Author Topic: Prius Owners: Am I Crazy to Consider Buying a 2005 Prius with 220K Miles?  (Read 6182 times)

Peony

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
Hi Everyone. I would really like the input of Prius drivers.

The car I am considering has had one owner. All service has been done through Toyota and the records are available. The hybrid battery has been replaced, as has the ABS braking system. Seller is asking $2,800. Car is in great cosmetic shape.

I may be able to arrange a prepurchase inspection through the local dealership where the car is, but it's not near me (it's in a much wealthier area about 1.5 hours away) so I can't have my own mechanic look it over.

The car would be used for local driving, with occasional longer trips of 2 to 6 hours duration.

I keep finding articles online about magical Prius taxis that are still going strong at 600,000 miles, and such. What do you think?

Anything in particular I should be wary of? Was 2005 an OK year for Priuses?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.




rachael talcott

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 314
  • Age: 50
  • Location: TN
Posting to follow.  My 2001 Corolla is leaking/burning oil and so eventually will need to be replaced.  I'd love to have a Prius, but those with under 100K miles start at $8-10K, which is more than I've ever paid for a car.

Optimiser

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 771
  • Age: 42
  • Location: PNW
I'm not a Prius owner, but we recently got rid of a Civic with about 220,000 miles. The engine was still in great shape, but the suspension components were very worn out and had a big impact on how the car drove. I'm not sure if this is an issue with Prii, but I would look into it if I were you.

Sarah Saverdink

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 122
  • Location: New England
    • The Saverdinks
We have a 2005 Prius with 212k miles driven entirely in New England, so salty winter roads and all that. Original battery. We haven't had any major issues since we bought it with just over 100k miles 4 years ago. For under $3k and a newer battery - that's a pretty good deal. I'm amazed at how little maintenance our Prius has needed given its age. It's a trooper. Thumbs up from me.

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
At 200k+ budget for a suspension rebuild. Struts & mounts, control arms, tie rods, etc. All in you're probably talking about $4k to get the car up to snuff unless it's been replaced already.

If the traction battery was replaced that is the major expense outside of the inverter. The motor is probably fine as it's go the equivalent of 100k-120k on it.

Maybe worth the risk if you're fine working on the car yourself. That's really the only way cars like that make sense IMO.

You're going to find your major costs associated with running a car with that much mileage and age is simply maintaining it. Just be prepared to drop some money into it as time goes on. I hate to say it, but I think you'll find often a new, inexpensive car will approach the monthly/yearly ownership costs of an older one that isn't maintained by the owner themselves.

The best value cheapie cars these days are mid-90's IMO that don't have all these electronics that can be easily fixed by the shade tree mechanic. Mid 90's Volvos, Subarus, VWs, BMWs all have fairly active followings on online forums with lots of DIY guides available to help.

With a 10 yr powertrain warranty this car will run you about $90/month over 10 years assuming a $2k residual, and get gas mileage maybe just a little bit less than that older Prius (37/43):

https://www.mitsubishicars.com/mirage

I'm not saying you should buy either car I'm just saying that's kinda your baseline cost. Anything used in the same commuter car class approaching that would be stupid to buy IMO. Just buy new and don't worry about it (Mitsu builds decent cars too).

For reference I do almost all my own work and have put around $4k-$5k into my car over 14 years. It was ~8 years old when I got it. But I've done a ton of stuff including a transmission replacement (no fun on a FWD car) that I robbed from a $150 parts car I bought.
« Last Edit: July 24, 2017, 07:38:54 PM by inline five »

kendallf

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1068
  • Age: 58
  • Location: Jacksonville, FL
I'd buy it and drive it into the ground.  In fact, I'm currently taking my own advice; my 2004 Prius has ~230k currently.  I've done zero suspension work on it, BTW, and it handles nicely and rides well.  A car driven through northern potholes may need suspension work at 100k; a car driven highway miles here in FL may not.

My family has 3 Prii currently, my 2004, a 2007, and a 2009.  Almost zero maintenance on all three; I did replace the traction battery on the 2007 last year.  I bought a used one from a local wrecking yard for $500; it took all of an hour or so to change it.

