How many miles is too many?

@bisco may be along shortly.

my opinion: it’s almost impossible to find a Gen 3 (with/without plug-in) for sale, without serious engine problems. Thats usually why they’re for sale.

 

Wow, not sure there is a solid "internet" answer without inspections.

Gen 1?
Would 5K miles for every year driven be an answer?
Would over 100K miles be an answer?
Snow, salt, rust, or even heat areas be part of the decision tree?
Garaged at night with service records part of the decision tree?

Many on this forum have 200K Prius's, yet maybe not your exact model inquiry.
Noting I have no personal experience with a PIP Gen 1.

Good luck in your hunt

 

“Gen 1 PIP” moniker was coined on PriusChat? More succinctly: it’s a Gen 3, the plug-in variety.

 

i wouldn't buy anything over 100k, because you're getting into head gasket failure territory if the egr wasn't cleaned.
on rebuilds, do you mean salvage, or just accidents where the car wasn't totaled?

 

Rebuilds... another "deep" question.
Bumper cover without reinforment or sheet metal without any inner damage may be "safe".
Replacement doors without rocker panel or pillar damage may be safe.
Suspension, unibody not so safe.
If airbags "exploded" not so safe.

Your hunt will have to continue.

FWIW
Do you feel your shocks degradation at 50K mileage?
Do you feel power steer fluid degradation?
Do you feel improvements when transmission or brake fluid is changed?
Then there is rubber age, or wear and tear and feel of body and suspension bushings.
Personally I would not buy any car with paint repairs or suspension repairs (other than maintenance).
Further, as I am too OCD, I would not be in the 100K mileage market, but again that is me
I'll repete, services records may be a valid asset for your decision tree.
EGR, head gaskets, as mentioned above, plus hybrid battery life are all valid "old age" concerns.

OP, your story is so saddening; I do not envy your situation.
Of solice is that many of our co-members have 200K Prius'.
I offer my two cent comments FWTW.
Again wishing you good luck in your hunt.

 

every car is different, and we don't know why. could be driving style, maintenance, factory defect?
it seems the ones that bloare are around 150k, but there's no way to know if it's too late or not.
10ok or so, and hopefully you'd be safe, but there's no guarantee

 

i spose you could take it for a head gasket check

 

Funds from a 2012 Prius Prime with 100k… let’s say it’s $6k. I would not buy another gen3 unless it was a 2016-17 Prius v… and only if 75k miles or less.

Service records are worthless… it’s acceptable to have 10k oil changes and 100k coolant changes… both way too long for this engine. X2 too long.

A used plugin? No thanks. The hv battery replacement could be double what the car is worth,

If you can’t upgrade to a 2019 or better hybrid, find a conventional Corolla or Camry in your price range.

 

2021 prime is not a gen 3, and the egr/head gasket does not apply

 

Gen 4 doesn’t have head gasket failure due to clogged EGR, because, not surprisingly, the EGR isn’t clogging.

Gen 4 have been prone to coolant leaks in the EHR (Exhaust Heat Recovery) system, and neglected long enough to starve the engine of coolant that can lead to head gasket failure.

other’n that, Gen 4 engines have been very reliable. None have the low-tension piston oil rings either, so runaway oil consumption has not been happening.

in a nutshell: Toyota screwed the pooch with third Gen.

 

check me on this, but i think toyota updated the heat exchanger around 2019

 

Yeah I heard something like that. Maybe more succinctly they just cracked down on the manufacturer, say test every one? Not so much a design flaw as a manufacture defect?

 

My 2 cents:

12-15 PIP: I liked the body style better than next gen PIP; I like the wheels better. I like the color options, but you take what you get if you want lower mileage car - so I got a premium white one. You can upgrade the radio and gain ACP. Getting harder to find under 100K, head gasket concerns. I saw one for sale with low miles, but they wanted a premium price getting close to 2nd gen PIP; most ones worth looking at are in the $13-19K range

16-19 PIP: lower and wider and more "unique" styling; some cool colors. Almost twice range (11 mi 1st gen PIP was almost good enough for me). Cannot upgrade radio so no ACP. Lots of options out there; prices are still up there around mid 20's to 29K.

20-21 PIP: A lot of similarities to 16-19 but ACP is now standard! Somewhere between $28 - 32K

23+ PIP: Very good power with 40+ mi EV range; for some the range might not let you run the engine enough? Color options getting "boring" (my subjective call).

My rule of thumb, cars lose about $3.5K value a year. I bought my 2012 Advanced model for $12K with 79K miles. I am planning for 4 years driving about 10K mi/yr. After this, I'll be looking for a 2020 -2022 model with about 80K miles or less for $15K..