Gen 3 Prius Which year to buy?

Well your profile suggest you own a 2017 Tesla Model S?

Yep, I think a great aspect of Prius's success and long term popularity is not only it's hybrid benefit BUT also just being very good utilitarian car.

 

if it has nav, it has the screen. but maybe not vice versa. al the screens are the same size and resolution. it's possible the resolution improved in later years, idk.
the model without a screen gets a small lcd screen, and rearview cam in the corner of the rearview mirror.

 

2012 was refreshed , my choice ,,, good luck finding the options you want

 

It's weird, our (Canadian) 2010 Touring has no MFD, but does have BluTooth phone, and back up camera with display in the rear view mirror. But I'm not sure how things are in the States.

 

How far does she commute? I'd get her an all electric. She could drive one of the others if she has to go on a longer trip.

 

I actually bought a Leaf before the prius, but it wouldn't make it to my work. I commute 55 miles each way. I can charge for free at work, so I didn't particularly care how much charge was left over. I have to admit that it really drove and handled good. It seemed a bit more roomy and comfortable to me as well. It was a good bit less expensive than the prius, and it had most of the same features. If the range would have been what they said it was I would definitely have kept it. Luckily, while they would not stand behind the car being as advertised, they did allow me to return it and buy something else. Of course an electric car would only have worked because I have an ICE car and SUV as backups. If I didn't have them I wouldn't even have considered it.

 

I'm mixed on Carvana, after my first issue, but I have had no complaints with the Prius and everything seems to be just as they said. Have you tried it?

 

In the 10 and 11 you can get leather in the 4 or 5 but no power seat. In the 12 and newer the 4 and 5 have a power leather seat. Hope that helps, the 12 if you can find one would be your best bet and with low gas prices don't be afraid to lowball, you might get lucky.

 

I am looking up a 2010 Prius gas engine on car-part.com and results come back with yards selling 2010 to 2013s....So if your motor blows on a 2010 you can install a 2013....My point is the changes over the years must be very subtle if they are all interchangeable???

 

i wouldn't be surprised, don't recall anyone mentioning major changes. redesigned manifolds an erg's and the like i think, to reduce known problems.

 

The one thing that comes to mind with that amount of miles is that it might be in need of stem-to-stern EGR cleaning. Which is kinda of a pathetic design fail, but anyway: this is more a PITA than a big ticket item, at least if you're prepared to DIY. With a few cleaner/solvents, the right tools, and a LOT of patience, this can be resolved for next to nothing. @Raytheeagle is evangelizing this, trail blazing what to do, and threatening to do (another) video.

The other possible unknown is the hybrid battery, or the inverter, or the electronics associated, several big ticket items there. But so far I think the number of failures is quite low?

 

An evangelist, eh?

This Saturday should provide an excellent opportunity to video the process ! Done the egr system cleanse and swap twice now, with the third time we'll see if we can be even more efficient .

The egr cooler and valve are cleaned and ready for @Rebound 's service .

As for the hybrid battery, there are ways to preventatively maintain this. I have invested in the Hybrid Automotive technology and have seen the positive benefits. Even though our 2010 Prius II is less than 8 years old, it has 157 k miles on it now. With proper maintenance, the hope is another 157k miles.

 

How long does it take you cleaning the cooler now, a day or two, alternating soaking with active cleaning, say the wire on power drill?

Our's will sit around for two-three days normally, no pressing need. So maybe with the coolant change I'll take the cowl off, get my E8 socket set and take the plunge: cooler, valve, and intake manifold.

That's sometime down the road, for our garage queen, lol.