Looking into a Prius

[diyjake]

Hi Gents,

So I have been thinking about getting a Gen 2 or 3 Prius. I never looked at hybrids before because I always thought they would be a pain to maintain but I don't think they aren't as bad as I used to think.

Seems like the Gen 2 are pretty much solid while Gen 3 have some head gasket issues. If anyone has/had a Prius please share your opinion and experience.

 

[NO2]

I would look at a Gen4 simply because they are a lot safer. The Gen 2/3 are pretty fragile in an accident, and the Gen 2's are old enough that you might be looking at a new battery pack. The 2016 models are 4 years old now so you should be able to get a decent deal. I would look for a Gen4 Prius Prime unless you have a long daily commute. 20 miles is plenty of electric range for in-town.

 

[csandste]

Plus the Gen4 already has the advantage of looking like it's been in a wreck.

 

[diyjake]

Gen4 is out of my budget. Also they have to be the ugliest cars are there.

 

[Rmay635703]

Originally Posted by diyjake
Gen4 is out of my budget. Also they have to be the ugliest cars are there.


If you are decent with repairs and a slight economy hit there is an active community that helps keep the old Gen 1's on the road, there are actually quite a few low mile cherries available with decent sheet metal.

Practically though a good Gen II is the right way to go, Gen III are only good if you don't mind doing a Gen IV to 3 engine swap.

Also the overlooked Prius C is a good way around the 1.8 blown engine fiasco if you can accept a slightly less reliable battery.

https://priuschat.com/

And as priuschat always says never buy any used Prius unless you have the cash for a big repair like a battery.

With the Chevy Volt available under $5000 used I would look at one of those if you don't drive hundreds of miles every day. They are more reliable than the 2010+ Prius.

Also not sure that a Gen IV is that much more than the 3

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/805539448/overview/

$9999 on up and fewer head gasket failures

 

[The Critic]

If you are okay with a head gasket job every 150-180K, the Gen 3 is the better driving option between the two. Other than the Head Gasket and the EGR issues (which are easily remedied with periodic cleaning), they are actually quite reliable.

Both generations burn oil.

Both generations can have ABS actuator issues. It mostly a Gen 2 issue, but some Gen 3's have the problem as well.

Both will eventually need a hybrid battery.

 

[InhalingBullets]

We have a had a few of them...and the only issue we ran into on the gen 2, '06 was a little oil burning starting at 130k miles. Fortunately for me a dose of kreen and then running maxlife slowed it enough that it was mostly un-noticeable between 5k mile oil changes. The 2013 has yet to see any issues at 78k miles, and the 2016 with 125k miles has had no issues as well.

 

[Job]

The 3 has an intrusive console. The 2 is open. Check a few of each type. Most Toyota dealers seem to have used ones. Pay no attention to head gasket and other stories, highly unlikely. Tremendous bias against the Prius out there. They do a lot of of the talking too. Look at Consumers Reports reliability records, the Prius is one of the best if not the best. Good safety ratings make sure gen 2 has side air bags early cheaper models did not.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Farnsworth
The 3 has an intrusive console. Check a few of each type. Most Toyota dealers seem to have used ones. Pay no attention to head gasket and other stories, highly unlikely. Tremendous bias against the Prius out there. They do a lot of of the talking too. Look at Consumers Reports reliability records, the Prius is one of the best if not the best. Good safety ratings make sure gen 2 has side air bags early cheaper models did not.

You might want to check out the priuschat forums. The Gen 3 does have head gasket issues. The HG in my 2011 blew at 185k.

 

[Job]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by Farnsworth
The 3 has an intrusive console. Check a few of each type. Most Toyota dealers seem to have used ones. Pay no attention to head gasket and other stories, highly unlikely. Tremendous bias against the Prius out there. They do a lot of of the talking too. Look at Consumers Reports reliability records, the Prius is one of the best if not the best. Good safety ratings make sure gen 2 has side air bags early cheaper models did not.

You might want to check out the priuschat forums. The Gen 3 does have head gasket issues. The HG in my 2011 blew at 185k.

Blowing your head gasket at 185k doesn't mean much on the whole picture. You might want to check out CR reliability records. Realize the forums are places to vent and CR is pure data. I belong to Priuschat as I had one years ago.

 

[diyjake]

Originally Posted by Rmay635703
Originally Posted by diyjake
Gen4 is out of my budget. Also they have to be the ugliest cars are there.


If you are decent with repairs and a slight economy hit there is an active community that helps keep the old Gen 1's on the road, there are actually quite a few low mile cherries available with decent sheet metal.

Practically though a good Gen II is the right way to go, Gen III are only good if you don't mind doing a Gen IV to 3 engine swap.

