Buying a prius - 94k miles vs 59k miles???? Advice please

You have to decide how much 35000 miles is worth. You could estimate the total miles you could expect before the car is rolling junk, then divide the miles by the cost of each vehicle. I'll let you do the math since it's your money.

 

Because it seems too good to be true?

High mileage could point to company car abuse. ;-)

 

Bronze84,

Based on your trip length, you should reconsider buying a alternative car rather than the Prius. The Prius does not perform economically on short trips. You would be better off with something like a Yaris or a Camry IMO. Fact: The Prius takes a good ten to fifteen minutes to completely warm up. During the first five minutes of operation, the MPG will usually be about 25 MPG. During the next five minutes, it will normally be between 35 to 45, and then from there it will fluctuate depending on your driving habits.

A ten mile trip and then sitting is NOT the way to drive a Prius. The Prius is most economical if it is driven for trips a lot longer than that.

Furthermore, if you only drive it 20 miles one day, and then let it sit for four days you will end up killing the 12 volt battery in a very short time. The Prius does not have a alternator, it's charging system is different from a regular car.

Take some time to do some more research before you buy the Prius. It is a great car and very economical for most, but it is not built for everyone.

Ron

 

Martin as you can see from my avatar I too live in the UK, and I also have a 2008 Tspirit. I bought my car 2 years ago (2010) with 64,000 on the clock for only £300 more than your top figure.

It was a company car driven by me so I new it's history and how it was driven. I am now at 90,000 miles.

The millage difference in itself would not bother me and I personally would go for the higher millage car "if it was a company car they are usually serviced well and being a Prius you cannot thrash the engine as you have little or no control of engine revs" and keep the £2000 pounds in my pocket.

You do not say what guaranty comes with each car and if they are from a main dealer, but remember on both cars the OEM Toyota 50,000 mile guaranty is finished but the hybrid system is still valid till 100,000 miles or 8 years.

 

Martin should have said in my last post the Prius puts a smile on my face when i'm driving.

It also alters your driving style as you begin to see the mpg figures on the MFD you start to play a game with yourself trying to beat the last figure. You become more interested in economy and less interested in time from A to B.

Surprisingly you will also find yourself smiling when you fill up with petrol and that smile turns into a broad grin when you write out the check for the road tax. The big downside is that you wish you had done this years ago.

John (Britprius)

 

I cannot help feeling the cars you are looking at are overpriced.

If you balance miles and age of car to get the best deal if you do say 10,000 miles a year look for a car 2006 on. From this date the Tpirit had reverse cam and auto park (in other words the latest version gen2) if you buy 2006 with 60,000 miles you have four years and 40,000 miles left on hybrid guaranty "millage and year will run out at same time if that makes sense".

If you buy a 2008 the guaranty will still run out in four years because you will have run out of miles but you will have paid about £2000 more for this car. Having looked on Auto trader I have seen a 2006 Tspirit 58,000 miles at £6500, and I would expect to knock some off that price.

John (Britprius)

 

My car at 90,000 still runs great in fact like it did on day one. The seats show no signs of wear.

Mechanically the engine uses no oil between changes (10,000 miles) using 0W20 oil. The only thing I have done to the car is fitted new discs (not pads) at about 85,000 miles because of rust. The pads are good for at leased another 60,000 miles.

If you have been following the pages here on PC you will know the choice of replacement tyres is critical to fuel consumption on the Prius, so beware when buying if the dealer has fitted some cheap tyres "to make the car look good for sale" they may affect economy, but do not let that put you off that particular car if the price is right.

Check to see if the car has the reversing camera (2006 on very useful) The auto park assist is fun to show off but not that useful. The voice command system works well and commands like I'M hungry, and home are great. Any more info will be glad to help.

Could you put your area in your avatar as this helps people help you (knowing what side of the car is drivers side, where parts can be obtained, and so much more.

John (Britprius).

 

Martin,

Wow, that is a little different scenario than the post I replied to. With all that said, the only thing I can say is good luck with your choice. If I would have known yesterday what I know now, I would not have posted what I did.

Good luck to you.

Ron

 

Martin another car on Autotrader at Toyota dealers under 52000 miles 2006 just under £7000 with Toyota 1year guaranty.

If you are looking at a particular car (not at a dealers) you can take the reg to a Toyota dealer and if you ask them nicely "it helps if you say you will be having your servicing done there" they will pull the full service history for you = any work done any where at any dealer.

 

Recall work is done even if you did not purchase the car new the work still gets done free of charge.

Any dealer can tell from the reg or vin number what work has been done and what is outstanding so no worries there. If you get a car with a Toyota Guaranty you can have guaranty work done at any Toyota dealership.

With small garage or non dealer you often have to take the car back there or get permission from an insurance scheme that often does not cover your particular problem.

Services on the Prius are very cheap from fixed price Toyota servicing. I only ever have the "intermediate service about £130 including materials.

The full service only adds safety inspection that is everything that is included in an MOT so why pay twice for the same thing.

The air filter and cabin (air con) filter I always change myself if needed before the service as they are so easy to do less than 5 mins for both as they do not include the cost of these in the service. You can buy both for less than the dealer will charge for one.

John (Britprius).

 

Martin. Pictures of seat bolsters not cleaned for 18 months.