Prius 3rd gen common issues before buying

Are you suggesting this gen Prius isn't durable from a time standpoint? Or just not worth it from a financial standpoint.

Or save in hotel/AirBnB costs OR rent in a high cost of living city for a few months . In the Bay or NYC as a software dev, average salary ranges from around $100k-130k. Most seasoned devs after 3-5 years are making around $130-150k in the Bay, and around $100-130k in NYC. A junior level dev after doing a 3 month bootcamp program or fresh CS graduate usually starts around $100k. Now in NYC that isn't a lot after rent which is like $1500-2k/month for something decent with reasonable commute. For the young, and ambitious, you can save an easy $20k-24k/year there, then the ability to travel to cool places like the Keys, Fl, Martha's Vineyard, and check them out for free. But I'm younger, and I realize older people are in a different situation & I only plan to live this lifestyle for a few months at best.

The thread I saw about the DIY EGR cleaning mentioned one of you needing some help from someone to point some things out – it seems like something that would be obvious if someone showed you but if you get stuck on your own you might stumble – no idea though haven't really studied the EGR cleaning vids yet. I don't really feel comfortable being under a 3,400 pound car - yeah I get jack stands are safe and all, but don't trust doing it myself. However, if it doesn't really require being under the car, and not a lot of dismantling of the parts around the engine bay, I could do it. The most repairs I've ever done was replacing the O2 sensor on my Camry, upgrading the stereo receiver, etc. When I drove the car up the Rhino Ramps the left front car wheel fall over it leaving only the right wheel on one Rhino Ramp and the left Rhino Ramp wedged between the engine cover and floor. That wasn't fun.

 

Probably 15-30 years – the car is a keeper for me personally b/c of the 12V battery in the back for inverter use. Up to 1200W for use that can be used for a microwave, electric hot plate, iron, water boiler, etc via ready mode usage. Then DC portable cooler via 12V cigarette lighter (via a Dometic PLB40 lithium phosphate 2000 cycle 40Ah (500Wh) battery. Throw on a solar panel, so I guess until the day the car dies, or rusts up, or accident. It's a pretty future proof car – all I would add is CarPlay I guess, don't care for the dynamic radar cruise control, and other autonomous features like parallel parking, etc. and the 50 MPG on it will still beat most new gasoline cars ten years from now.

Of course by then, I'd like to have a used Land Cruiser (I love the 100 series the most but by then it'll be way too old), so maybe a 200 series LX570 ~2016, and a new Honda S2000 or Porsche 911. One can dream

 

At some point down the road, I would consider a way newer Prius - the 4th gen doesn't have a 12V battery for inverter use in the cabin unfortunately, otherwise that would be my pick - not to mention the '17-'18 models are still not at a good price for me personally. If the car gives me another 10-15 years, I'll be happy. That would make a '15 Prius about 19 years if it's 15 years from now. My '01 Camry was totaled about a year ago, so about 18 years of reliable worry free service, & still had plenty of years left. Mom's running a 2002 V6 Camry XLE with 150k miles, and no signs of stopping, and runs smoothly, but she'll probably get the 2019 Rav4 Hybrid (40 mpg!) in about 2-3 years when the prices fall a bit.

No idea about how many people actively driving first gen Priuses on the road - but 42 mpg is not bad for a car that was produced in the US 20 years ago.

 

Yeah true - the other factors are seats don't fold flat, no solar panel, and the '16 1st MY woes. The '17 is a little beyond my price point at ~$20-22k for top trim, vs. mint condition 40k miles '15 top trim for about $16k.

I get what you're saying. I guess when the engine or transmission becomes prohibitively expensive - say $5-8k+ I'll consider upgrading then. Priuses and most Toyotas seem to be pretty cheap to maintain over the long run if past experience and data suggests, so I hope to keep it for some time until it no longer becomes cost effective to maintain.

 

I've read if you're using it for taxi service it's 5k miles, but I think a lot of experienced posters on here stick with 10k mile schedule. I think main thing is to check the oil dip stick to make sure it's above level and it should be fine.