Totaled in Sedona

Well that really sucks. I would drive to Tucson as planned in the rental and look for a good used Gen II in Tucson. Then continue on with my trip (provided no new medical problems arise). Did the car who crossed the median have insurance? If so you may have a small windfall headed your way. If you buy a good Gen II at a decent price and decide later you want to get the PIP, you can always trade it in and lose very little. I would let the insurance handle the 02.

 

"We're a long way from Portland...and are uncertain whether to look for another Classic, 'upgrade' to a 2011 or 12, or spring for the PIP we've waited 12 years for (but can't really afford)."
Very sorry to hear about your accident, hope that you don't suffer long-term soft tissue damage from the impact.

Given the three alternatives you proposed, buying a 2011 or 2012 seems to be the most reasonable. I wouldn't buy another Classic and expect it to perform on long road trips, without a substantial maintenance investment.

Since Phoenix is much larger than Tucson, you may want to first stop in Phoenix if you plan to buy a vehicle while in Arizona. Presumably you would have a larger selection available to you there.

Good luck with your decision.

 

You have two excellent suggestions to which I would only add:

• 2009 model - the last of that series, it will have all known manufacturing fixes and possibly some residual warranty. It has a lot more space than the NHW11 and power.
• 2012 model - this is the first update of this model and will have many infantile problems corrected. It has even more space and significantly more power and used, come with substantial savings.

Do use the Internet to search for Prius available from dealers on your trip. Be a patient and reluctant buyer ('Just stopped in on our way to <someplace> but saw your ad') and be willing to walk away from a deal. Ask them if you can call back later 'after we talk with our banker' . . . or find another. Your price goes down proportional to your ability to walk away from the deal AND the the last week of the month. <GRINS>

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

If your in the price range of a plug-in, consider the Lexus CT200h. Private value for a 2011 is about 18k now.
Plus it looks great in Sunrise Yellow...

 

I have a buddy in Vancouver WA who sells Prii that have been totaled. He trucks them from the wrecking yard, fixes them up and sell them to people like me. I've bought two model 2002 Prii from him and the prices are reasonable. PM me if you want his name/number.

 

Glad you are doing OK after the accident. If you were happy with your 02 you might look at a Prius C. It would be closer to the size and performance of your 02 and might save you some money compared to a gen III or a Volt.

 

Sounds good, except I hope you are budgeting a four-digit amount to repair the AC if the dealer is not on the hook to do that. Certainly it is not normal for the AC to fail so quickly and this failure may be due to front-end accident damage to the condenser in front of the radiator.

 

Wow. Glad the Prius helped you come out of your accident with minimal harm to everyone.

Congratulations on your Gen III purchase. Hope you can get the AC issue squared away with minimal effort and cost.

 

I remember that part of Washington, near Portland OR, as being fairly mild in the summer. Hopefully, it is just a fuse but you never know. One thing for sure, no compressor clutch!

The condenser is built into the radiator so take a few minutes to check under the parking spot to look for any coolant leaks. The AC is nothing compared to losing coolant and potentially the engine or inverter. I'm not trying to 'set your hair on fire' but this probably needs an early check. Hopefully, it is just a blown fuse.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

"I had chalked the need for an early recharge up to overuse of the AC during the rental life of the new car."
Actually, the more the air conditioning system is used, the more likely the system will remain in good working order (as long as there is no accident damage.) This is because the air conditioner compressor seals will remain lubricated and in good condition, with continual use.

My 2004 has logged 170K miles and the air conditioning system has not required any service. The AC is on whenever the car is running, other than in very cold ambient temps like 60 degrees F or cooler. Sometimes the AC compressor is running even then, to expedite defrost.

Since the car has been operated primarily in Honolulu, northern and southern CA, and southern AZ, cold winter conditions are not encountered that frequently.

Regarding a coolant leak, just keep an eye on the radiator overflow container and also check the level in the radiator itself, from time to time. If the coolant level remains constant then no worries.

I suggest that you have your local Toyota dealer inspect the air conditioning system (and for that matter, the rest of the vehicle.) Let the service writer know that you just bought the car and are aware the refrigerant had been recently recharged. Ask for the service tech to figure out where the refrigerant is leaking and provide you a quote for its repair.

 

Very nice! Congratulations denovo!