Help buying a 2010 gen 3 tomorrow. Bad idea?

A gen2 is more likely to cost less in maintenance over a five year ownership. That hv battery will need replacing or rebuilding soon. It’s old and the modules they replaced are old. Batteries have a defined lifespan. Toyota has done wonders maximizing the hv battery lifespan by avoiding max charge, discharge and overheating. But it will wear out, it’s just a chemical reaction. Right now the newest hybrids get a 10 year 150,000 mile hv battery warranty. When the gen2 and 3 Prius’ were new they had 8 year 100,000 mile warranties for the battery. Three to five years for everything else except emissions.

So we have arguably the most complex car ever made and the only way to affordably drive it longterm is advanced diy. Tear that battery apart, buy test equipment, replace totally ruined cells/modules with better used modules. Be ready to replace the brake by wire master cylinder or pay $2500. Change two electric water pumps. Trouble shoot electronics and mechanical.

A check by most mechanics will only tell you if the car is running without codes right now. Some codes can be cleared and take time to appear again. Almost no one can accurately test the hybrid battery other than telling you it’s bad with a dash full of lights a blind man could see. Even a dealer can’t tell how worn the brake booster/master cylinder is today. Unless the dash is lit up like a Christmas tree. Most shops can’t even tell you if it’s burning oil.

Unless you are a mechanic by trade or an advanced diy, buy a conventional Civic, Corolla or Camry. At least your local shop will work on it and there are many aftermarket parts - unlike a Prius where most have to take a 175,000 mile hybrid to the dealer at $125 an hour and pay double their wholesale for parts.