Toyota Prius

**Jay Smith** · 07-14-2019, 09:57 AM

Who has FIRST HAND knowledge of the Toyota Prius ? My son is looking at one for a high mileage work car ??!

Thanks ,
Jay

**gfinch** · 07-14-2019, 11:35 AM

I confess...I bought a new 2010 in Jan 2011. I was in need of a gas miser(gas was $4.50 and up at the time) and wanted it also because I specialized in Toyota repair in my shop Asian Auto. When people called and asked if I worked on Prius I said "I own one". Put 80,000+ trouble free miles on it. I did very little actual repair on them, maybe a water pump or two. Just normal servicing. I would say I averaged 47mpg as I had a long 6% grade to go over to work every day.
I always told people to try to buy as new or new.

**Jay Smith** · 07-14-2019, 11:44 AM

Gary ,
Any battery issues ? And would you buy one used ?

**nitro_rat** · 07-14-2019, 11:45 AM

My dad has one. He bought it used and has put over 100k on it. He did have the battery replaced at Toyota. He did it in Oregon to avoid sales tax. It was several thousand dollars (maybe 4k) but he's planning to keep the car. There is a place in Houston that reconditions the batteries and will exchange you for maybe around a grand.

**Jay Smith** · 07-14-2019, 11:51 AM

Thanks Bro,
Getting the rain up in Huntington ? I been smoking these pigs and building these motors in Brookeland ( Land of Milk and Honey )

...

PS if the battery crops out can the car still be driven ?

Come see me !
Jay

**nitro_rat** · 07-14-2019, 11:57 AM

Yes it will still drive if the battery is bad. The gas engine does struggle by itself though. I've been out of town, headed home today from south texas but have to be in Freeport at 7:00 tomorrow morning...

**dgscroggs** · 07-14-2019, 12:04 PM

My father in law bought one used yrs ago and he’s had no issues with it still on original batteries

**Jay Smith** · 07-14-2019, 12:07 PM

Thanks guys ,
Any years to stay away from ?
jay

**nitro_rat** · 07-14-2019, 12:25 PM

I would avoid the first generation, I don't know what years they were though.

**gfinch** · 07-15-2019, 01:11 AM

First gen was a Echo looking car, out for a couple of years. Then the Hybrid looking car everyone knows. The 2010 is the first year of the third generation.
Take this for what it's worth.... I started working on Toyota's in dealerships in 1972 till 1985 when I started Asian Auto. Shut down my shop and sold the property in 2017. They are an excellent automobile as are all Toyota products including Lexus and Scion. Yes I am prejudiced, I worked on my customers other cars if and only if I thought they(the customer) were good enough. I also Fired consumers if they weren't worthy. And yes, I am an arrogant ass hole.
I would not install a re-manufactured= previously junk battery. I sent those consumers down the road. All they are is not yet failed cells from different junk batteries cobbled together. If it was mine and I wanted to keep it I would put a new OEM=Toyota battery in Period!
Myself, I would buy 5 years or less or new.

All cars are Junk.... that's where they end up!

**Whaaaaat** · 07-15-2019, 09:13 AM

You looking for a fuel miser? Or a hybrid specifically?

**Jay Smith** · 07-15-2019, 01:46 PM

Fuel economy is #1 on the list but has to last ...with little to no issues ..

Jay

**Whaaaaat** · 07-15-2019, 06:09 PM

VW TDI. I had a 2013 new it was getting over 50mpg. That with emissions crap. They started playing with it at the dealer right before the emissions scandal and mileage dropped. I'd love to find another "mine got totaled" pull all the egr, dpf of it, program it to run without it. It would get 60mpg easy. That's real world mileage hybrids only dream of.

**FUJIMO** · 07-15-2019, 06:30 PM

theres got to be an injected turbo small displacement 4 cylinder engine that getz 50 mpg? no?

**home made tunnel** · 07-15-2019, 09:50 PM

Jeff Dunham: "iiiiiii'm gheeeeeeeeeeey".
I'll stick to my GM vehicles. :^D

I know, i know, y'all can say the same "i'm ghey" thing about my mini boats haha.