Hello! COnsidering a new or used Prius 2 or 3

I have been reading a bit on this forum and appreciate the useful info and insights being shared.
I am leaning towards a used Prius 2 or 3*. A couple of opening questions for you folks familiar with this very new to me vehicle.
Back up Camera*:
1) Do you use it alot?
2) Do you find it to be a very useful feature, or not that much after newness wear off?
3) Do you just get used to the rearward visability as it is?

Reasons to select one year over another:
1) Are iPhone or Android phone interactivity (listening, rewinding in a song or book, touch screen interactivity) improved in 'x ' year?
2) Other reason to select a particular year?
3) Does Entune add much over normal smart phone App use?

*BU Cam is only reason I'd go for "3". We have Nav. on our iPhone and Android phones (Waze lovers actually ;o)

Thanks for any insights and this great site!
Dave

 

Thanks for the input. It is valuable. As I am looking at used Prius' it is helpful to know that seeing a 3 0r 4 at a bit more $ or more miles is worth seriously considering. I am pretty settled on 'used' now as it will be my wife's commute car mainly and she has coffee spill accidents and gets make up on stuff. She likes her car to be her domain, and be as messy. It would be easier for my 'picky Pete'nature ;o) if this was on a used Prius (my foible ;o).

Question on upholstery:
1) would we be OK with dark cloth seats on a 2010, 11 or 12, or would the OEM leather like if we find it at an OK price, be pretty important. I figure we would Spray a lot of ScotchGaurd on cloth seats to help with spills and our two 10lb dogs (sometimes muddy feet on seats). Our two cars now HYundai XG350 (selling) and Sebring Convertible both have leather seats, so they are forgiving to spills & mud.
2)Does the OEM leather like come on the 4, or just the 5 (for 2010-2012)?

Thanks again for the great info.
PS. Wife said lets prep the Hyundai and put it on Craig's list. She is now committed! ;o)

 

Well, with one white one light color shedding dogs, the dark cloth l covers do not sound so good now that you mention it! It sounds like I better look for a used four or five to get the softex seats.

Are the softex seats standard on the four as well as the five in model years 2010 through 2012?

I currently see on craigslist a 2010 Prius Four with 30,000 miles for $18,500. Any hesitations about a 2010 or the 30,000 miles?. I was hoping staying in that price range , But I was hoping to get 2011 or 2012. Assuming I am now looking at least at a Four, What might be the considerations to choose a higher price 2011 2012?

About 25% of the Prius is I see on craigslist in my area are salvage. I have read to avoid those. Any other thoughts on that?

 

Do ALLl fours (and fives for that matter) come with leatherette/soft text? Or were some '10-'12 fours (and fives) spec'ed with cloth?
If it is a four or five are Softek seats a given?

Thanks for the info.

 

Zed, Thank you for the backup camera info.
My wife and I just left a Toyota dealership. We got a good education on the 2013's. We decided that very important feature for us was Softek seats. We have two small dogs with white hair so We figured that cloth seats would get covered with hair (and little muddy paws from time to time). We learned that Softek seats are not standard on any level, but options (mostly on three's and above). Softex seats requirement is going to bump up our cost but living with filthy cloth seats would definitely decrease our enjoyment of the previous over its lifetime.

Now I'll be looking for slight differences between model years that might sway a choice of one used car versus another. (LED tail lights, stereo quality?, other?)

 

Where is the battery blower intake on the GEN three Prius? Is there a possible dog hair issue with Gen III ?
ZED, thanks for this heads up.