Hello All, I’m looking to buy 2012 prius v(wagon) from an well reputed mechanic shop. They got it from client after head gasket blown. He sold the car to auto body shop with mostly highway kilometres. Year - 2012 Mileage : 280k kms Price : 10k Cad (9k+ 1200 taxes) They are selling with safety certificate and head gasket issue is taken care. I want your guidance about upcoming maintenance issues if they are any? I want to have this for atleast another 100k kms without major issues other than wear and tear. Please give me some guidance. Thanks
I would not recommend a gen3 Prius hatchback (2010-15) or a 2012-2017 Prius v due to various expensive repairs starting around 125k miles. Head gaskets are chronic; the best solution is a rebuilt engine with revised pistons and rings, not just a gasket. Revised pistons and rings resolve excessive oil burning in this generation. Brake by wire master cylinders (brake boosters/actuators) are not available rebuilt, often fail and are expensive ($2.5k or more US). They a safety concern when they fail. Hybrid batteries are a well known expense and "rebuilts" (mix and match used modules) only last a couple of years if that. New gets you ten years or more but are also $2.5k or more US. Power electronics (inverters) on this gen suddenly fail without warning, often stranding people. This went to a class action suit and are now covered for 20 years but a stranding is no fun away from home or in bad weather. Later generations finally resolved the issues. If you are a taxi company the 2015-2017 Prius v's are popular for their load size and mpg and taxi companies have mechanics and spare cars. The v's final three years have revised pistons and rings. A taxi company's resources and economics are different than private use. Pine Hollow Hidden Costs of Hybrid Ownership
10k for a 13 year old car with 280 km? what in the world is going on these days? Yeah. Unfortunately, that’s how the market is in canada right now.
Clean the EGR system, completely, including intake manifold (has EGR passages), at least every 50k miles. If it wasn't done in conjunction with the head gasket replacement, get on it ASAP. More info in my signature. (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)
