1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Considering 2013 Prius v purchase. 130k miles, $11k

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Bree_eli, Nov 8, 2022.

  1. Bree_eli

    Bree_eli New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2022
    2
    2
    0
    Location:
    Saint Paul
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Hello!

    New to the forum and to Prius in general. I’m hoping to buy a Prius v, but have a limited budget of about 12k. I have one option for a 2013 v with 130k miles, $11k. CarFax shows good basic maintenance but doesn’t go into a lot of detail. Single owner clean title.

    I’m wondering if this seems like a worthwhile deal. Are the risks of potential head gasket issues big enough to scare me off of the 2012-2013 v’s? Is it a bigger risk than I might encounter buying a similar mileage Honda Fit? I’m not experienced with cars and I appreciate everyone’s thoughts!

    What are the maintenance items I should look for that indicate a healthy head gasket? Or anything that I should watch out for that might indicate problems?
     
    #1 Bree_eli, Nov 8, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2022
    bisco likes this.
  2. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2018
    3,240
    2,253
    0
    Location:
    Taylors, SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    It depends on where the car lived its life. In the salt belt of Minnesota, I'd stay away.

    !0 years and 100k miles is when the repair and maintenance costs add up for Prius cars.

    My 2012 Prius v with 28k miles lived in the South with a rust free and rust proofing treated life with generally 3k or less oil changes done every 6 months religiously.

    I would buy one like mine but not anty that's 10 years old with 130 k miles,

    I'd find a Corolla or a Camry that has lived its entire life in the South with less than 100k miles on it. Unfortunately, those are snapped up quick and sold at a premium at dealers after they are traded in. That's the current market.
     
    #2 Georgina Rudkus, Nov 8, 2022
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,487
    5,054
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Depends. How would $3.5k-$7k for a engine feel in the next one or two years? How about $2.5k for a battery or $2k for a brake booster, assuming the booster fails after ten years of service or 150,000 miles? Or your feelings about being suddenly stranded away from home with an inverter fail, even though Toyota might fix it free?

    A conventional Camry or Honda is more reliable at high miles and does not require dealer prices to fix it.
     
    #3 rjparker, Nov 8, 2022
  4. Bree_eli

    Bree_eli New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2022
    2
    2
    0
    Location:
    Saint Paul
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks. I understand your concerns and repairs are a big factor. My last vehicle was a Civic and I am ready to move past a sedan. I prefer a station wagon, but am open to smaller sportier hatchbacks. If you have anything like that that fits the bill for reliability & affordability, let me know. I am not interested in the Camry or Corolla. Perhaps a Honda Fit, but they’re a little smaller than I’d like.
     
    #4 Bree_eli, Nov 8, 2022
    bisco likes this.
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,487
    5,054
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I might consider the earlier Venza through 2015 or a Rav4. The Honda CRVs are solid. I would stay with a 4 cylinder on any of them.
     
    #5 rjparker, Nov 8, 2022
  6. Led

    Led Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2022
    35
    13
    0
    Location:
    Huntington WV
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
    My 2012 Prius v had both the brake booster fail and the inverter fail. Toyota replaced both under warranty, the brake booster with the previous owner and the inverter during my ownership.

    Knowing the problems the early 3rd gens have I wouldn't have purchased the car if it wasn't for the crazy good deal I got.

    Later,
    Stephen
     
    #6 Led, Nov 18, 2022
    Tim Jones and bisco like this.
  7. Jabez

    Jabez Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2022
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    Luxury
    Hi y’all I’m new to the Prius world. My fiancé and I are considering buying a Prius. Intrigued by the V with its additional room. Found a similar deal to the OP’s but it’s a 2015. Is a slightly newer model less risky at all, or do the same warnings apply??? Thanks for any insight.
     
    #7 Jabez, Dec 1, 2022
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,045
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you get the updated pistons and rings, which is great, but all the other issues still apply unfortunately.

    and if you're not a top notch diy'er, make sure you find a reputable hybrid mech before purchasing any hybrid, unless you don't mind being at the mercy of the stealerships
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 1, 2022
  9. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2018
    1,728
    559
    3
    Location:
    SE Texas
    Vehicle:
    2011 Nissan LEAF
    Model:
    ----USA----
    NO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>NO.......NO.....NO No No....... unless you like mental and financial pain......... big pain.....
    get a ICE.......skip the junk gen 3................
    And that is WAY to much for the car.................... get a toyota or honda without Hybrid..........
     
    #9 Tim Jones, Dec 3, 2022
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)