Hi.I need advice from the experienced. I’m thinking about buying a 2016 Prius v Base model for 4K. It was used as a taxi in NY and is just about hitting 300k (More airport/highway driving). My choices are between that or a 2014 Mazda 3 with 165k (Pennsylvania Highway mileage) for about 1k more. I drive about 60 miles a day average (highway)-would the Prius be reliable for another year or two without major expensive repairs? I need a car now and this is my first car so I’m not very experienced.
With that milage , I would stay away. In my observations, Taxi drivers drives their cars HARD. Between the two, I would get the Mazda if thats your only two choices. But at that price at 5k and at 165k miles, I would look for a used Corolla or a Camry. My $0.02.
I'm experienced! I've had lots of low cost vehicles and made out OK with most of them. The key is to be always ready to replace it and/or have a back up in the yard. If you need a car and you need it "now" and there are only those two choices, I'd spend my time looking for other choices. But.. of those two I'd go with the Mazda. (assuming it is in proper condition for the price) 300K mile Prius taxi sounds like a big gamble. When the first thing goes wrong and it costs 1K or more to fix it can you justify spending that knowing there is problem #2 on the horizon? I would go low tech and avoid that Prius. Just my 2 cents. YMMV
A Prius v with 300k miles almost certainly has a head gasket time bomb. Or, it’s blown already, on second engine?? the Prius v and 3rd gen Prius both have a newly implemented Exhaust Gas Recirculation system, the likely culprit: Bad Flywheel | PriusChat
if you average 15-20k/year, and need a car for 2 years, and are not an experienced shade tree mech, look for something with normal usage around 60-80,000 miles. and even then, there might be caveats that need due dilegence, like a gen 3 prius
Most likely that 300k Prius v has several major maintenance items already completed. IF you can get a record of those items it might make the decision to buy a better risk. Usually a Prius v from 2016 may look and drive very nice. They have good paint, build quality and interiors. Many gen3 models have design flaws in the pistons and piston rings (2015-17 v have revised rings but are still gen3), a very poor egr cooler design (completely redesigned in gen4s), a poorly designed brake by wire system (Toyota support for a few months until Jan 1, 2022), an inverter flaw (similar short term support), all resulting in an excessive number of vehicles that burn oil, clog egrs, lose normal braking or strand you with a failed inverter. Many have several failures before the expected "normal" high expense occurs, eg the hybrid battery replacement. Best advice for a reliable low operating cost car under $10k? A Corolla, Civic, Accord or Camry. With that said, a clean, nice driving 2016 v with a recent battery, lots of other major maintenance items in the last 100k and a willingness on your part to spend an unplanned two grand at least once during the next two years, a $4k version might work.
