one from closer to $600 it will likely just be from a junk yard and probably worse than the one you have (as it will have been sitting around). Personally, if you're not seriously tech and mechanically saavy, I would not recommend this purchase. If you need a cheaper/older car that's still fuel efficient look for older Honda Civics and/or Toyota Corollas.
Today in 2020 I would call a 2001 Prius an "advanced challenge" as far as a first car goes, make of that what you will. Get through it and you'll have valuable expertise.
NO and YES, in that order. I don't think buying a first car that is 19 years old with that many miles is a good idea regardless of make and model. A hybrid is just a bit worse. Electrical "hobbyists" or masochists might be an exception.
if you don't do your own advanced auto maintenance, do not buy a used prius, especially gen 1. look at corolla, civic and etc., normal cars that any decent mech can repair. on the battery, only a new one is worth installing. $2,000. plus labor. call around and ask.
I just recently bought one! Mine was salvaged, with needed bodywork, and a battery rebuild, but I still went for it. The car itself cost me $500, then $300 in engine work and $500 in battery work (a shop replaced dead blocks, balanced the charge), and another $650 in bodywork to replace the rear bumper. Now I am $1,950 in. I bought mine at 213,000 miles, knowing it was going to be a challenge. The engine on it still runs poorly and it just threw a code to have the catalytic converter replaced... I think buying at 170,000 miles is a much better idea. For me too, this is my first car. Here is my thread: Prius Gen1 - to buy or not to buy (2 dead modules) | PriusChat
I bought my first car for one dollar ($3.79 today) and it was definitely "advanced challenge" territory. Your current $1950 in would have been about $514 for me, and I am pretty sure I spent well over that amount all told over the next year or so getting it roadworthy. So that sounds pretty reasonable to me. Learned a ton!
I would try to find a 2004+ Prius, as parts and experience is much more prevalent. Plus they are faster, safer, a good bit more spacious. I do love the look of the cute 2001-2003 first gen!
Nice to see a lady who owns A lot of tools and loves spending every waking hour working on a car. Don’t see that much anymore. Then when she gets sick of it and takes it to a mechanic first thing he’s asks is what the hell is this thing.
