Used 2005 Prius 100k miles, worth $9,888?

Check kbb.com and it'll give you an idea of what the car is currently worth. I just checked a base 2005 Prius with 100K miles on their site and it quoted $11,848 in excellent condition. The resale value on these cars is pretty strong. Also, it'd be a good idea to ask to see a copy of the carfax report for this car to see if it's been in any accidents and such. Any reputable dealer will provide a copy anyways.

I personally have a 2008 Prius with 130K miles on the odometer. I bought the car new in 2007 and haven't had to invest any money into it other than 3 sets of tires and oil changes. I still have 50% pad life on the original brakes!

 

Yeah I agree with Tumbleweeds. Also I'd put an offer in $1000 less than the dealer anyways and see if they bite or counter that offer. Whats the worst thing they could say? no? At least you tried! (Im a cheapo too)

Also, at that price I wouldnt bat too much of an eye at buying it. It sounds like you drive around 5-7,000 miles a years on your vehicles. Keep in mind that the Prius likes to be driven to keep the 12v battery healthy, etc..

Toyota just created a recall campaign yesterday for the 2004-2009 Prius and other Toyota models as well. So you might be getting some new parts right off the get-go. One of the parts (inverter coolant pump) is prone to failure in higher mileage Prius too. So if you get a new pump in the recall campaign for free, you just saved yourself some money because its not usually "if" its going to go bad, but "when".

You could always ask the Dealer to do a hybrid health report on the vehicle for your own well being and make sure that somebody didnt trade the car in with a bunch of problems. Also, go to the Toyota Owners Site, register and enter the VIN and get the service history.

 

I believe that covered parking is difficult to find in some SF neighborhoods. If you do not have access to covered parking and an AC power outlet where you can occasionally plug in a battery charger to keep the 12V battery charged up, please recognize the Prius will not be happy with your very light driving usage and you will end up with a dead 12V battery.

Regarding Prius failure rate, the car is quite reliable but if you are unlucky and have a significant problem, don't be surprised to get a four-figure repair bill. Should you decide to seriously consider the car, have it checked out by Luscious Garage in SF or Art's Automotive in Berkeley, both highly regarded Prius independent specialists.

 

Looks like it's a low-end Prius (option pkg II maybe) but even so, that seems like a pretty good deal. I have a 2005 with about the same mileage (ours is pkg VI) and it's been super reliable. Do have them do the water pump and steering recalls, though, before you pick it up.

I'd say pull the trigger. Plan on driving it enough so the battery isn't an issue, as the previous replies have pointed out.

 

Since you log so few miles and don't have a convenient way to keep the 12V battery charged, it might be better for you to pass on a Prius purchase for now.

The problem is that the 12V battery is relatively small and therefore has limited capacity. Further, the voltage on the 12V bus when the Prius is READY is ~13.8V which is at least 0.5V lower than a typical automobile. Overall, the battery will take longer to charge than a battery in a normal car.

If you search PC, you will find posts from other owners who log low miles and are complaining about 12V battery issues.

 

I think (and someone may correct me if I'm wrong) but you need to drive it at least once every two weeks to keep it charged.

 

As a precaution and for reliability, just change the 12v battery to a new one like the Optima yellow top like many members are doing here.

 

100 miles per week should be enough to keep the 12V battery charged. Ask the dealer to check if the 12V auxiliary battery in the back of the car is the original OEM battery or not. If so, offer to pay what they want as long as they replace the 12V aux battery for you in addition to all needed recall work.

You shouldn't let the "issue" with the 12V battery prevent you from buying this Prius. It's not that big a deal and you won't have problems with it as long as the Prius does not sit unused for more than a few days.

The real problem is the price. If you are willing to travel to another state, you will be able to find a newer gen 2 Prius for the same price. You could buy one in the Upper Midwest and drive it back to Houston. There are 06s and sometimes 07 Prius' for sale at $10K in Michigan and Ohio. Also, if you buy an older Prius that has been driven in the Upper Midwest there's less chance that the large traction battery will be weak. It doesn't get too hot in the Great Lakes /Ohio Valley region and the terrain is fairly flat, perfect for the Prius.

 

For what it's worth. I once left mine parked for 4 months while on business and had no problems starting it when I returned.

 

Here is what is called southern hospitality. If you are worried about that 12 V battery running down while you are gone to Cali, you could bring it by my place here in Houston. I have a charger that I use regularly and could easily keep yours charged up to.

Don't pass up on a Prius if you can. They are good cars, even with the stupid recall going on right now.

I figure that the car you are interested in was traded in by the original owner since the hybrid warranty was fixing to expire (100,000 miles). These cars last a long time if you keep them maintained.

For the record, ours is not driven every day, and the 12 volt is still working for me. But I do charge it once a month, and I do pay close attention to the vehicle. Everything I know about Fred Haas Toyota is good, I haven't heard anyone knock them.

Let me know if you want or need help.

Ron

 

I just picked up a 2008 with 101,000 for $10,500. Fingers crossed!

 

The trick to storing the car without running down the 12V battery is to push the SKS button on the dash under the steering column to turn off the SKS radio so it does not waste power trying to pickup the signal from the key fob. If the car you are looking at has SKS. When you return to the car after storage use the buttons on the key fob or the mechanical key to unlock the door. I store my car for over a week at the airport with no problem by turning of the SKS button.

I wold worry more about short trips under 5 minuets long when it is driven. The Prius does best when the trips are over 10 minuets long. I only get about 25mpg during the first 5 minuets when the engine is cold.

Jerry KU when you do drive how long are the trips?

 

Jerry....

DON'T GIVE UP.....!
and I would seriously recommend looking private party over Stealerships on used vehicles! (no offense Dianne!)

 

I don't think I would give up on the Prius at this point. A new 12v may be needed, the Optima seems the best choice, and a small jump starter could give you peace of mind.

I'm not convinced the price is right since I just purchased a one owner loaded 05 with 96k miles for $8,800, but I also know the price can vary a lot between areas. And my 05 did have a few cosmetic issues, though most of which I have resolved for about $50. I did go to another state for mine and loved getting 51 mpg on the trip back home and have since had days averaging 55-60 mpg. My wife drives it the same way she drove the Explorer and still gets over 45 mpg.

The Prius is worth continued research.

 

Worst case: the OP has to remove the 12V battery, lug it to his apartment, hook up the 12V charger overnight, reinstall the battery the next day, rinse & repeat monthly...

With the recent postings about Optima batteries being received in less than perfect condition, I am wondering why group members continue to recommend them. I would buy either the GS Yuasa from the local Toyota dealer parts counter, or Optima, whichever happens to be cheaper. In either case though, the wise purchaser will confirm that the battery is fully-charged before installing it by measuring battery voltage which should be 12.9V out of the box.

 

Patrick, my bad. I hadn't read about less than perfect Optimas being delivered. From what I had read they were the go to batteries for replacement of the 12v. Thanks for the correction.