Buying a Used Prius?

Hi and welcome aboard. Those kind of questions are so subjective it is hard to comment on.

I have seen a few GenIIIs for close to that 15k on e-bay but have no idea of their quality of course.

I would rent if possible all the types and find out what fits you best.

Most of the models come with CC. I would highly recommend the backup camera though.

Good luck.

 

This car likes to be used and can get very high miles without major repairs. One of our members put over 465k miles
in 3 years without major repairs. The transmission really out lasts most other makes. But we've had half a dozen 2006 prius's with relatively low miles, who have had to get a new Hybrid battery pack ,or repair, costing anywhere from 35$ for a do it yourself lucky repair up to 4500$ quote from some dealers. If the pack is done for and you do not have the skills for doing it yourself you can pick one up from a salvage yard, or a re-furbisher for 900-2000$. Toyota says these batteries last from 7-10 years. So I reccomend higher milage cars but newer the better. The C model should be just as reliable as the 2004-9 prius's, as the drive train is based on those cars.

 

I'm unable to help with the last question, but in regard to the above two. I purchased a 2nd Gen Prius with roughly 90K mileage. There were some initial problems, but according to the dealership, they were related to the car sitting for so long. After they repaired it for me (free of charge), it seems to have panned out with the car being in excellent condition with no other issues.

I admittedly have only owned it for a little over half a year, so issues may come later, but I have also taken it to another dealership for servicing and they reported no issues other than a need for basic adjustments.

In regards to financing, I don't believe it differs much from any other dealership. Hell, I'm fairly sure they all have similar financing models and all use FICO as a base determinator. When I received financing, my credit was great and I got 5.99% APR (though, honestly, I probably could have talked it down even lower).

My advice in that area is to get qualified for financing elsewhere (bank, credit union, etc) first, then come in to the dealership. Once they ask about your financing needs, tell them you've already obtained it, but if they could beat the rate you were given, you'll go with them.

 

If your credit is not good, go ahead and pay for the used one.

The last thing you need is to get financing around 15%+ on a vehicle that is going down $3,000 in value the second you drive it off the lot!

There are some 2012 Prii for under 22,000 and some 2011, 2010 under 18,000.. (at least from the dealerships around me.)

Personally, I would take the most newest vehicle that I can afford without a big interest rate loan.

 

The nav system, backup camera, etc. are all many times more expensive than aftermarket. For example, Toyota charges about $1k for the nav system, and you can get a very nice Garmin for under $300.

Save your money for maintenance. Don't finance. Don't purchase extended warranties. Don't go for the "dealer-applied clear coat" etc. These are expensive things that don't give you much (if any) return on your investment.

The best value is getting a well-maintained used car (ask for service receipts / records for proof of maintenance) and keeping good care of it. These cars last a long time if you continue regular maintenance.

 

If you have bad credit and are on a limited budget, the Prius can be a little risky when it comes to the cost of repairs. I have been very happy with the reliability of my Prius for the 7 months or so that I've owned it. They are pretty easy to work on for the gas engine side of the drivetrain. However, when something goes wrong with the electric drivetrain, repairs can be really expensive and going to the dealership is usually your only option.

If the hybrid battery fails, it will cost $3200.00+ for parts and labor at the dealer for replacement. Batteries have a fixed life since batteries will eventually wear out. The actual lifespan varies more from climate and terrain rather than lack of maintenance.

Replacing the AC system on a Prius is connected to the electric drivetrain and is also a $3k+ repair. Pumps in the inverter coolant loop are about $700.00 to replace but there is a recall on that part that makes it a free repair on the Gen II now.

I don't mean to come off negative here but I'm just being a realist. If I was on a limited budget looking for a used car with little or no payment, I'd probably go for a Toyota Corolla or something like that with inexpensive maintenance and no hybrid battery replacement looming on the horizon.

For those that can absorb a surprise $3k+ repair, I wouldn't hesitate to get a well-maintained used Gen II Prius. (I love mine even though I'm in the middle of replacing the hybrid battery myself)

My 2 cents,

-VR

 

This is quite good advice. Although folks will quickly chime in that the Prius is very reliable, the fact remains that it is a machine with hundreds of moving parts and miles of wiring and circuitry. There is plenty that can go wrong, and every owner should always have a small cash reserve at hand in case of failure.

