Toyota Prius owners - I need help!!!

[derby378]

I may have an opportunity to buy a 2008 Prius with around 90,000 miles on it. I have no experience with hybrid cars other than that older models deliver great gas mileage. What are your experiences with the Prius, and what are the hazards or caveats of buying a used hybrid, if any? Any help will be sincerely appreciated.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Buying a used hybrid is not much different than a used gas engine Camry

I have about 180,000 on my 2007.

I've only ever needed to replace the HID headlamps and the small $40 battery that manages the electrical (it's in the cargo area, passenger side).

I would want to check the engine for oil use, take it to a mechanic, look at the oil and the inside of the tail pipe.

I've begun burning a lot of oil and need a new motor, so I would NOT want that problem in a used car.

Otherwise, follow all the same guidelines as you would in buying any other Toyota.

Good luck!

[tularetom]

2. If the hybrid battery takes a dump, you're looking at a $6,000 repair

I think they come with a 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty, (whichever comes first), so you have basically 10,000 miles before you're on your own. I don't know the frequency of battery failures but maybe there's a site that keeps track of these things.

Not sure how you can check the health of the battery, but ask around.

[derby378]

5. Will it run on just gasoline if the hybrid battery dies?

I know that defeats the purpose of a hybrid, but as long as it doesn't strand me, it'll do for a while.

[tularetom]

10. Here's what I know about it

My brother owned a 2005 Highlander hybrid. One day the "Check Hybrid System" light came on. He had no idea what that meant so he checked his owner's manual which advised him to park the car immediately and call his dealer's service department.

When he called they told him to have the car towed in, don't drive it, that it could cause the battery to overheat and fail.

As it turned out it was a failure of the hybrid battery water pump but it still cost him a thousand bucks.

That's not a direct answer to your question, but it sort of implies that it wouldn't be wise to try to drive it after a battery failure. Even if you could. Maybe it wouldn't even run.

Worth some investigation probably.

On edit: I just noticed that they're asking $9k for it. Seems to me it might be worth a shot at that price.

[CreekDog]

18. nope, hybrid battery replacements are now in the hundreds of dollars

but don't let facts get in your way.

[tularetom]

20. The "hundreds of dollars" huh? - like 23 hundreds

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078138_toyota-hybrid-battery-replacement-cost-guide

Below is a list of MSRP battery cost details for the three generations of Prius model, as well as those for the Camry Hybrid sedan and Highlander Hybrid SUV.

2001-2003 Toyota Prius (1st generation) - $3,649 minus $1,350 "core credit"
2004-2008 Toyota Prius (2nd generation) - $3,649 minus $1,350 "core credit"
2009-present Toyota Prius (3rd generation) - $3,939 minus $1,350 "core credit"
Toyota Camry Hybrid - $3,541, core credit deducted
Toyota Highlander Hybrid - $4,848, core credit deducted

Still more money than I would want to spend on a car with 90,000 miles on it.

[snooper2]

23. you can get them cheap on the interwebs

Dorman® 587-001 - Remanufactured Hybrid Battery Pack
2009 Toyota Prius

$1500

http://www.carid.com/2009-toyota-prius-charging-starting/dorman-battery-16420044.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAp4yjBRCE_enjmpug944BEiQATCpLvWz51enBgSQEt5RVaOSQhwTNqZyQETQKLx_jALLP3FkaAqBa8P8HAQ

[CreekDog]

25. well which is it? the 6 grand you first stated or this amount now?

so you admit that you just made up the $6000 number.

[tularetom]

30. No, Einstein, that's the price my brother got quoted for his '06 Highlander hybrid

Did you just pull that "hundreds of dollars" crap out of your ass?

[B Calm]

24. Damn, now that is something to think about. What is the life expectancy of a hybrid battery?

[tularetom]

31. The warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles

Actual experience, couldn't tell ya.

[Rainforestgoddess]

3. I have a 2009. Mostly no problem so far

The one little thing is that the tiny battery is easy to drain . They have the big hybrid battery, but also a small battery like a regular car. I had a flat once and pulled over with my hazards on. My battery was flat in a half hour and I had to get a boost.

The front bumper is low and won't go over a normal height curb, so be careful or you will hear a horrible scraping noise when you Park.

If you stop and park, but don't get out of the car, either turn off your headlights (rotate all the way towards yourself) or open the door and close it again, or your lights will stay on, draining said tiny battery. (which, incidentally, is 200 to replace)

[earthside]

4. We own two.

We have a 2002 and a 2006.

Both now have over 80,000 miles.
We are not hard on cars.

Best automobiles we have ever owned.

And ... getting 40 to 50 miles per gallon is psychologically comforting.
(One does have to learn to drive them to consistently get the best mileage. They perform best in warmer weather, but here in Colorado today where the temperature is like one degree, they both are out and going strong.)

[csziggy]

6. We bought a 2006 Prius II a little over a year ago

It had about 107,000 miles on it. We had to replace the starter battery (normal 12 volt) but otherwise the maintenance has been routine. We LOVE it! It's mostly mu husband's car to commute to work in. According to the onboard monitoring he gets about 48 miles to the gallon and he is not a careful driver trying to increase mileage - he just drives normally.

