Is this 2012 Prius on craigslist something I should steer clear from?

With 460k miles, for me it would have to be a classic car that is no longer in production- like a '58 Corvette, or old T-Bird, Cobra, etc.. With a very popular car, like the Prius, it's a buyer's market- if you're patient. A clean interior only carries so much weight because many '12 models still have clean interiors. And I'll assume you like that unusual paint design.

If your budget is only in the $3,400 range, then stay away. If you have a much higher budget and can afford the many costly repairs associated with a 460k vehicle, then that's a different story, because you'll need the reserve fund. You should also determine whether or not the car is on its 3rd 12v or traction battery. If its the traction battery, that opens a new array of questions.

FWIW, Kelley blue book value (I'll just guess that it's a II for arguments sake) for a good condition '12 with 460k from a private seller is $5,100.

 

The OP must want a Gen 3 really badly to be considering one with that many miles on it. If it has the original ICE, it must be
burning oil and quite a bit of it. And $3400? KBB values are inflated. Edmunds TMV is a better estimate. I'd say
$2500 tops.

Look for a 2011 with less than 300K miles. You should be able to find one for $3400 if you're willing to
travel to get one. I priced my 05 Gen 2 low to sell it fast and a guy from Milwaukee rode Amtrak to Ann Arbor to get it.
Wait for a motivated seller and you'll get a much better deal. Are you patient enough?

 

Info that should have been shared in the OP.

Worlds better? I've had both gens: nope.

 

Those are all gen 2s....This is a 2012 gen 3 with rare black leather in mint condition...Taxis (the good ones) need to clean their vehicles every day and in between rides so that's why the vehicle appears to be in flawless/mint/showroom condition (when factoring over 400k miles it is!)...I think it's a great deal as gen 3s are pretty tough to find under $6500 (in the midwest where I live at least --- not sure about other areas). So $3000 is basically an unheard of impossible to find again deal...This is about the price people want when they are non-running/wrecked.

Now, those gen 2s you posted were cheap if you can do the work yourself....but most people can't.

 

It costs around $2000 at least if you get a used low mileage gas motor and put it in....And that has been done.

I'm curious when it was replaced and how many miles are on the motor now? And the number 1 thing I am curious about is what is the gas mileage...My 2011 with higher miles (185ish) was getting 39.5mpg.

 

Before I purchased my preowned Prius, I lurked on this board for around a month. I learned that the best way to buy a high mileage or older Prius was to have money put away for repairs. I gathered this was more important than other cars in the same price range due to expensive items, such as the traction battery.

So the question is why the OP is interested in such a high mileage vehicle? If the answer is that this represents his budget, then I would pass, unless there's a decent sized rainy day fund.

 

All I can say, is if that Prius could talk, it would probably have stories to tell.
And if I bought it? I'd definitely keep it the two tone look.

 

If this is a private sale the owner is needs to be looked at too,when I've sold on my old cabs due to upgrading ect I normally have a list of people queuing up to buy it. Other drivers couldn't give there cars away.
Another thing to remember is for most cab drivers reliability is the most important thing and spending money on repairs is just something you do to keep your car reliable and yourself working.
By the look of it this driver fall's into this category as the car would have expired a long time ago if it had been abused.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

OUCH.I paid $24000 for 2013 prius Jdm with 63000 km on it.(import tax was $8000).

 

As far as the logic, I don't think it's flawed because I was thinking along the same lines when I was shopping. Since you're willing to wait for a good deal, you will eventually see a desirable car with an owner very motivated for a quick sale. Make sure you sign up for a sevice, like carfax (3 months unlimited for $70, using license plates), so you can see some history of the vehicle, because most cars in your price range will be salvage or rebuilt titles.

Do you want the option of selling the car in the future, or do you plan on being the final owner? If it's the former, this car will be very difficult to sell, especially as the 2nd owner. You'd have to discount it greatly and you won't be able to recoup the value of new parts that you put in.

As far as the mpg, learn how to get to trip A and trip B on the "display" button on the steering wheel. That will allow you to see some history of the mpg. Remember that as a cab, the car is often carrying extra weight, which hurts mpg.

 

Did the OP bite on this vehicle?