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
I'd rather buy something like this personally if wanting ultra cheap transport:

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/d/mitsubishi-mirage-de/6226966243.html

aceyou

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1669
  • Age: 42
    • Life is Good - Aceyou's Journal
I'd absolutely go for it.  My wife and I have Prius's that are about 180 and 190k miles respectively, and NEVER have issues.  That's a great price.  Worst case scenario you junk it for scrap and lose about 2600, but that's a VERY unlikely probability  Much more likely you get several years out of it and pay almost nothing in gas in the meantime with few mechanical issues. 

GenXbiker

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 327
Aside from the anecdotes, the Prius does have a good record for maintenance.  I might consider one in the future, either new or much lower mileage.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2017, 12:30:49 PM by GenXbiker »

sequoia

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 614
At 200k+ budget for a suspension rebuild. Struts & mounts, control arms, tie rods, etc. All in you're probably talking about $4k to get the car up to snuff unless it's been replaced already.


If you can do your own work, the cost would be much cheaper. Any car at minimum need some of the suspension parts replaced at 100K or sooner. Maybe it will last a bit longer if just driven on highway without hitting potholes, but I do not buy anyone saying car xyz drives great at 200K with original suspension. I bet driving back to back car with 100K miles in suspension vs somewhat new suspension will show greatly the differences. Changing the shocks usually show the largest improvements.

Suspension parts wears out little by little over long period of time, so it is not noticeable. It is like a frog that stays in the boiling water if you turn up the heat slowly.

IMO suspension parts, tires and brakes are not where you cut corners. It impacts how the car handles, ie like when swerving to avoid hitting a kid running to the middle of the road.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2017, 08:25:31 AM by sequoia »

Peony

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
Thank you all for the responses so far! If anyone else wants to chime in, please do. Anecdotes are great.

Based on your comments I will definitely try to ascertain what the condition of the suspension components is, and how the car has been driven (highway? city? etc.). If the car seems good otherwise, I'll plan for the replacement of some or all of those parts.

9-Volt

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 36
  • Location: Vancouver B.C.
All the taxi company's around me only sell their Prius's after 500,000 km (300,000 miles). Even then they want north of $4k.

skeeder

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 103
Definitely suspension is going to be an issue.  Check your carfax and bluebook.  Sometimes people don't do their homework before selling a car.

Thing about toyota's though, if the hybrid portion goes out...the car doesn't turn over (unlike Honda's system).  However, I've kinda thrown my faith behind toyota since the two cars in my garage are a 2002 Camry (picked up for $3,300 earlier this year with 134k on it) and a 2004 Sienna (picked up in 2013 before kid #3 was born for $7,800 with 122k).

I plan on keeping the Camry for a few years but the Sienna is going the distance until I replace it.




inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
Prius strut at 100k miles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwgiS2duSLk

I haven't looked a the Prius parts list but typically for a complete suspension/steering rehash you're going to want

Struts & strut mounts (springs not really needed, those are typically life of car)
Inner & outer tie rods
Endlinks
Control arms

Buy decent quality stuff not direct from China and don't forget the rear strut and strut mounts as well.

You could end up putting $3k or more into this car from brakes to suspension to tires to xyz.

If keeping long term, just look for a wrecked one and rob all the parts/sensors (inverter!) off it. This will greatly lower your long term operating costs.

Buy a cheap set of tools and work on the car yourself. Learn on the donor car as you disassemble. I have $1k+ in sensors/parts stored in a bin above my garage door for my car. Makes it easy to swap stuff out like cam position sensors etc. if you get a no start issue.

Old, high mileage cars can be run cheaply but effort has to be made. There is no free lunch. It's why you're getting a $20k+ car for 10% of new price.

If you were driving this car 2000-3000 miles a year it would make more sense to h buy it IMO.

As the above poster said run it a couple years, that is $900/yr...or buy a new car as I linked above and have it run you the same cost/yr without much worry it will break something big after dumping money into it...

Be smart/frugal not CHEAP. CHEAP costs more money.

