Which used Prius should I buy or avoid? Advice please.

I had discussed this issue about the transaxle before. There are not that many reports of transaxle failures, reports of them are still quite rare. I however have seen this because I just did the swap on a 2005. But I would say it's a very limited failure. It may have improved based on the TSB, there isn't enough data to suggest it has or hasn't improved. But to be on the safe side, if I had a choice, I go with a later model with the "improved" version.

I wouldn't worry about the one you are buying, for $5700, you can't go wrong.

 

Their simplicity almost guarantees it. All the parts that commonly fail in transmissions, are absent in the Prius or used in completely different ways. Toyota's design was really the first modern design to go back to static gearing but with the electrics it makes it possible for everything from low speed to high speed.

And even when I say the GenIII is a cost-cutting design with a lower life expectancy, that is still in the 150K to 200K range which is way better than what you will get out of a Ford/Chevy/GM and most other cars too. Used ones can be had for a few hundred if it is a problem since it is just so rare. They sit in junkyards with nobody wanting to buy them because nobody needs to replace them.

I do enjoy my fleet. I have basically retired the Prius to be a mountain goat and long distance hauler whereas the Leaf is my new daily driver. All electric around town, and then when I want to go skiing in the Rockies, I take the gas guzzling Prius that still gives me 48mpg or so with sticky winter tires and being driven up and down mountain passes with steep grades and lots of battery drain/fill events.

 

Hi Adam! Test drive both the Gen 2 (2004-2009) and the Gen 3 (2010-...). Some people like the Gen 3 better.

If I had to replace my 2007 Prius tomorrow, I would buy a 2008 or newer Prius. I have test driven the Gen 3, and I like it too, but not so much more than my gen 2 that I would pay much extra for one. With a 2008 and newer, there is still plenty of time on the factory hybrid warranty, so that if there were a hidden problem from the previous owner, it would probably show up before the warranty runs out.

I also recommend smart key, cruise control, and back up camera. On the gen 2, you might prefer one with the factory "Touring Edition" package (if you can find one) which has "better handling" and just slightly worse fuel economy. That's the equivalent of what I have now, and I like it. But I would also be happy with the "more comfortable" standard wheels.

As to reliability, all the statistics I have seen, both here and abroad, suggest that the Prius is one of the most reliable cars on the planet. There were a couple "weak spots", as you say, for certain years with the water pumps and steering columns. But those have long since been recalled, and replaced with improved parts. If for some reason the car had not yet been taken in for the fix, it can still be done free of charge at the Toyota dealership.

 

I come from the darker side. My fast bike can set off dog alarms as I do 0-60 and I get like 5 miles to the gallon. But I want something reliable with between $3,000-$10,000.
Can you Prius geniuses out here tell me what I should get?

 

None.............. unless you want to spend thousands on repairs......... maybe low miles unit.....under 100,000
Anything older or higher miles will need a traction battery, $$$$ brake system, head gasket.....they are great cars till they get miles on them...but then High $$$ time bomb....