Hi all Looking at getting a Gen 3 Prius. I've found 2 possibilities that have similar km/mileage (135,000km/83,000 miles) and are at similar prices. One is a 2009 Gen 3 I-Tech and the other is a 2012 standard. Normally I'd have thought go the 3 year newer car everything else being similar but the 2009 had a full hybrid battery replacement 4 months ago that comes with a 3 year warranty. Therefore I'm wondering would the 2009 model likely be the better purchase in this case? Thanks
If you have all the papers for the battery replacement (was it a new battery? a refurbished? or an old salvaged battery?), then it might be worth going with the 2009. If it's a new battery, it will almost perform like a new car.
I believe it was a new battery (he has all receipts etc which will come with the sale of course.) The seller sent me through this photo from Dr Prius app - they said this is sitting in the car with air conditioner on (Aussie weather haha) and are saying it shows a little discharge current on the air-con battery but shows everything else running as it should. Unfortunately I don't know enough about the Dr Prius app to know what I should be looking for and not too much info on their website.
That previous image was a 'live' image from when I just messaged him but this is the battery health test he has posted in the advertisement itself as well if it helps at all (the ad is a few weeks old now but I'm assuming a few weeks to a couple months won't make a huge difference?)
So in your country a 2009 is a generation 3 Prius? I would say get the earliest one with the newest battery. I'd be looking for a generation 2:09 with a new battery personally that's what I drive today My wife and my ex have generation 3s but they're not driven like my generation too they're more or less garage Queens one trip a day and back from work 8 mi maybe that type of thing My car goes over a hundred a day
I don’t know much about the Dr. Prius app either but if it’s what he says it is, the 2009 with the battery replacement is the better choice. Who is the warranty with and can you verify that the coverage will be transferred to you? Note that there will be updates with the 2012 as that’s when the midlife update was performed. There may be some fixes with the engine (EGR issues is more prevalent with the earlier 3rd generations). I need @Mendel Leisk or @Elektroingenieur to give you the details on that. Alternatively, you can also plan for a replacement on the 2012 (although that’s not likely for a little bit).
make sure it is a toyota oem battery. do your due diligence and read through some of the gen 3 issues here. egr system, head gasket, pistons/rings, brake actuator, inverter all the best!