RethinkTheRatRace

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 74
    • Rethink The Rat Race
I'd jump on that. There was a guy last week on the facebook group that had sold his Prius with over 300k miles on it. The only reason he sold it is because he was convinced that it was going to have some reliability or maintenance issues. One year later, the girl he sold it to asked him if he still had the seat covers that he offered to sell her with the car. She still had it and it was running strong without any issues. Unless you are in a particularly rusty area, I wouldn't even be overly worried about the suspension. Obviously give it a look before you buy the car, but it might be sufficient without any pressing issues. My wife and I have a 1997 Camry with almost 300k miles, and I'm pretty sure it hasn't had any suspension work done since she bought it (10 years ago with 100k miles on it). Hell, other than tires and oil changes, the only thing we've had to do is change the spark plugs once. Admittedly, we are in the south, so rust isn't typically an issue unless the car is a transplant from a northern state.

Peony

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
So, a different Prius popped up on Craigslist, slightly more expensive ($3695) but a couple years newer (2007) and with 180,000 miles. After meeting the lovely retired electrical engineer who babied the car for the first 10 years of its life, including replacing the hybrid and the 12-volt batteries within the last couple of years, and after getting a 2-hour hands-on tutorial from him on all the features of the car, I bought it.

I love my Scion xB but man, the Prius is a luxury vehicle by comparison. So far the car is averaging  48 mpg. Hoping to learn some hyper miling techniques and do better. Thanks for all the input and encouragement, now I need to find a good mechanic!

Slow&Steady

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 698
  • Location: Midwest
Well the 2007 seems like a better buy I probably would have considered the 2005 also.

I have a 2006 Prius with just shy of 300k miles.  We did replace the struts recently and after not driving it for about 6 months the hybrid battery took a nose dive, come to find out it is not recommended to let these cars sit for long periods of time because it is bad for the battery.  We decided to replace the battery and got it done for under $2k, so for under $3k (struts & battery) she is good a new again.  I bought her brand new with 17 miles on her in 2006, I paid right around $25k and besides tires/oil changes/recalls/routine maintenance the struts & battery is all I have had to invest.

2006 Prius (new) = $25,0000
Oil changes every 5k miles =  $3600
Tires every 50k miles = $3000
Extra routine maint = $1000 (total guess)
Struts - $1000
Battery = $2000

Cost to date = $35,600 or $3236/year or $0.11/mile

I also have a 2008 Prius that we bought 2 years ago with a salvage title and only 55k miles on it for $6k.  So far we have only had to change the oil and replace the tires on it, although I suspect that a new small battery (not the hybrid battery) will get us a little better gas mileage.  This car is currently being driven by a 16 year old nephew of mine so I am not entirely sure on the mileage, but the last time I had it I think we were right around 90k miles.

2008 Prius (bought in 2015) = $6000
Oil changes every 5k miles =  $480
Tires @ 60k miles = $500

Total cost to date = $6,980 or $3490/year or $0.17/mile
I am sure we will keep this car for a long time and these numbers will get better but I figured I would compare them equally.  We do all of our own oil changes at this point but I figured $60/oil change includes some of the cost of our time. 

I am not entirely sure of my point here except that I don't understand people's aversion to spending some money on maintenance/repair to make a car last AND that a Prius can drive for many many more miles then the average "oh my god, my car has 100K miles on it, it is going to fall apart" attitude that so many Americans have today, obviously that is not directed at most people on this website. 

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
FYI Toyota rec oil changes at 10k now. There was an update many years ago with that #. M1 0w-20.

The inverter went on our 2010 at 77k but was covered under the hybrid system 100k warranty no questions asked even as a second owner. I was impressed.

You're absolutely right about driving them, taxis get 300k on them in a couple years, time is what will degrade batteries in the Prius.

Would be interesting to see if there was a lithium version available now as a retrofit with higher capacity.
« Last Edit: August 08, 2017, 08:26:39 AM by inline five »

DarkandStormy

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1498
  • Age: 36
  • Location: Midwest, USA
I love my Scion xB but man, the Prius is a luxury vehicle by comparison. So far the car is averaging  48 mpg. Hoping to learn some hyper miling techniques and do better. Thanks for all the input and encouragement, now I need to find a good mechanic!

I have a prius-c and get trash talked by my SO because I try to stay under 25 mph in neighborhoods to ensure I stay in EV mode.  She will jokingly make fun of me because I go about 18 mph and rarely go faster than 65 mph on the freeway.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!