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Prius 4 or 5?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by pwyu1969, Jun 3, 2021.

  1. pwyu1969

    pwyu1969 New Member

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    Hi all, looking at two 2014 Prius for my daughter. Both have clean carfax reports. Here are the specs.

    Prius 5 - 59K miles, $13,500. Two owners, lease, then sold to second owner. Seems like it was maintained regularly as it says oil changed every 5000 to 10000 miles or so. Over the 59K, it was maintained from different types of dealers, having oil changes at Midas for last 30K miles or so .

    Prius 4 - 36K miles, $14,800. One owner. Maintained at a Toyota dealer, says ‘maint. Inspection’ or ‘recommended mains’ performed every 5000 miles, but does not say explicitly say ‘oil and filter change’ except at 9K and 31K. Can I assume that a Toyota dealer would be changing the oil in between 9k and 31K in all those maint. Inspections?

    Finally, any advice on which to get? More features with the 5, but higher miles. Less features with the 4, but crazy low miles for the age.
     
    #1 pwyu1969, Jun 3, 2021
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Does the Five have the AT package? (or ATP as it's referred to here). LKA and DRCC would push me towards the Five. If not, then the Four is good. Will she be driving at night often? The LED low beam headlights (with headlight washers) may be beneficial if so (that's with the Five. The Four has halogens for low beams). However, there seems to be some early failure rates with the LED parking light that's above the headlight (not critical but seems early for them to show up in the forum as failures).

    Does the Four have the solar roof package? That could be useful in the summer to help ventilate the interior (Rather than let the heat build up). You can also fire up the A/C ahead of time to cool the interior further to a comfortable (but not cold) temperature before entering. (Depending on battery level)
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Jun 3, 2021
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    get the 4. more miles to go before the head gasket blows(y)
     
    #3 bisco, Jun 3, 2021
  4. Graz

    Graz Member

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    I disagree. Get the 5. There are plenty of miles left in that car.

    Via Prius Chat for Android
     
    #4 Graz, Jun 3, 2021
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    no test drive no buy.
     
    #5 Grit, Jun 3, 2021
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    One of those has the 17” rims, LED headlights, fog lights, revised steering ratios, some other goodies? Our 2010 CDN Touring is like that, not tradin’ any time soon. :)

    think you can check out the US brochures here:

    Auto-Brochures.com|Toyota Car PDF Sales Brochure/Catalog/Flyer/Info 4Runner 86 Avalon Camry Celica, CH-R, Corolla Corona Echo FJ Cruiser Highlander Land Cruiser Mark II
    Matrix Mirai MR2 Prius RAV4 Sequoia Sienna Solara Supra Tacoma Tundra Venza Yaris

    yeah it’s level 5 has all the stuff mentioned above. Plus radar cruise with auto-braking and seatbelt tensioning IIRC:

    https://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Toyota/Prius/Toyota_US%20Prius_2014.pdf

    and best of all, if you’re so inclined: no sunroof.

    and homelink mirror, though that’s maybe on the 4, too? Check the brochure.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jun 4, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2021
  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Don't buy either unless it is a 2014 with a vin higher than these. Otherwise you are likely in for excessive oil consumption and very real potential for head gasket failures. And don't get me started on the inverter and brake booster flaws. All acknowledged by Toyota. A good vin only helps on the oil consumption. Used cars for your kids should be reliable. Conventional Camry, Corolla or Civic.

    Excessive Oil Consumption Years Vin.jpg
     
    #7 rjparker, Jun 4, 2021
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  8. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Darn, missed it by 1 month.
     
    #8 MelonPrius, Jun 4, 2021
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Meh, our 2010’s not burning ANY. Only 90k kms though; time will tell.

    still, is it conflation, saying revised pistons/rings prevent head gasket failure? My “hunch” is that ailment is due to clogged Exhaust Gas Recirculation system.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Jun 4, 2021
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