this will be my first car and since i'm in college it will have to be cheap. i'm currently looking at a 2008 prius (not sure what the trim is) with 118k miles for $5,000. someone please tell me if this is a good deal and if there are any problems with the 2008 I should be looking for. also any other advice on which years have major problems. i.e. the 2010 oil consumption. thanks in advance!
welcome! 2008 is a great year. i wouldn't go any earlier. sounds like a good deal. here's what to do: learn how to reset the average mpg. then go for a good long test drive under varied conditions, and see what the mpg's are at the end. it also might be worth taking it to a dealer and paying a hundred fifty bucks for a once over. all the best!
is there anything wrong with buying a prius if it's more than 10 years old? like the battery? or does the battery give out with miles instead of old age?
the consensus is that time is harder than miles, but i don't think there's any data, just anecdotal. we are seeing a lot of 2005-2007 issues, but also, some are having great luck with them. like anything mechanical, the more years/miles, the higher the odds are that somethings will break. my daughter has an '08 with 100k. it's been a perfect vehicle, but who knows what the next 50-100k will bring?
