Taking a Gamble?

Search for an 8 to 10 year old low mileage Toyota Corolla, for your position in life at this time, it is a much better bet.

 

I agree with Munpot42.

College student and then travelling on a tight budget means you don't want to take a bigger chance on a car with high mileage on it. Finding a well maintained car like a Corolla, Echo, Civic, etc. in your price range will serve you better and you don't have the possibility of a hybrid battery replacement.

The more complicated the machine, the more likely something will go wrong over both time and more miles. That doesn't mean it will, just that it's more likely.

 

The problem with warranty coverage is that it tends to run out just before I need it.

 

i have to ask you punk, do you feel lucky? welcome to priuschat! i know you want a prius, but you are asking for trouble. get your degree, a job, and a low mile prius. for now, listen to munpot like he's your dad. all the best!

 

Hmm, I'd be pretty uncomfortable starting out with one that is so well-used. It's not just the HV battery. You also have transaxle, inverter, various ECUs, suspension, steering, multi-function display, and the engine itself that can develop problems and bring your ownership to a stop (or an expensive stumble).

I would also take that money and find a lower-mileage, more basic model. I don't like sedans, myself, so Corollas aren't for me, but I'd take a Scion xA or Toyota Matrix with a 5-speed gearbox.

 

The Prius is a very reliable car, but when it breaks, it can be costly ($3000-$5000) to repair. If you do not have that $3 to 5 thousand, it becomes a lump. (As mechanics gain more experience I think more repair can be done but currently most replace entire systems: battery, inverter, transaxle, engine, etc, rather than try to repair them)

In my mind, no one would buy a Prius unless they were going to drive it. I do 30,000 miles a year and am not even close to the most traveled owner (2 fas 4 u does about 150,000 miles a year)

 

Given your circumstances and lack of a repair budget, the answer is yes.

My 2004 has 204K miles on the odometer and is running great. However not all Prius with that odometer reading can be counted on to perform so well. You need to consider the possibility that some portion of those vehicles for sale actually have a significant problem which prompted the prior owner to sell or trade in the car.

I have my own personal plan for dealing with a traction battery failure which probably will not work for you.

As previously suggested, look for a newer, simpler vehicle with a lower odometer reading such as Corolla, Scion, Matrix.