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I want buy a Prius but need some help/suggestions

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Freeze Time, May 15, 2018.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just start tracking tanks: fill before it's crazy low, always stop at first shut-off, note the gas qty and distance travelled, do the mpg math, repeat several times, report back with results.

    Like @bisco said.
     
  2. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    So the countdown is there to tell you when you have 2 gallons left? That's strange.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think more cars are like that than you realize. but with an analog gauge, and no low gas warning, it is more difficult to tell.
     
  4. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    FT, thanks for updating this thread. It's one of the more interesting ones on the board as I'm looking forward to seeing how buying a salvage at a steep discount turns out.

    Sorry if I missed this, but have you filled up an entire tank yet? If so, what was the number? I recall your first couple of trips resulted in 50+ mpg based on the tripometer. Fill up the tank and report the mpg (using hand calculation). Assuming your gen2 has both tripA and tripB, use one of them to track the entire tank of gas after each fill up. That way, you'll know (to within a 5-7% rounding error) how you're doing at any point.
     
  5. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    Huh? I posted already that I filled it up until the first click but after driving 3 miles, the top bar went down so I'm not quite sure I actually did fill it up all the way. My next fill up I will try to make sure it's actually full.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    be careful. if you overfill a prius, you can damage the vapor record system, which can get quite expensive.
     
  7. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    I more meant that maybe it was just a premature click. I have been to gas stations that would stop pumping gas like every 10 seconds.
     
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  8. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    What was the mpg for your tank again?
     
  9. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    Like I already posted, it was at 311 with 42 miles left until empty according to the gauge. I put a little over 9 gallons in 2 days ago so I guess I had about 3 still in the tank and it says I had 509 miles left so I reset the trip again and will see what I get this time.
     
  10. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Assuming that you previously filled up the tank to F, the only 2 numbers that are relevant are total miles driven for the next tank and how many gallons you pumped before the tank was full. You don't need to know how many miles are left when figuring out mpg. Variances in gas pumps are not a big deal as it will even out.

    311 miles/9 gallons = 34.5 mpg. I guess that's your benchmark. Hopefully the next tank will be better.
     
  11. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    I am at 370 miles so far and I am just under half a tank so like 4 or 5 lines left. My cruise control indicator popped up today but I didn't turn it on so I either accidentally hit it or hopefully just a weird glitch. I will turn the car on again in a couple of hours and see if it's still there.
     
  12. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    I decided to see how far the car can go with a blinking light. I am currently at 564 miles and estimate I probably have about a gallon left. That means I could probably get 600 miles on one tank of gas giving me around 50 MPG. I take it that is pretty normal right? I think it's awesome. I drive in ECO mode and used the A/C on and off.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's a fool's game; head for a gas station asap.
     
  14. HV Battery

    HV Battery New Member

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    Get a cheap high mileage 3rd gen prius that has been well taken care of.
    That's what I have, 290k miles & still running strong you can find them for around 5k on craigslist.
    I would avoid the 2nd gen though, lots of problems in the dash & weak hv batteries now
     
  15. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    Well my low air in the tires light came on last week but I still drove a good 50 miles or so before putting air in them and the light is gone now. Didn't get quite to 600 miles this time but that is understandable with the low air in the tires.
     
  16. Freeze Time

    Freeze Time Member

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    Just thought I would update this thread a little over 4 years later. Car has been awesome and I am glad I took a chance on a salvaged car. With prices crazy all over the place right now, I am sure I could sell it for more than I bought it for or at least break even but I am going to keep this car until it just refuses to run. Very happy with my purchase. I am now at 69,000 miles with no major problems at all.
     
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  17. markismail

    markismail New Member

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    The more miles you have left on the warranty, the better, because that has been the most common costly repair on the Prius. IMO, a weakening traction battery has been the reason why some owners put their Prius up for sale and let the next (unsuspecting) owner deal with it.
     
  18. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    That's exactly why.

    You can go on Toyota site and join the repair forum and put your vin in there and all that cars service records at a toyota dealer will come up.
    Many a burned buyer has done that after we sent them there to find out it was at the dealer and it got the death notice on the battery so they dumped it.

    The other main rearson I suspect is its a poorly maintained engine and is now eating alot of engine oil. Alot of these cars get traded in on the spot after the battery death notice and then go to auction and end up on a used car lots there new owners soon to show up on this site with a laundry list of malady's.
     
  19. Prius blog

    Prius blog New Member

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    Hello
    Hello Frezee Time
    A Prius with 25k-75k miles would be my first choice. Not sure how much can you get but look around theres plenty of fish out there
    It's a Toyota and the 1.8 2.0 engine last forever, not kidding 400k miles lve seen on a Prius cab up for sale in NYC
    You can push it a bit, let's say 100k miles+ but not recommendable if you are not prepare to replace wear and tear parts
    Ive started a blog about my views and documenting my expeience at priusdotblog so keep us posted on how your journey goes
    best of luck