new to this forum. I’m currently driving a very old Lexus rx3000 1999. Just put new tires on them. Car runs fine with some minor issues. I have been offered a free Prius, 2008, 120K miles, original HV battery (very expensive). She ( original owner, take cares of the car well, rust proofing etc) replaced the 12 V battery (cheaper one) a few weeks ago. Reason I threw in the battery cost is because I’m not certain which is which, but the bottom line I was told is there are 2 batteries and she had replaced the much cheaper of the 2, not the one that’s over $4000. I’m very confused whether I should take her up on her offer and rid my Lexus. But I also hate to end up with a car where the battery life is towards its tail end and I’ll end up inheriting one which will cost me beyond my means to repair. Can I get some advise what I should expect. I know nothing is definite but would be grateful for some input. As far as the HV battery, I read online you can replace certain cells and not the whole battery if it fails? So it won’t cost as much as rplacing the entire thing? So confused.
Since someone is giving you this car for free, you should consider spending $4000 (it should be much less) to get a new battery when the time comes. Then you'll have a much newer and reliable car for only $4000 Alternatively you can sell the car for $5000 to $6000 as it is now
Invest in an ELM27 compliant code reader, and a free app called Dr. Prius. You drive around and watch the 14 part bar-graph display real-time HV performance, and get a better idea of where the pack's life expectancy is. The app also has a real world test to identify modules that are under-performing, but I'm not sure if that is only in the 'paid' version ($5).
The HV battery from a dealer, installed, should be in the $2.5k USD / $3.3k CAD range. Not $4k. Why complain about replacing a battery on a car that you get for free that's 9 years newer than what you have? Just FYI, we've owned RX300's, RX330's, RX350's, RX400's, and RX450's as well as Prius C, Prius Gen-2, etc. I much prefer the Prius over the RX300. I assume your RX's are AWD? All of ours were/are. I prefer the RX400h and RX450h over the 300/330/350 and any Prius. You are going from a luxury car to an economy car albeit one that's a decade newer. Yes you can replace individual modules in the battery. However you will then be playing the game of whack-a-mole. You should really just replace as one full unit with a new battery today. Toyota sells them new, and so do I. I'm in the GTA every couple weeks so I know the area, driving conditions, etc. I see no reason why a Prius wouldn't work. We keep the Prius C at our place in Brampton, no problem.
You guys do know this thread is almost a year old don’t you? Whatever decision the OP made he hasn’t been back since. I’m guessing he passed.
