Considering a used Prius...

[ranthony]

We're thinking about buying a used Prius and I was wondering if we should be considering anything different due to the fact that it's a hybrid. Does mileage deter more/less than a regular car?

TIA

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Hi there, thought maybe I could help!! Do you know aprx. what year it is that you will be purchasing?

I occasionally drive a 2004 Prius (quite literally occasionally cause the car is not mine) and I have to say that I'm very pleased on how well it does with gas. It tends to be not so great in the winter due to having to navigate through more adverse conditions that require more torque than usual but it does extremely WONDERFUL any other season. It doesn't look very roomy on the outside but it is so comfortable on the inside!! Very much so, and the trunk space is great too! I would have to say something that you would have to take into consideration is the hybrid battery itself. This little baby has be replaced every few or so years depending on the age of the vehicle. This can get costly so I would check how you can handle that via a local dealership. It would be good if you're buying from a private party to see if they have any information on the life of the hybrid battery up til this point.

In any case, the gas milage is awesome and I absolutely love it!!!!! If you have any questions or wanna see videos or pics of the Prius that I "have" lemme know and I'll see what I can do.

Hope this post helped!

 

[KristaTX]

I don't think the mileage deters anyone. In fact, it does the opposite. The great mileage is one of the biggest reasons most people buy a Prius. We have a 2007 Prius that we bought new, and we love it. It's also much more spacious than it looks like from the outside. We love having a hatchback.

 

[ranthony]

What I meant by mileage ws how many miles the used car had on it not how good of gas mileage it got.

We're just starting our search but it seems like many of the used (only 2-4 year old) Prius cars in our area have what I would consider high mileage (over 100,000) for their age.

Does wear of high mileage not matter as much on a hybrid vehicle?

 

[jazzielady]

We love our Prius! The mileage is definitely a plus. For the price, why not buy a new one? They are pricing used Prius' very close to new ones, due to demand for them.

 

[mnrose]

I would have to say something that you would have to take into consideration is the hybrid battery itself. This little baby has be replaced every few or so years depending on the age of the vehicle. This can get costly so I would check how you can handle that via a local dealership. It would be good if you're buying from a private party to see if they have any information on the life of the hybrid battery up til this point.

The hybrid battery has proven to be extremely reliable and long lasting. The first generation prius has been on the road for nearly a decade now, and still no widespread reports of the need to replace the hybrid. Indeed, the new ones now come with a 7 year warranty on the battery given Toyota's experience with how well they last. This would not be a major concern of mine.

We love our 2009 Prius. Absolutely love it. Current mileage is north of 55 (average).

And, ALL vehicles show significantly decreased gas mileage in the winter, not just Prius. Still, even here in icy cold MN, we average over 45 in the winter. Can't beat that.

And, I agree that the car is MUCH roomier than people think. It is NOT a "small" car...ranking equivalent with the camry and accord for interior space and comfort.

 

[PollyannaMom]

We love DH's Prius as well. I second (third, whatever we're on) that it's roomier than it looks! He does take it to the dealer for oil changes and such, which is a little more expensive than just dropping by the quick place, but he figures they don't all have the experience with them yet, so he's careful. (And it definitely makes up the difference in cost of gas.)

 

[DISdreamin']

DH and I test-drove a Prius a while back and were really shocked at how large the interior was! We haven't tried the next-gen one out now, but we would have purchased...if not for the price. When we did the math, with the amount of driving we do it would never have made up for the difference in up-front cost - we would have had to drive it forever, or drive a lot more than we really do, to break even.

Personally, I'd be leary about too old a used Prius, just because of the batteries. I know the track record is good, but it would still make me worry about making a significant investment in one that was too old. Just MHO, FWIW.

 

[ranthony]

Unlike a PP mentioned, near me here in NJ I can find 2-4 year old Priuses (sp?) for about half the price of 2010 models.

I read an article recently that stated that the Kelly Blue Book value on used ones really dropped recently due to the 'safety issues' a few months back.

It looks like I can get an 06-08 Prius for 11-15k depending on mileage. I'm just wondering how significant higher mileage plays into the value of a hybrid as many of these cars do have higher mileage.

 

[torismom]

In 2007 I bought a used 2005 Prius. It had 24,000 miles on it. This month I have owned the car 3 years. I know have 99,000 miles. It is a great car.No issues. I avg about 44 - 46 mpg at the moment. I need my oil changed.

 

[Imzadi]

Just make sure you get CLEAR instructions on how to turn it on & off. I was given one as a rental. Given minimal directions for turning it on. The battery in the key remote didn't work. Somehow I did manage to get the car started. I arrived at my destination - a seminar some 40 miles away in the boonies. I turned the car off.

Later, at lunch, I went to start the car to get something to eat. I could NOT get the car started again. This was Saturday in the rural sticks. even though I rented the car from the airport, they were closing for the WEEKEND. Several HOURS later, several calls to the national rental center, they finally said to call a CAB back & forth to hotel (40 miles back & forth ,) and they would send a NEW car to me and tow the other one ON MONDAY.

It was by pure accident that someone at the seminar said, "Did you read the car instructions, to see if you have to do something special?" I went in the glove compartment, read the manual. Apparently, you have to do something different if you are manually starting the car instead of using the key remote. I was finally able to get the car started.

But, I wonder, what if I had been alone, in a deserted or unsavory part of town & couldn't get the car started? What if my cell phone wasn't working & I had to walk around alone to get help, becasue the car wasn't a rental? What if someone hadn't suggested to read the manual?

What a friggin stupid way to start a Prius.

 

[descovy]

I think you should expect high milage in a used prius. In fact I'd be concerned if you found one with low milage.

Why? Because there is a "cost factor" in hybrids. If someone doesn't drive very much, the premium cost to have a car that gets 50mpg isn't worth it. Someone who drives a few miles to work and back is probably better off with your average 30mpg compact.

But if you rack-up a lot of freeway miles, the gas money saved in 30mpg vs 50mpg makes up for the higher cost of a prius.

I would wonder, why is this person selling a low-miliage prius? Why haven't they driven it all over kingdom come? Is there something wrong with THIS prius?

Get a carfax report, inspection, all that good stuff, of course. But I bet the highmilage you see is from easy highway miles.

We have a prius... my dh has a 20mi commute into work. Beyond that, it is our first go-to car for errands or sub 200 mile trips (We are a family of 5, 3 kids fit nicely in the backset of the prius for short trips, but anything longer than 200 mi they are more comfortable in our minivan) Our '08 has nearly 60k on it.

BTW... the only maintence needed for a prius in the first 100k miles is oil change/tire rotations at 5k intervals. No other maintence needed until 100k.

 

[LindaG4458]

Just wanted to mentiion that my SIL is still driving her 10 year old Prius (bought new) and wouldn't consider any other car. If and when she HAS to get a new car she will get another Prius