Would you buy a Prius with 91,000 Miles?

Make darn sure this warranty you're referring to is in writing specifically for hybrids. Also, was the car originally sold in New York? If so, it will fall under the extended factory warranty for CARB states which is 10 years/150k from the original date of purchase for the hybrid items. Check the toyota website for specifics.

GOOD LUCK in your purchase!

 

Quite frankly...you just joined up today, to specifically ask this question IN Prius Chat?

I don't think you are REALLY looking for an objective answer.

"We just like the Prius better."

Well there you have it.

You are buying an extended warranty and if you are concerned about the reality of a Prius being capable of lasting well beyond 91,000 miles? Well the answer is, Yes they can last and perform well beyond 91,000 miles.

You are getting a lower buy in price because that is relatively high miles for a vehicle it's age. But I have always thought that reality tells you it was reliable and used for the first 3 years of it's life. Not necessarily a bad thing.

I'd want a Carfax...not perfect but can give you some information. You kind of want to make sure it wasn't a well loved vehicle that has recently been in an accident.

If you have checked these things out....then I basically think in life if given the choice, get what you like better whether that is Store Brand Soda vs. Name Brand.....or Prius vs. Civic.

 

If the price is right! It looks like you have done your home work. I wouldn't let the mileage bother you!
Enjoy!

 

I like my Prius v, before that I liked my Gen 2 Prius. However no car is right for everyone, so I made a post that tries to warn you about Gen 2 Prius issues. (Your 2010 is a Gen 3 and will not have the bladder gas tank issues, but most of the issues are similar)

considering a Prius | PriusChat

So read this and think 'Is my use of a car short trips on steep gravel roads in snow once every 3 months?' Or one of the other issues, and choose wisely.

 

the CARB state warranty that has been referred to is just on the battery and other hybrid-specific components. It is not bumper to bumper.

Make sure the extra warranty you are getting is in addition to that, rather than just the CARB warranty misrepresented.

 

91000 on a well maintained Prius would not give me pause at all.........if the price is right. Kelly put the value of a level lll ( middle of the road) in excellent shape with those miles at $15,169.

RAL

 

How many miles do you expect to drive a year?

 

This. Don't be afraid of the miles, the battery tends to age out rather than be used up. Be afraid that you'd not be getting your money's worth, and that includes not driving enough to make it worth a hybrid premium.

But other than that, make sure you're given 2 smart keys and that the tires aren't crappy chinese replacements that will kill your fuel economy. Those are two dealer tricks that are used to earn them a bit more money, but end up costing you a lot more.

 

The Prius like any car has a lifespan. It will soon start to need part replacements etc. If your driving 15,000 miles a year you will be much better off than driving 35,000 or 50,000 miles a year.

I'm sure people will exclaim they have 200,000 miles plus on there Prius. However those cars have been repaired. The is a Toyota web site that if you input the vin number you can pull the service report. I'd make sure t had the factory recommended service. If no transaxle fluid replacement at 60,000 miles I'd walk away.

I may be the only person who may says if your racking up greater than 25,000 miles a year buy the Honda. Less buy the Prius.

 

91k miles is basically new in a 2010 in my opinion. Age is hard on cars also. I would jump on a 2010 Prius at $12000 with 100k miles. I had the chance and let it slip.

 

That's the tire size. I'm sure there are others with more knowledge of tires that can help identify brands.

There are some threads in the Gen 2 forums in which people document 200,000 and 300,000 miles on their cars—very reassuring!

I'm really posting to say your husband is in my thoughts and prayers. Best wishes to the both of you in his fight.

 

My comments below.

P196/65R15 are the right size, all right, but say nothing about the manufacturer, how much wear, or what all. The usual trick is to stick a penny into the tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time for a new set. There's lots of tires for Priuses out there, but what you want is a LRR (Low Rolling Resistance) type tire; that'll give you a couple-three more MPG, if and when you need new ones. Some people swear by Michilen Energy Savers; there's a fun debate that flares up from time to time as to Which Tires are Best. For you, now, don't sweat it: So long as you've got tread (penny, right?) the car will run.

When you see the magic word "Transaxle" mentally convert it in your mind to "Transmission". It takes good old standard Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). I happen to have a 2010; the maintenance manual says something like 120,000 miles to the first change. However, as you will find out if you hang around here, there are people with severe forms of curiosity (not necessarily a bad thing) who Test Oil. The growing consensus is that the ATF fluid should be changed more often than that, maybe 45,000 miles or so, but it's not a biggie. (Puts on nomex underwear).

By the by: If you do happen to change out the tranny oil, use Toyota brand or something that you're sure can take what the transmission/motors can dish out.

Final "oh, yeah": The inverter on the Prius has a separate cooling system with its own coolant. That gets changed out somewhere, too. People don't seem to be debating about that, though.

Hokay, it's like this. No question that as cars go, the Prius is a reliable car. The engine seems to run rather unstressed in life; the electric motors in the transaxle do what they do; the transaxle, as compared to either a stick-shift or standard automatic transmission is uncomplicated in the extreme; and, weirdly enough, the brakes don't wear as much as those on a standard car since, ta-da!, the regenerative braking that the electric motors does means that the brakes don't have to work as much. It's been noted that brakes on a Prius may last as long as 100,000 miles before the first service on the pads/rotors, which is flat-out amazing.

However, what you're getting is a car with 91,000 miles on it. OK, the battery will last, it's got the warranty, cool. Wheel bearings aren't any different on a Prius than any other car, so Stuff May Happen. Water pumps do wear (on the Prius, they're electric); so do air conditioners, oil pumps (electric, again), steering, etc. In my lifetime I normally take a car to 130,000 miles before selling it; when one gets over 100,000 miles, it's not unusual for stuff to begin to fail.

As risks go: I'd guess this relatively high-mileage Prius may be a bit more unreliable than the Civic, at least on the small-budget items (light bulbs, door switches, hatch struts,, etc.); the big ticket stuff, I'd guess at the Prius being a bit more reliable since, at least to my mind, the various parts run under less stress. But the big ticket items are what the extended warranty is all about. My comment: Buy the thing and cross your fingers.

Yep, that's the loaded version, all right. More creature comforts and the 15" wheels, for sure. (The other Priuses have 13" wheels, which handle slightly worse but get slightly better gas mileage.)

As it happens my son drives my old 2004 Civic (one of the Good Years) with something over 120000 miles on it now. I maintained the thing until I sold it to him in late 2009 and bought my 2010 model year Series III. I've got some 55,000 on the Prius now with nothing but oil changes and an oil flap replacement. No majors, but that's what you'd expect. Same is true for the Civic, except that (natch) it had to have its timing belt and water pump replaced, a recall on the headlight switch (go figure), replacement batteries, and a couple-three brake jobs. And a couple door light switches somewhere along the line. The Prius rides better, the Civic drives snappier. The Prius wins hands-down on gas. My opinion: Go for the Prius. And good luck!

KBeck

 

Here is the url to pull the service record. You will need the vin number.

Toyota Owners Official Web Site: Service Coupons, Owner's Manuals, Service Scheduling And More

Comment from a previous post.

 

I hope your husband feels better. My wife is a Breast Cancer survivor 5 years now. She had 2 operations and radiation and Chemo. I can say that she was so weakened by Chemo that I had to drive her back and forth every appointment.

Your husband will enjoy the comfort of being in the Prius and the gas savings will help the family.

He will be OK. Th car will be good also

 

Level IV 2010 Prius with 91000 in excellent shape Kelly Blue book value ............$17400 thats more than Id pay but that makes $13772 with a warranty on the hybrid battery to 150000 look pretty good.

RAL