In Europe. Gas $9 a gallon. should I buy Prius or Yaris?

Where in Europe its been awhile since I been in countries . Not sure how bad the Prius would be with the battery being out. 9 think possibly pretty bad

 

it's not just the battery, there are lots of expensive systems and computers requiring special diagnostic equipment.
can be difficult to find repair shops, you'll never save gas money, even at $9.00

 

The cold will kill the efficiency unless the traction pack and regular battery has been winterized (ie. heater blanket w/plug-in). IMHO; a high mileage used Prius is going to make your mechanic very happy and you very poor. Stick with the Yaris; easy and cheap to repair; because the gas saving isn't going to pencil out when you calculate total cost of ownership projected forward.
Another question you need to ask; Why are they selling that Prius so cheap; when gas prices are $9 a gallon? It sounds like your buying someone else's problem. There are a lot of things that can be "dumped" into a car to get it to "run" and "cover-up" problems for a while.

 

Here in the US, rebuilt/reconditioned hybrid batteries are available ($1200 US) for DIY and installed ($1500 US - they come to you!) Hence, certainly worth replacing here. In Europe - uhh? Without that info, no way can we really advise.

As for bad electrical components, again, here in US, ebay (via junkyards) readily supply useful parts (i.e. money back if they don't work) so DIY repair is easy and cost effective on many of these parts (through the ABS unit is certainly NOT one of those - lol.)

As a result, for me, this is the cheapest car to own/operate - great milage, many easy to DIY repairs (the entire console can be removed in under 45 min and is easier yet to reinstall), inexpensive spare parts available online, and ready sources for a hybrid battery online. Europe???

If you want an old Gen 2/3 Prius the hybrid battery is just one of three major likely need to replace issues: the ABS unit might become an issue (really not easy and never buy used) and the catalytic converter/oxygen sensor system is likely in need of replacement.

The Gen 2 has the troublesome bladder tank which is frankly, a really bad design that creates many problems. This often leads to having far lower fuel capacity. A red flag that will only be noted after getting the car and driving it till the low fuel blinking light and discovering it only holds 20 liters ... or less!

 

In Europe no bladder tank so it's like the yaris changeable fuel pump sock filter and level sender . It's only federal thats bladder as I understand it anyhowwww.

 

Yaris.
Fewer things to have to worry about replacing.....

 

The risk of expensive problems always rises with age in a car- but it rises faster with hybrids.

So I'd tell anyone- if you are looking at cars greater than 8 years old, avoid hybrids.

 

Especially if you always pay other people to work on the car. If a person can do the work themselves and has the time, space, and tools to do so making those expensive fixes can be reasonably affordable. The most extreme case of this is probably doing a head gasket on a 3rd generation Prius. The parts are not very expensive, but it is a lot of labor. Swapping the HV pack is more like 2X price difference because the part is expensive but it is very little labor.

 

If you are in the US and are willing to tolerate days of downtime as you find used parts and are willing to pay $1500 for a used hybrid battery that will need work in a year or two AND truly understand how a hybrid works AND have a protected work area AND have some specialized tools and scanners, then yes, buy the cheap 18 year old Prius.

But don't be disappointed a few days later if the seller cleared the hybrid battery code or your heat does not work and you learn there are two extra pumps and a complicated extra valve in this car. Or the very expensive catalytic converter code was cleared and now its back.

Which is the reason a 2008 Prius is a big no. One "repair" will total the car.