I don't know.
Generally, I am hesitant to recommend any type of investment into that high a miles Hybrid.
But at only a $3,400 buy in?
Even if you end up having to replace the Hybrid Battery at near the top end of OEM replacement cost you'd be under $7000.
The Miles are high, but at least you know why. It was a taxi, so it was basically like a shark....always moving.

Since it's chronologically a Gen 3? I might roll the dice on a $3400 investment just to see how many days, weeks, months or years, I might be able to enjoy a Gen 3 Prius.
If it became clear, that it needed TONS of work, beyond just a Hybrid Battery replacement? Then, that's a buy in cost, I might be willing to lose.

 

But wouldn't you say that once you reach a certain level of total miles what is the difference?
At some point all the colors bleed into one....
That is a Prius with 250,000 miles is about as likely to have any or all the same problems a Prius with 460,000 miles?

I kinda agree with the idea that you can surmise that at least for a lot of it's life it was pretty well maintained or it wouldn't of reached 460,000 miles period.
And I think you could buy a Prius with 1/2 that mileage, and still have all the problems you'd fear with 460,000 miles.

There is no way to spin this into anything but a risky roll of the dice. But it's an intriguing roll of the dice. The Gambler in me would almost want to take it....just for fun.

I guess maybe I'm flashing back to my younger...beater used car days, when it was kind of liberating to own cars where the expectation WAS that it would have problems.
It's a lot more unnerving to have a vehicle with 40,000 miles on it start making sounds or having a problem, than it is to have a vehicle that has reached that point where the miles are so high....you kind of just start ignoring it.

If you could absolutely guarantee me that the Prius with 250,000-300,000 miles is going to be a whole lot more trouble free than a Taxi Prius with 460,000 miles? OK.
But since I think either scenario is likely to have similar problems manifest? IMO it almost doesn't matter.

 

It's surely not infant mortality in the case of this car but the bathtub curve that would bother me. Everything has a reliability life expectancy and age is a determining factor. A 2012 with 460k has probably got a better chance at living much longer that a 25 year old car with that many miles on the clock (odometer). In fact the 25 year old car has most likely been recycled a long time ago. On top of that, a 25 year old car, cosmetically, would be in very poor condition and ready for extensive restoration. Cost prohibitive for sure. However, a 5 year old car with 460k miles, that has been meticulously maintained is a much different story. Especially for a mere $3400 dollars.

 

Simple rule of thumb.more miles always means more wear and tear.off course keeping in mind the maintenance was done.

 

On a side note, I hope whoever buys this Prius will become a member here and update the board on all of the maintenance and costs involved.

 

I kind of disagree.
I think there is appreciable difference in HOW you get the miles.

460,000 miles is a LOT of miles. I'm not denying that. Could ANY vehicle with that many miles have so many problems that owning it would be something nobody wants? Sure.
I have no illusions that a 460,000 mile vehicle is a "Creme Puff" or was driven by a little old lady that just happened to live a LONG way from church.

But my point is, 460,000 miles in basically 5 years, obviously accumulated primarily be being an in service taxi?
I think it pretty comparable to 250,000 miles maybe over more years, accumulated with stop and go, sit and drive, regular usage.

In fact? I think some of the hybrid aspects of a Prius, make it kind of a rare machine from the standpoint that it can do better, the more it is used. Keeping a Hybrid Battery active is IMO a good thing.
A Prius that has sat unused for long periods of time can have a lot of problems.

No don't get me wrong. A Prius is a machine. And 460,000 miles is a LOT of Miles. Could you be writing a check for a very expensive driveway ornament? Sure.

But at that price? If you got 12 months-16 months of usage? You could almost call it a good enough investment. 2 years or more? I'd be very happy.

 

Dang, after reading this thread, I feel pretty good about my 2010 Prius II. 104,000 miles, new (6/15/17) Toyota 12v batt, new Intelligent Power Module (IPM) replaced under 15 yr warranty recall 6/21/17, one owner, #6 on the Prius Chat 800 mile club list, ALL maintenance done on time, every time, full synthetic Mobil 1. No wrecks, no dents, no scratches.

 

Run. And only pay trade-in price for a Prius. Not this old one that's worn out. This is a buyer's market w gas prices so low.