If the OP is going to be left without a cash reserve after this purchase, then perhaps a Prius isn't the right choice. I'd be sure to keep at least $1k in the bank, if not twice that.

 

There are other alternatives to spending that much, esp. if the car is high mileage and very old. See Failed traction (HV) battery, what to do? - Prius Wiki.

 

I agree with you for the most part, any car purchase should include cash reserves for repairs, but at the same time a Prius generally has fewer moving parts than something like a Corolla, and while it has more electronics, as long as those electronics are more reliable than the mechanical components they're replacing, then the car will probably be more reliable.

 

Parsing that sentence... "as long as X is more reliable than Y will be more reliable" Sorry to be blunt, but that's stating the obvious.

Let's not make the assumption that the electronics will be more reliable, because it could be a very expensive and painful assumption to get wrong.

To give an example, I bought a Subaru ages ago that had to go in for warranty work four times... just because a headlight kept burning out prematurely. Even the most simple systems can fail.

 

Toyota Corollas are extremely reliable. They've been around longer than the Prius and are less expensive to repair. Every auto repair shop in the country can fix any part of the car.

Don't get me wrong, I love our Prius but I'm a tinkerer and pulling apart the car to replace the hybrid battery is an afternoon of fun for me. However, DIY on complicated electric drivetrains is not for everybody.

-VR

 

It's not just a presumption. So far the majority of Prius' have been more reliable than their gasoline counterparts, mostly because engine operation is governed moreso than any other car, the transmission is very simple and mechanically robust, and the more complicated electronics have proven to be more reliable than the less complicated multi-speed transmissions in other vehicles.

Ten-Year Old Toyota Hybrid Priuses Defy Early Critics

 

***** I am in your same boat: same amount $15k to invest leaving me w a little something in reserve.
Please keep me in mind when u get some good URLs so I can read them.
I've been considering both 05's AND ESPECIALLY 2008's---w 60k miles.
I'd appreciate the help as well. THANK YOU ALL, Regards, D

 

That article could not be further from the truth. The failures that many Gen I owners are now experiencing are extremely inexpensive. Transmissions, inverters, steering racks, etc.

What is reliable in theory is not always true in practice. CVTs were supposed to be bulletproof, but other than the ones in the newer Prii, they have been horribly unreliable in many applications.


iPhone ?

 

Newbies, please post your locations. It makes a difference. Hybrid components are warranted for 10 years/150000 miles in CARB states. As the 2nd Gen aged options became standard and option packages merged. Eventually only fleet Package 1 cars don't have cruise control & backup camera.

Buy the newest, lowest mileage car you can afford. Today's $200 Garmin works as well as Toyota's nav unit. Do you really need a USB port or leather? The HID headlights did have issues & the fog lights are for show. It's the same car from 2006 through 2009.

Buying a low maintenance efficient car is nice but if you don't have the money then buying something affordable is the smart move. Either way, read through New car buying guide, avoiding dealer scams, new cars, used car buying.

 

Hearing about how much the Prius costs to repair is getting old. The only people it costs more are those who are afraid of it. This car is not more complicated. In many ways, its less complicated. It def requires less maintenance (ie: brakes, transmission, oil changes less frequent less engine wear and the list goes on).

Traction batteries do not cost $3000+. Nearly every service has been addressed here in great detail. I couldn't agree with roflwaffle more. My advice to anyone thinking about buying a Gen II Prius is "any Prius is better than no Prius" and, don't be afraid of the technology.

As for electronics being more reliable than moving parts, that, is true without question. Electronics require no oil, no bearings, no cranks, no cams. When was the last time your PC broke?

I have heard very few stories of any ECU's going bad. I've also seen several ECUs that were replaced unnecessarily.

 

Hey,Hey could not agree with you more! Well said. H

 

You don't have to read these posts, then. No one's forcing you...

It's better than an unwary buyer knows what they're in for, even if it's a 1-in-10,000 chance of them facing such a large repair bill. Better to know than to be surprised.