I am about to buy a Gen 3 Prius now in these last few days of 2025, but probably Jan 2026 due to holiday timing. My requirements are odd but real. Budget $8.000 USD (in US market) 160k miles or less (=nearly 0% chance of head gasket or oil consumption in next 50k miles) Toyota but not Lexus Hatchback/wagon Automatic climate control Backup camera IIHS rating is GOOD for both side/front. As of December 2025, that means Gen 2 or Gen 3 Prius. Venza and Prius V fit my requirements but clean listings are outside my budget. So: 1. Should I avoid white exterior because of the paint peeling problem? I actually would prefer white but not if it peels off. 2. Should I only buy 2014+ with VINs after revised piston and piston rings? 3. Should I just get a Gen 2 instead? Back in 2015, I bought a 2012 Prius V and it has been amazing so far. I had not known anything about Gen 3 head gasket or piston ring problems at the time. I am only at 94k miles today, so I don't have death knock or oil consumption problems yet. I can DIY oil changes, coolant drain/fill, EGR and intake manifold cleaning, spark plugs, etc. I am also okay with replacing the Hybrid battery some day, hopefully after 2030 but earlier if necessary. The money to buy a new battery is in a separate budget.
I put the odds of a Gen 3 Prius of having a head gasket problem at mileage of 160k to 210k at about 50% or more, definitely not near 0%.
at 160k miles, a gen 3 would soon be needing a brake actuator and hybrid battery. And then you have to worry about a head gasket afterwards. My 2010 just got the brake actuator replaced at 165k miles and hv battery failed back in 2020. I just have to look forward to the head gasket failing one day.......but with timely coolant changes and water pump replaced, fingers crossed that it won't happen.
I was about to say that you won't have to worry about the IIHS rating because the car is going to be a hangar queen buuuuut you're a G3 owner (victim) and you seem to know what you know. I'll leave the validity if an IIHS rating for a small car in a state that's over-represented by 4x4 trucks for another day. I have over 200,000 in G3s and I never felt that they were death traps - but my work car is now a 4x4 (barely) and my personal car is a truck, because physics really doesn't care about people's 'feels.' WHAT I WOULD DO if I woke up in your shoes is give you back your shoes. THEN I would look for a 2014-15 BASE MODEL with maintenance records from a private seller. I would not get one with an OEM backup camera for the same reason that it's moronic to buy a car with a "gps" system. You're paying for yesterday's technology with tomorrow's dollars. Reserve $300-400 for some tin-ear audio shop to install an aftermarket system which will solve both your phone integration issues and give you a functional backup camera. Priuschat has a marketplace where G3's show up for sale by PC people - who are generally more likely to have taken care of their car. Realistically speaking in places other than the Southeast US, Priuses are over-priced, so you may want to spend more than 8K buying in. (I paid $2.039 a gallon for my last fillup) Your budget should 'guide you,' not rule you. Good Luck!!!
You're not going to find a 160K mile car that doesn't burn some oil; even with the revised piston rings. They will usually be down at least 1/2 quart @ 10K intervals or 1/4 quart @ 5K intervals - is the best you can hope for. So that rules out pre-2015 gen3s. Also heard there's a booming business of odometer roll-backs on them. Good Luck on your search......
Thanks for the engagement and useful feedback. I'm surprised that gen3 engines will burn oil even with the revised piston rings, but I should have clarified I'm trying to avoid heavy oil consumption that will risk oil starvation on the engine--more than 1qt before 5k mile oil change internal. 1/4qt at 5k is livable on a 200k engine, since that means I don't actually have to top-off between oil changes. I'm okay with aftermarket camera too. So, if my goal is to just run a car for next 50k miles, would I have better luck with a 2010 gen3 with 100k miles? OR are you all saying I instead should go for gen2 Prius or a non-Prius?
I would give it a 75% chance of an expensive repair before 200k. Brake Actuator, HV Battery or Head Gasket especially on an unknown gen3. Given your luck is holding on your 2012 stay with it. You will have a big expense or two in your ownership on that one. I would consider a Rav4 hybrid in your price range if a hybrid has to be the second car. Better yet a conventional Civic, Corolla or Camry with due diligence. Remember any shop can repair a conventional model. Not so with a hybrid.
idk how many problems we've seen with the revised parts. you want 50k and how many years? and determining if the seller hasn't added stop leak can be an issue
I bought a 2012 Two with 142K a few weeks ago for $8500. So far, I have put 2000 miles and there is zero oil consumption. The coolant level has not changed and the battery health could be better, but it will likely last me a few more years. In the meantime, I spent $2000 more to buy a new EGR train, both water pumps, all new fluids, spark plugs, pcv valve, intake manifold and a new 12V oem battery. Once all those parts go in and fluids are replaced, the car is good for at least another 150K, if not longer. In all, I am happy with my purchase. It's a Prius I always wanted (red or white gen 3) and now I have it.
