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2012 PIP... Gamble or good buy?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Eric Brathole, Apr 11, 2019.

  1. Eric Brathole

    Eric Brathole New Member

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    Location:
    Bloomington, IN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Looking at a 2012 PIP. 2012 fully loaded with 8x,xxx mi, asking under $10k. Seems to be in great condition, but.... has been sitting for sale for a LONG time. I assume 12v bat will need replaced on principle if anything else, but what do any of the experts think about the Lithium bat? Car has been in cold weather states its whole life. Unknown if charger is included yet. Should have techstream running today. Can it be used as a reliable gauge of traction batt health? Thanks in advance for the expert weigh ins!

    Side note, looking at this to upgrade my 2012 Prius V base. Which I love, but has 175k. It still drives like a new car, and is getting 50+ in the city. Has some rust on the bottoms of the passenger side doors. Had to make the first repair in the cars life the other day (replace stuck caliper). Concerned I might have to start throwing money at it to keep it driving like new. But its great. Should I just stick with her and deal with the rust somehow, or move on?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #1 Eric Brathole, Apr 11, 2019
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  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Welcome, Eric.

    The PiP is a fine car. The only thing that ever went wrong with mine in the 2-1/4 years and 26k miles I had it was the A/C compressor, which I had replaced with a used one for a total of $300. It had a hair under 90k on it when I traded it for the Prime.

    (Be aware that the PiP is a gateway drug that leads to Prime. :LOL:)

    I'm not sure what you mean by "fully loaded." If you mean the Advanced trim as opposed to the base that I had, that looks like a good price depending on rust.

    The battery is a potential concern, but you should have about one more year of warranty on it. I would check out its EV driving range before buying it. And insist on getting the EVSE cable with it or else a price consideration to get your own at roughly $200. (The charger is inside the car, built in under the battery, btw.) Mine was getting 10-14 miles of EV in an EV friendly climate, but EV hostile traffic conditions. Techstream will also give you inside info on the battery.
     
    #2 jerrymildred, Apr 11, 2019
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    tough question. how long is long? we do know that lithium doesn't like to sit full, but empty may be okay, i'm not sure.
    if you do bite, make a lowball offer
     
    #3 bisco, Apr 11, 2019
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Will something like Dr Prius app work on the Plug-In? It's an app on your phone, you plug a dongle into the OBDII port, then you can see hybrid battery info?

    Probably the hybrid battery is good, just the 12 volt would be knackered. Just a thought.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Apr 11, 2019
  5. JacksonMs

    JacksonMs Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Have the car checked out for sure if it has been sitting a long time.. By the way, I had a 2007 Prius that I put about 200K on before I sold it. I purchased at 2012 Plug in and now have about 200K on it as well. Both cars were excellent.. no unexpected costs, and the cars never left me stranded on the side of the road.
    I am considering buying either a lightly used Prius Prime or a BMW i3 next.
     
    #5 JacksonMs, Apr 11, 2019
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  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That's terrific!! I gotta say that I'm madly in love with my lightly used Prime, especially coming from a PiP myself. But we all have different tastes, so enjoy the hunt. (y)
     
    #6 jerrymildred, Apr 11, 2019
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you like reliability, stick with prius. if you are adventurous, pick up an i-3 :cool:
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 11, 2019
  8. SlidingBike

    SlidingBike Active Member

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    Oh!! my Jerry!!!! You are now Prime Crowned? Never noticed that.. I envy you till I am crowned the same..
    Congrats!! I know you got a new toy, you may be busy .. :) playing with it.
     
    #8 SlidingBike, Apr 12, 2019
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  9. SlidingBike

    SlidingBike Active Member

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    Most of the folks on this forum are Reliability and value focused... (at least, I am ) :)
     
    #9 SlidingBike, Apr 12, 2019
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Thanks. Yes, I am smitten with this car. I've never had a car do that to me before and I'm about to turn 66 years old.
     
    #10 jerrymildred, Apr 12, 2019
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  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I guess I’ll be a step ahead in car excitement on Sunday at 37 then(y).
     
    #11 Raytheeagle, Apr 13, 2019
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Sunday?! Oh wow! I hope you don't lose as much sleep as I did in anticipation before and after getting it. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
    #12 jerrymildred, Apr 13, 2019
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    If only;).

    I lose sleep for other reasons :cool:.

    But I’m more excited than the wife is:love:.

    One of her friends was over last night and the wife mentioned what we were doing Sunday as well the color and she called it the “electric blueberry”:LOL::ROFLMAO::LOL::ROFLMAO:.

    I think I need something more than that(y).
     
    #13 Raytheeagle, Apr 13, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2019
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