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2004 Prius Purchase - Need Help!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by zm15, Sep 15, 2009.

  1. zm15

    zm15 Junior Member

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    Hey everyone, you really have a great thing going on here!

    Need some advice from the pros. Looking at a 2004 Prius with 90K miles on it. Is this too many miles to be picking up a Prius? I've been looking around to see other's experiences with this year. Curious as to what you have to say about this many miles, and the future repair costs, hybrid battery, etc...

    Thanks so much for your help!
     
    #1 zm15, Sep 15, 2009
  2. ravenmaniac

    ravenmaniac Senior Executive VP of Nothing

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    Go for it if the price is right! Have a dealer look the car over and ask the owner for any maintenace records on the vehicle. Future repair costs are like any other car, maybe a little higher. The hybrid battery should be good til 150k easy. Brakes hardly ever need to be replaced due to regeneration (it most likely has the original brakes still on it). 90k is not very many miles on a Prius if it was taken care of by its owner. Good Luck and keep us updated....:welcome:
     
    #2 ravenmaniac, Sep 15, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  3. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    what is the asking price and what do you plan to offer?
     
    #3 morpheusx, Sep 15, 2009
  4. zm15

    zm15 Junior Member

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    That's the crazy sweet part about it.

    Asking $10,477, pretty sure i can get him down to around $9,500

    I am having it checked out by one of the best mechanics in the state that teaches technicians in dealerships on how to work on Prius Hybrids. So i'm not worried there :)

    Just curious about the higher cost expenses down the road.
    Any thoughts on those??
     
    #4 zm15, Sep 15, 2009
  5. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    It sounds like a decent deal especially under $10K
    It is however due for some maintenance at 100,000 miles. If you are just somewhat handy it wont cost you very much either. The most notable below.

    I would say its safe to assume that the transaxle fluid needs changed. Even the most conservative people say no more then 100,000 miles (despite the "lifetime fluid") I just did my transaxle fluid it cost me about $35 approx to do myself (it's literally as easy as an oil change).
    at 100,000 miles it is due for new spark plugs (OEM plugs are Iridium so expect them to be expensive if you go the OEM route, also I believe its due for coolant drain and refill as well. I think there is a sticky for Maintenance what you need what you don't in the Gen II Maintenance Forum.


    I went ahead and added the link
    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...70-what-services-you-need-what-you-don-t.html
     
    #5 morpheusx, Sep 15, 2009
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  6. zm15

    zm15 Junior Member

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    Thanks! i prefer to get my hands dirty rather than take it in if it can be avoided and save some money. I will check out the maintenance sticky too.

    Anyone hearing of the 2004 prius going 300k?

    got 400k and 300k+ from 2 honda accords, so i have high expectations :)
     
    #6 zm15, Sep 15, 2009
  7. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Taxi fleets had cars with that kind of mileage without expensive repairs.
     
    #7 JimN, Sep 15, 2009
  8. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I know a lady that has 177k on her 04. Only thing she does is regular maint., car never needed anything out of the ordinary
     
    #8 paprius4030, Sep 16, 2009
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What they said. And, if they don't come with the car, buy copies of the Owner's Manual and the Scheduled Maintenance Guide, online or from a dealer. They will save you trouble and money.
     
    #9 richard schumacher, Sep 16, 2009
  10. zm15

    zm15 Junior Member

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    UPDATE: hey everyone, thanks for your input, well it turns out this car wasn't taken car of very well. It had door accident damage, cracked serpentine belt, and who knows when they changed the oil. The mechanic said it was in terrible shape.

    So off to the next one. Much better i think. 2008 with 36k miles :) we'll where that one goes and if we can get them at the price we want.
     
    #10 zm15, Sep 18, 2009
  11. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    You dodged a bullet! Better luck with the next one. Let us know how it goes.
     
    #11 richard schumacher, Sep 18, 2009
  12. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    EXCELLENT JOB at doing your homework first and getting it inspected.
     
    #12 morpheusx, Sep 19, 2009
  13. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    let us know when you get your baby :)
     
    #13 Sandy, Sep 21, 2009
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