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Potential New Prius Owner

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jazz-n-prius, Jun 2, 2021.

  1. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    Good morning,

    I am looking into purchasing a Prius. I am wanting to spend 7-9K on a nice Prius. I have found one at a used car dealership that seems quite nice. I have already checked it out and it looks good no leaks, runs smooth and strong. It is a 2008 Prius Touring with package 6 so it has everything. It only has 50k miles on it which is crazy low for this year. Carfax shows 0 accidents and it shows the Prius was serviced at the Same Toyota dealership every 6 months and got the oil changed regardless of miles (which were usually only 1,500 between services) and has received all of the Toyota recommended services at 15k, 30k, etc. Other than normal oil changes and services, it has had a few repairs at the same Toyota dealership done which include 2 water pumps (do these go out a lot on this generation?), valve cove gasket, oil pan gasket, axle seals, and rear shock absorbers. Kind of a lot of repairs for such a low mileage vehicle, but the owner might have been one who just told the dealership to fix anything and everything even if it was just the first sign of weeping.

    Now my question for you is, does this seem worth 9-10k? It is a bit higher in price by about a thousand dollars from the ones I am looking at, but the other Priuses have 80K+ miles. The batteries were not replaced so even though the car has low miles, the batteries are 14 years old. I am wanting a Prius because I am trying to save on gas. I drive a Tundra and as much as I like it, it is draining my wallet when it is my daily driver and children's taxicab. I don't want to get a vehicle that I will have to dump money into because then I might as well just keep driving my Tundra. I know buying a used older car has its risks, which I am willing to take, but I don't want to take foolish risks. I use to own a 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid and absolutely loved it but due to major financial changes I had to get rid of it. Thanks in advance for all of your advice.
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Good job pulling the carfax before purchase.
    How many miles per year would you drive this prius?

    FYI - your posts are being moderated until you've posted five times.
     
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Used car dealers are as dishonest as the day is long and not only do they over charge you one to two thousand, but what they sell is less reliable than buying from a private seller. Search on craigslist or other sites and buy from a private seller, preferably an old person that doesn't need to drive anymore as they sell the best cars and do the transaction in your bank parking lot so there's lots of security cams around and you don't have to carry the cash or the check very far.
     
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  4. lexidium

    lexidium Active Member

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    I don't know what car prices are like in the US but if someone here (UK) quoted me $10k (£7k) for a 2008 Prius I would have choked on my bacon sandwich:D:D
     
  5. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    @SFO The mileage is approximately 3,500/year, and looking at the Carfax, it appears to be quite consistent. Usually every six months (when it went in the the dealer for service as shown on the Carfax) was between 1200-2000 miles or 2500-4000/year.

    @PriusCamper I completely agree with used car dealers. I have always avoided them (I usually only buy brand new so I know exactly what I am getting and how it was maintained). The only reason I am even considering this one is yes it is a bit more expensive by about 1000-2000 more than similar year Priuses, but this one has far lower mileage (50k vs 80-90k) has the highest packages where the others are usually Prius 2 or 3, and this has the most detailed Carfax of dealer service I have ever seen (it's incredible-it doesn't just say went to dealer, it specifies exactly what was done at each service). If I were going with a private party, I cannot imagine finding service records as detailed or complete as these and I would be only going off of what they tell me.

    Any advice on how the batteries might hold up? Is it likely that they would die under 100k? I don't expect them to last to 200k because they are already old in age but I figure if they make it to 100k then the car will be paid off well before then and it won't be as big of a deal replacing them.

    Lastly, if I were to have to replace the batteries, it seems like most people on this forum don't like the reconditioned route and suggest going the OEM new route. Is that the majority consensus?

    Thanks again as I am very new to knowing the ins and outs of Prius ownership.
     
  6. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    If only driving 3.5k miles per year, you may be better off with a conventional vehicle like a Civic, Corolla, etc.
    Be sure to cross check that carfax by running the VIN at : Track Your Service Records with Your Toyota Owners Account
    Hit or miss at 13 years old, but that HV battery could likely benefit from reconditioning by using a "grid charger" on it.
    Generally speaking, yes. There are a few to choose from in the 'new' aftermarket, and then the new OEM option.
     