Also the overlooked Prius C is a good way around the 1.8 blown engine fiasco if you can accept a slightly less reliable battery.

https://priuschat.com/

And as priuschat always says never buy any used Prius unless you have the cash for a big repair like a battery.

With the Chevy Volt available under $5000 used I would look at one of those if you don't drive hundreds of miles every day. They are more reliable than the 2010+ Prius.

Also not sure that a Gen IV is that much more than the 3

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/805539448/overview/

$9999 on up and fewer head gasket failures


I actually wouldn't mind a Prius C - do they have more issues with batteries over the regular Prius?

 

[diyjake]

Can the head gasket issues be avoided on the Gen3? I read that if you cleaning the EGR often that will help, or is that all together wrong?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by diyjake
Can the head gasket issues be avoided on the Gen3? I read that if you cleaning the EGR often that will help, or is that all together wrong?

It is someone's theory that is unproven.

My opinion is that the two issues are unrelated. My EGR cooler had some build-up but was nowhere near clogged.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by Farnsworth
Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by Farnsworth
The 3 has an intrusive console. Check a few of each type. Most Toyota dealers seem to have used ones. Pay no attention to head gasket and other stories, highly unlikely. Tremendous bias against the Prius out there. They do a lot of of the talking too. Look at Consumers Reports reliability records, the Prius is one of the best if not the best. Good safety ratings make sure gen 2 has side air bags early cheaper models did not.

You might want to check out the priuschat forums. The Gen 3 does have head gasket issues. The HG in my 2011 blew at 185k.

Blowing your head gasket at 185k doesn't mean much on the whole picture. You might want to check out CR reliability records. Realize the forums are places to vent and CR is pure data. I belong to Priuschat as I had one years ago.

Without knowing CR's sample size and how long their subscriber base keeps their vehicles, it is entirely possible that their sample size does not show any widespread head gasket issues. The issue generally does not show up until after 150K. If you consider the average miles driven per year (12k?), the vast majority of the 2010-11's being surveyed by CR have around 100-120K miles and are probably still problem-free.

My personal experience with working on these vehicles is that the head gasket issue is real and may not be avoidable.

 

[Job]

I just looked at the new car issue at the library couple days ago. They go back to 2012 I think, around there. Other cars are far worse generally than Toyota. Most cars seem to be doing better with engines than before. I think what I think, and it's based on following internet opinions that turned out false. There isn't a car made that someone opinionated isn't whining all over about. I respect your views.

 

[CR94]

Prii generally are much more reliable than normal cars for the first 100-150k or so, but can develop alarmingly expensive problems later. My 2011, which I bought used at ~41k miles, has been utterly problem-free, except one odd defect. The rubber window trim strips that keep rainwater from running into the doors simultaneously disintegrated on both left doors in 2016, and on both right doors just recently. It's not guzzling oil or coolant (yet), at ~109k miles.

I agree with most of what others have said, including Critic. I also agree that the 4th generation is wacky-looking. It supposedly handles better than the 3rd, and may be less susceptible to oil consumption, EGR clogging, and head gasket troubles.

The main drawback of the "c" is much smaller cargo space. I chose the Prius more for its versatile interior space than for its hybridness.

 

[JohnG]

Buy a Volt, you won't regret it.

Prius 50 mpg, all day long.
Volt 60 mpg if you do everything wrong. 200 mpg if you do everything right.

 

[CR94]

^ If you can park the Volt where you have convenient access to electrical power. In some places, electrical energy costs more per mile than gasoline.

 

[Rmay635703]

Originally Posted by diyjake


I actually wouldn't mind a Prius C - do they have more issues with batteries over the regular Prius?


Yes BUT, they are much newer than a Gen II, so even if their battery has a little less longevity you are getting a much newer battery (read longer remaining life than an older car)
for similar cost and a better chance of winning the battery lottery if you find one under warranty.

Also Prius battery replacements aren't a real big deal anymore, cost isn't terrible (if you get the right place to do it) and in my mind I rather do a battery every 150k than the engine

Be certain that you really like driving the C first, take an extended test drive.
There are some like me who greatly prefer the C's driving characteristics and parkability

Then There are others who hate the things and complain about their fuel economy
they really are an under appreciated car.

When I was last looking for a car the C had just came out and I wanted the base trim but no local dealer would order one, the local place kept trying to push me into a different vehicle altogether and it turned me off.

I ended up with a half price Volt (cheaper than thC even) and it was a good decision, very reliable over the last 90k plus I get free charging.

 

[diyjake]

Originally Posted by JohnG
Buy a Volt, you won't regret it.

Prius 50 mpg, all day long.
Volt 60 mpg if you do everything wrong. 200 mpg if you do everything right.


Never thought about a Volt. Are they EV or Hybrids?