Should I buy this Prius?

The answers you got from someone that knows nothing about cars, could just be the answers you want to hear.

Most likely it's burning oil at 188k miles. Most likely that is not the original hybrid battery. Most likely a base model does not have expensive problematic HID headlights.

For $3000 why not, but it's most likely not as good as you think it is

 

Is she the original owner? Run the VIN in the Toyota Owners website to see it's maint. history. I think most of the early Prius were meticously maintained since the early owners were really into the Prius. What does Kelly blue book say it's worth. Don't forget even it's a top notch car now there is quite a few big ticket items on the horizon considering it's age. HV battery ect.

 

I think in other parts of the country it would be about the same price. Since you are in LA I'm surprised it's not up for $6500 lol seems everything is overpriced in Cali. For 3k can't go too wrong I just strongly dislike the 04 and 05 models. No reason other than the interior seems like it was overhauled in the later years. Earlier years feel old and later gen 2 years have a more modern feel.

 

Probably all of them burn oil at a certain point (300k miles on original engine, for example) but just a guess.

Trans rarely fails just want to spend the $50 and replace the fluid every once in a while...It's a 20 minute job.

40mpg is what I get but it can swing wildly based on who is driving. 40 is on the low end. Bet there are people on this forum that would get 55mpg in it.

 

It sounds good but I'm amazed how much more CA Prius sell for compared to FL.

 

You had me at girl who knows nothing about cars. I want to see some maintenance receipts. She probably is not sure how to open the hood. This is a car that has never seen anything done to it unless it complained.

Run.

 

Even with all the "good news" it is, what it is.
That is, a 14 year old Prius with 185,000 miles on it. You can't really escape that reality.

If it's the original hybrid battery? Then I'd expect failure in the future. Maybe relatively near future.
If it isn't the original hybrid battery, rebuilt, refurbished...you're playing cards with a wild card dealt in. Lot's of posts with people experiencing problems with rebuilts and hybrid batteries.

I wouldn't purchase it, without simply accepting that investment in some form or another is probably very likely as far as the Hybrid Battery goes.

 

The prius was designed to go 180k miles relatively trouble free, after that it's a roll of the dice. It could be very good, it could start being a money pit. Chances are it'll still be pretty good.

I've sold 2 2005 models recently for $3000. Both over 200k miles. 1 was really nice very few issues, the other one burns a quart of oil every 1000 miles and engine wasn't making as much power. Both had it's transaxle replaced, one at 150k miles and one at 250k miles. One was an electrical failure and the other was a mechanical failure. Both cars were averaging over 40mpg and both cars had rebuilt batteries done by myself.

So for $3000, it's a roll of the dice. Cars will have high mileage, but you MAY be able to find one that's still relatively trouble free, but chances are they are going to be money pits very soon.