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  7. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    If it's only 1 thousand dollars more than the ones you have been looking at have you tried offering 1 thousand dollars less?

    They probably got it for cheap. Owners probably traded it in on another Toyota, at the dealer that did all the work would be my guess. Although the mileage is very low a new car dealer might not want to sell a car that old. At least not a car with as many high dollar problem points as a Prius.
     
  8. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    @SFO No I will be driving it much more at least 10k/year more likely 15k/year.

    @Skibob I have started negotiating and I've got it down a bit in price. for the price of 9-10k, I can get this one with super low miles or I could get one a few years newer around 2012-2013 and the batteries would not be as old but they would have 100-110K on them.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems like a great car, but yeah, 13 years old, you never know.

    but spending 1k less on double the mileage doesn't seem worth it either
     
  10. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    @Skibob what other high dollar problem points should I be aware of. From what I’ve read online the main one is batteries until it reaches miles of 250-300k. I like to be well informed before I purchase things.
     
  11. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    If you search the Gen 2 forum you will find your answers. Traction Battery and brake booster system (I forget what they call it) would be the 2 most expensive. Catalytic Converter on a Gen 2 is like the golden ticket for thieves also. In California that's an over 2 grand replacement, every time it's stolen.
     
  12. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    In my opinion, the Prius you've described is probably worth 8k. Maybe it could stretch to 9K, but my range would probably be 7-8K for that car. Also, high mileage Prii are nothing to worry about. My recommendation? Get a much newer Prius with a lot more miles. A 2012-2013 with 100-150K would be worth the same or more in my opinion, and as you said would probably be the same price. I bought my Prius at 216K miles and it's still going just fine at 251K.
     
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  13. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Maybe not a Gen3 with possible head gasket or EGR problems.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  14. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    Thanks @Skibob I'll look into the brake booster issue. @oldtechaa I agree the price is a bit too high, I will try to negotiate the price down or just skip it and find a different one.
     
  15. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    How many of y'all still are running the original batteries? Does anyone have any experience with owning a low mileage Prius that still has the original batteries?
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    common belief is that low miles are worse than high, the battery likes usage. some proof in high mileage taxi's.
    still, there are lots of gen 2 with original batteries, but no one's keeping track of them all.

    if i could get the right price to plan on a new battery, i would go for it. the only other big expenses are the brake actuator and a/c compressor and cat converter in cali, almostva guaranteed theft every time you install a new one for 2k.
     
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  17. fleafrier1

    fleafrier1 Junior Member

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    I bought a 2009 with 42k on it last year and paid 9k + tax & tags. I thought it was a bit much but it was the same deal as yours, completely dealer maintained with records to back it up. I even financed part of it because I wanted to retain some cash on hand due to uncertainty about where the pandemic was going. A year later at 53k and counting I don’t regret it. I was able to pay the car off and now it costs almost nothing to own compared to what I used to drive. The hybrid battery is good but not great. That’s the only thing. I think it will need replacing in the next few years.
     
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  18. jazz-n-prius

    jazz-n-prius New Member

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    @fleafrier1 Thanks. That is direct experience I am looking for. Why is your battery not great? Is your MPG not as high as it should be since it doesn't hold a good charge?
     
  19. fleafrier1

    fleafrier1 Junior Member

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    It seems to discharge fairly quickly in stop & go traffic. But it charges reasonably quickly once I get going again. I can maybe squeeze like 47-8 mpg out of her if I keep under 70 but I usually get about 42 the way I drive commuting on 101 every day.

    I should also mention my cat got stolen 3 weeks after I bought the car. I was insured so I got a new one from the dealer but it still set me back $750 with deductible. If you get this car don’t waste any time getting some protection for your cat. You will like need it at some point. So figure that cost in addition to the price of the car.
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and keep in mind they are stealing the ones with protectors too
     
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