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Buying used 2012 Prius

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by directedbyjim, Jan 17, 2023.

  1. directedbyjim

    directedbyjim New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2023
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    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Hey all,

    I'm looking to buy a CLEAN TITLE 2012 Prius 4 with 250k miles on it. It had an odometer rollback for 100k miles. The owner replaced the hybrid battery with one from Japan that had 30k miles on it and passed smog today. It was initially priced at $8k and I told him my budget was $7.3k and he willingly said yes.

    Any thoughts on this?
     
    #1 directedbyjim, Jan 17, 2023
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
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    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Bit confused; so does the car have 250K on it or 350K on the engine? Does the owner have dated receipts for everything?
    You should run a CarFax on it; just in case.3nd gens are know to pop head-gaskets; mostly noticeable on cold start mornings. If the engine is warmed-up the seepage will usually seal itself up.

    IMHO; with that kind of mileage; I'd ask for another 3K discount for incidentals; in case the wheels fall off. And I know how to fix cars. If you don't; I wouldn't buy it.
     
    #2 BiomedO1, Jan 17, 2023
  3. directedbyjim

    directedbyjim New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2023
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    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    The car has 250k miles on it. He has receipts for a Japanese engine installed in 2021 with 31k miles on that one. He also has smog papers from this morning a s well.
     
    #3 directedbyjim, Jan 17, 2023
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,611
    4,466
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    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Head gasket or engine, brake booster, inverter, egr clogging, liquids in the intake- all very common in a 2010-14 Prius making the car less reliable.

    I have never heard of a used battery from Japan - sounds fishy. A used/reconditioned battery from here but originally new in Japan - very common and not reliable.

    Other than poor reliability and close to $10k in future costs its an acceptable car. Don't buy it thinking you will save money.
     
    #4 rjparker, Jan 17, 2023
    Tim Jones and Leadfoot J. McCoalroller like this.
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,843
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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I'm with @rjparker.

    Get that car if you want to say you own a Prius.

    Get a younger one if you want to save money.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jan 17, 2023
    Tim Jones likes this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,726
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    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Just editorial, is this a regular Prius or Prius v you're looking at?
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Jan 17, 2023
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,796
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    run. run very fast
     
    #7 bisco, Jan 17, 2023
    Tim Jones likes this.
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