We did check out the CarFax report before buying the car - we're the fourth owners, first out of warranty owners. That's about all it told us other than that the car had gotten regular maintenance.

My one regret is that we couldn't afford a Prius IV. My sister has one and the cargo space is much larger. But we took the Prius from Tallahassee, FL to Louisville KY about a month after buying it and had enough room to carry our bulky luggage and all the things I needed for the seminar I was attending.

I've read that you can buy replacements for the main batteries much cheaper than from Toyota. I'm not sure what we'll do when we get to that point. It will depend on how old the car is and what we think it's worth.

[FrodosPet]

7. Headlights and taillights

Find out if they have ever been replaced. In particular, there are issues with the socket in the tail lights.

And you probably want a new battery for the key fob.

[Darb]

8. I sold my aunt's 2003 for her at 175K, original battery pack.

Researched it a bit and found that cab companies use them in SF and they frequently cruise 300K without a batt change. Sometimes the packs do quit though, but an '08 with 90k should be a darn good vehicle.

I'd say go for it if the price is right. What are they asking?

[derby378]

9. Around $9,000

Sound like it's reasonable?

[Darb]

11. I can value it for you, what is the exact mileage, is it

the Touring Package, does it have navigation and does it have leather seats?

[Darb]

12. And what state are you in?

Then I can tell you what it is worth

[Darb]

13. Oh yeah, how is the condition?

Should be pretty clean I would guess but does it have any damage from running into things? dents, dings, how are the tires, all the power windows work, shifts good?

[derby378]

14. 90,500 miles, Texas, cloth seats, navigation, clean. (n/t)

[Darb]

16. I get the following,

a blackbook (dealers use this) retail values of X-clean 12,425, clean 11,750, average 10650, rough 8000. That is all subjective of course and depends on each vehicle and close inspection.

Wholesale clean is $9,125. Trade-in clean $9,245.

[Darb]

17. That is also on the low side of the mileage window,

window is 90K - 100K.

[derby378]

21. Many thanks!

Gives me a little something to think about.

[Darb]

34. No worries mate.

For what it is worth, My aunt replaced her Prius with another, and my uncle now owns one and he drives it into town and such but uses a truck for hunting and other heavier work, but he was a skeptic. They both love them.

Prius owners are loyal, there must be a reason.

[mockmonkey]

22. Here's a item about replacing the Hybrid battery...

with a reconditioned one from a Houston Company for about $800.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tonybradley/2014/04/09/replacing-a-dead-prius-hybrid-battery-doesnt-have-to-cost-thousands-of-dollars/

[derby378]

33. Nice!

Buy a used Prius, replace the hybrid battery with my tax refund. I could do that.

[Orsino]

15. My '05 hybrid battery died at about eight years, and that cost over two grand...

...but my Prius has required no other unscheduled repairs.

[bhikkhu]

19. They are good cars, and several around here have over 200k miles

Maintenance is very specialized, and can be expensive. Make sure you have it serviced at a dealership, or or at least by a mechanic who knows the ins and outs of hybrids.

Had one at the shop the other day with an AC leak - turned out to be a simple evaporator seal, but another shop had added a UV dye to help diagnosis. The dye contained the wrong kind of oil, which was incompatible with the hybrid system, and the entire AC system had to be replaced. Someone's simple mistake = $6000 in repairs.

[derby378]

26. Wow...

Very good advice. Sorry you had to eat that, though.

[hlthe2b]

27. I bought my 2007 Prius used (certified)... The Toyota dealer asks to buy it back EVERY time

I come in for an oil change. It has held value amazingly well and I have yet to find any Toyota Prius owner from 2005 on who has actually changed the battery.

Go to www.Priuschat.com and search for the issue. You'll find info from actual owners (and not hybrid "detractors"--who incidentally have probably never owned a hybrid) there.

[flyingfysh]

28. my experience is that these cars are ultra-reliable

Just do the scheduled maintenance, and drive it.

Some people say that the battery can go, resulting in an expensive repair. But I've never heard of any case where that actually happened. And in a conventional car, the transmission can go, resulting in similar repair costs.

[cally]

29. Mine has 120,000 on it and no major repairs

Still runs very well. Various mechanics have told me I can keep it for quite some time but we'll see.

[Peacetrain]

32. We own a Prius...

and when we bought it.. the dealer told us that the batteries do have a shelf life.. that is something to consider.. We keep our cars until they roll themselves to the junkyard.. We have had ours for two years and just love it.. absolutely love it.. we nearly always bought GM products before this, but with all the driving my husband had to do at that time for his job, and the price of gas.. we had to make a change..

[Union Scribe]

35. I don't suppose I could encourage you

to buy a union vehicle.

[derby378]

36. Dollars are currently limited, but I would consider it

Any hybrid recommendations for under 10K?

[landolfi]

37. We own two also

a 2011 and a 2005. I wouldn't have anything else, by far the best cars I have ever owned. The 2005 has needed tires and a water pump but has been flawless otherwise, and now out of battery warranty but still going strong. Haven't had to do anything but maintenance to the 2011.