Move on or Invest?

There are bunches of places strategically located throughout the country shops dedicated seemingly to this 2ZZ work so there's always that. I've talked to a few of em interesting for sure.

 

Another shop to consider if you don't have anything local is TCCN Automotive outside of Chicago. It is the same guy that runs "The Car Care Nut" on YouTube. TCCN Automotive

Some other important items are when the last time the EGR was cleaned and/or Hybrid battery health. I think those are the 3 main issues (brake, EGR, and battery). There are also smaller issues like water pump and front engine oil leak which may be an issue but not as expensive as the 3 issues above. If you do keep it but don't drive it as often make sure to put the 12v battery on a tender.

Are you going to keep it as a personal 2nd car, or do you have children that will start to drive soon and want to save it for them?

 

Transport a car from AL/FL to Buena Park, California for that?

There are competent shops all over. I've heard of Daytona Hybrids in Titusville (they might avoid gen 3 though), and Tampa Hybrids in Lake Magdalene (where @jerrymildred has done some work). Surely there must be others.

 

And if your answer is "what's EGR?" (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), your head gasket is likely close to failure.

 

... according to one theory of causation whose adherents on PriusChat are especially vocal.

 

Sigh…

 

What can you about him Mendel, it is just the way he is...

To the OP I would take it to a shop closer to you, though HybridPit is by far an awesome place to take your prius and they do great work, which makes them very busy and I would not take my car their if I lived where you do.

Do you have any check engine lights or codes?

Not using it much, then just unplug the 12v and pull the orange safety plug from the hybrid battery.

 

as much as you like it, if you can't diy, i would move on. taking it to a shop for a health check is just wasting good money.
if you don't have a local shop for hybrid repairs (which will be coming) and you don't want to fork over your bank account to a dealer, sell it to someone who can take care of it, it is worth good money.

 

You're basically knowledgeable enough to know what's going to fail next and the used car dealer or prospective buyer likely won't and they'll probably have a fair amount of time before the warning lights at this early stage.

So if I were you I'd either sell it right away as is, or have the booster pump work done first then sell it to friend or family member who will be far more blessed to have it as a daily driver than you having it as only an occasional driver.

Besides, letting go it will likely open the door to something else coming along for that parking space.