I'm considering purchasing a 2010 with 218 kmi on it. Just wondering what y'all's opinions are on this machine. I did test drive it and the car has battle scars but it drove fine and the current owner says there is no oil usage. They only have 1 key. Can I buy one and program it myself? He advertised it as a Prius II but it has leather/bluetooth/JBL. Isn't that stuff in the Prius IV?
Has the head gasket been changed? Look at the coolant, is it red/pink? NO oil burning at 135,000 miles???? How often did he change the oil? Perhaps he did it at 5000 miles, and did a lot of highway miles? Are you capable of working on the car? Do you have tools? Comfortable changing a head gasket? What is the asking price?
No idea on head gasket. What is the head gasket issue and is it easy to check? Coolant is pink. I have tools and have changed head gaskets. Changed it on my 72 F100, 74 VW Superbug when I was 16-17 (40+ years ago), and an old Escort of my wife's back in the 90s. Is there a point where you must change the head gasket? He's asking $5700 but will take $4000.
Typically the head gasket fails between #1 and #2 cylinders. If you catch it early, you can save the head from warping... It seems the ones that are city driven fail the quickest. Highway driving they last longer. I went 301,+++ miles before mine failed. I caught it JUST as it failed. The REAL VW's were super easy to work on! I miss those! 5700 is LOT, I wouldn't pay more than $4000... Spark plugs, coolant changes, and trans fluid change were due at 100-125,000 miles. All very easy to do. For the transmission, you'll need to jack it up and make it level. That's the hardest part of it.
Why you say that? He's not the 1st owner. He's owned it a year and his wife used it to deliver Door Dash. He's selling it because he needs cash to pay for repairs on their SUV. So is the thing to do with one of these is change the head gasket as soon as you are able?
A Gen 3 Prius is known to have four major problems that are costly to fix: 1. Head gasket failure. Cost to fix at dealer is ~$3500 or ~$2300 at independent mechanic or ~$400 DIY 2. Brake actuator and pump. Cost to fix at dealer is ~$3500 or ~$2500 at independent mechanic or ~$1400 DIY 3. Hybrid battery. Cost to fix at dealer is ~$3400 or ~$2500 at independent mechanic or ~$2000 DIY 4. Inverter assembly. This is covered by a 20 year extended warranty by Toyota. But it can leave you stranded on the road. An old Prius (especially the Gen 3) is costly to repair unless you DIY. Search this forum about the Gen 3 Prius. The Gen 4 Prius has fewer problems than the Gen 3. The Gen 2 Prius has fewer problems than a Gen 3.
Wow I'm glad you shared that. I watched the youtube on the head gasket and although I have done head gaskets on the old rigs I listed, I don't feel like doing it on this car. Too bad too because the JBL sound in this rig is outstanding. Do the inverter and brake actuator fail on the 3rd gen more often than the 2nd and 4th? I have a 2nd gen and love it.
Yes, the inverter on the Gen 3 has more problems than the Gen 2. The Gen 2 inverter is very reliable. The brake actuator is a problem on both Gen 2 and 3. I can not say if the Gen 2 or the Gen 3 has more problems.
Gen3 interiors, body, paint and suspensions are still very good and often fool used buyers into paying twice as much for high mile cars as they were worth four years ago. Flippers temporarily seal head gaskets for one or two months and roll back odos. And then sell as is. There is a guy on here today selling a 2011 and 2012. Both with head gasket failures. A few days sgo, a homeless couple living in the gen3 blew it by running out of oil. They paid $7500 last year and are now looking at a Civic. A mechanic I use replaces an engine or more a week. He has done this for years.
360,5++ miles on mine, original brake master cylinder and pump, inverter. Hybrid battery lasted 15 years. Head gasket 301,000 miles. It depends on the car and how you drive and how it's taken car of. ALL cars have issues. Apparently the gen4 engines still have head gasket failures. How much money do you want to spend? Buying the newest version of a car that you can afford is a decent idea. There are people out there that had a bad experience and want everyone else to share their missery. Don't buy a car because of the radio!
These ait yore Dads toyodas. That's about it in a nutshell. Got two gen3 sitting here bout cannot give em away persona and solar roof JBL car . The stereos aren't really the problem he he.
I backed out. I actually offered him $4k, he said yes, and couldn't find the key to his safe that had the title in it. If had found it I would have bought it right there. I left and told him to call me when he found it. Then I spent last night looking into these things y'all list. Thanks guys. I see your signature you have a 2012. How do you like owning it? I'll take the JBL car off your hands if you're giving them away LOL
There are essentially free gen3s out there. Most that are traded at a dealer are sold at auction. The problem is you could pay $10k over your ownership to keep it running. Along with the aggravation and frustration of unexpected breakdowns and sudden high expenses. Sure if you are a mechanic like dogman with tools, experience, time and a backup car, go for it. If you have a great independent hybrid mechanic that can half the costs AND you already own the car, go for it. If you think a used gen3 will be great because you had a good experience with gen2, rethink it.
