Thoughts on a 2014 Prius C with 200k miles to be used fo Doordash delivery

no, it doesn't sound too good at all, never mind to be true

and no, i don't think it will be a good car period.

 

Anytime you get a used car with some age and mileage under its belt there’s always a risk of potential issues. That being said, I’m sure there are plenty of vehicles pushing 200k for around the same price right now where this risk is considerably higher. Generally speaking, the Prius c is very reliable, and getting another 100-200k out of it is certainly possible with proper care. You should factor in the cost of common repairs, like the hybrid battery, just in case (this is a good option you can install yourself) and get a carfax report before purchasing.

 

These cars absorb mileage better than just about anything on the road. 200k means the drivers' seat is probably beat down, the wheel bearings noisy and it could probably use a brake/suspension inspection. That's all the same as any other car with 200k.

But approaching 10 years of age is bad news for the hybrid battery. It could be fine now, but it won't stay fine much longer. You'll need at least a couple grand stashed away to deal with that properly when it hits.

The real downside of these cars is that they are both sophisticated and uncommon. If this was a flood car, for example, you could go broke chasing down electrical phantoms at dealership service rates. It is hard to find anyone cheaper willing to work on them, especially when it is a difficult problem.

If it can make READY and drive normally without unexplained warnings, error codes or features not working then you might be onto something.

 

1-200 miles a day on top of 200k is asking a lot.
You could get very lucky or it could be a total disaster

 

I have a 2012 Prius C I purchased about a year ago with over 400,000 miles on it and in great shape, I did have to replace the hybrid battery. I’ve been using it as a delivery vehicle daily, averaging 3,000 to 4,000 miles a month. It’s been running great so far, but I do need stay on top of any maintenance issues with the demands I put on it.

 

You might get a year or two out of it with that kind of daily miles, but without access to a repair history, it's a crap shoot as to what it will cost to keep it going that long. The C is one of the most reliable cars out there. I have 165000 miles on my 2012, and the only repair done that I would consider to not be normal maintenance is one wheel bearing. But since you are going to rely on it to make a living, I would proceed with caution. If you can get a carfax, all the better. Try to find out how many owners. If it's just one, see if you can contact them to discuss the history. It would be particularly handy to know if the hybrid battery has already been replaced. That's a $2000 to $3500 expense you could face two weeks after you make the purchase.

 

Just get the battery checked, and a decent inspection. [including brake pads ,tyres etc]
You are talking between 40,000 and 73,000 miles per year.

I would absolutely do this.....As long as the car checks out.
These things are known for reliability and doing high mileage [within 2 years it could have 350,000 on the clock]

At $5k if it depreciated 100% over 150,000 miles = only 3c mile
A much newer lower mile $15k car would depreciate much more. [200,000 mile cars are only worth $5k, which is what you're buying]

Make sure it is a "Poverty Pack" without all the "Bells and Whistles" and there is less to go wrong with it.
Get yourself a code reader to clear codes [because stupid shit happens] and drive the wheels off it.

In NZ [where everything is expensive] I can get a rebuilt hybrid main battery for $800 exchange [DIY] or add $200 to install it.
If you compared this to a 2nd hand Japanese Engine or Transmission on a conventional gasser ,the hybrid is cheap.