I want to spend roughly $15k or a little more on a Prius. It looks like that could get me a 2012-2015 gen 3 with 60k to 80k miles. My wife doesn’t like the gen 4 until the 2019-2022 models with the taillights that don’t drip down. But at my price range the cars would have about 100k+ miles. Which would you opt for in terms of long term cost? It’s basically older model with fewer miles vs. newer model with more miles. We’ll likely hold onto it for awhile. Mostly for daily commuting. Thank you
I've got a Gen 2, a Gen 3, and a new to me Gen 4 Prime. Gen 3's are usually really basic. The electronic features on the Gen 4s are, to me, next generation. They also don't have the issues with the EGR, piston rings, head gaskets... The looks of the tail lights, the color, those are the last things on the things I looked for. Look at the Carfax reports, and track how many miles before the first oil change, then how many miles between oil changes. Toyota went to 10K miles between, and there were a lot of the cars I looked at that did the bare minimum. Look at where the cars came from - stay away from the rust belt. Some of the Gen 4s are Primes - which have a different look from the rear. Maybe that's what your wife is talking about too.
I would go high miles Gen 4. The prime rear end has the "glass moustache" look that a lot of people dislike. I would buy the newest model you can.A lot of times the high miles newer cars have easy highway miles....as long as oil changes were regular.....I would go that route
can you estimate how many years and miles you'll want to keep it? gen 3 likely going to need egr circuit cleaned and maintained, gen 4 should be good for another 50-100k. for local commuting, you're likely not going to save on gas and maybe better off with a small non hybrid for service purposes
Get the turd gen. Join the egr cleaning and engine knocking clubs, we re always accepting new members.
