Is a low mileage used Prius a “good buy” or a “goodbye” for used car shoppers? Here’s an example where this one may have been a mistake for its new owner.
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When shopping for a used car nothing can get blood pumping harder than being at an auction and realizing that a particularly popular model that looks to be in decent shape is up for sale and has less than 50,000 miles on it. Not only that, but it is a 2005 model which shows that this could be one of those fabled “She only drove it on Sundays to church” seductive scenarios in a shopper’s mind.
Which is all well and good...IF, it’s a gas-only vehicle and not a Hybrid.
That was the basic message in a recent Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel episode where the host provides a 2nd opinion for a new owner of a used Prius after the determination of another garage that his recently auction-purchased 2005 Prius really needed a new Hybrid battery.
Related article: Fuel Efficiency You Can Expect from an Old Toyota Prius
Hybrids Need to Be Driven to Stay Healthy
While the video does not reveal how much was paid at auction for the 2005 Prius, it appears the new owner was not expecting to have to buy a new Hybrid battery for it so soon after buying the vehicle. In reality, for any Hybrid car to have its battery last as long as 17 or 18 years, it should be no surprise that a new battery is long overdue and would not normally need a 2nd opinion to ensure that the diagnosis of the first garage is correct.
Related article: Used Prius Shopper Warning by Toyota Mechanic
However, we do not know the whole story and it could be the new owner got the Prius cheap at auction and had plans to flip it for resale only to discover the battery problem.
Nevertheless, it is a good reminder for new used-Hybrid shoppers that they have to factor in ahead of their purchase what a new Hybrid battery would cost them if they should discover after buying it that a new battery is needed. In this case whether the vehicle has 50,000 miles on it or 150,000 miles on it, it is still a Hybrid with a 17 or 18-year-old battery that has an optimistic life expectancy of 15 years...if an owner is fortunate.
An article in TheDrive.com website states that the manufacturer puts life expectancy at 8-10 years; however, there are known cases of Prius owners getting both less and more than what Toyota states. A new Hybrid battery for a Prius of an early generation will cost somewhere between $2200-$2,500.
Another point made by the host is the now-conventional wisdom that Hybrids need to be driven regularly…and not for just a few miles at a time. The math on this 2005 Prius comes to an average of less than 8 miles per day. Not only does a Hybrid battery maintain better health with more mileage, but the engine benefits as well in preventing an engine sludge problem from happening, which by the way could make the storied Prius a clunker in the near future.
The Value of This Video
The value of this video is for those who are new to Hybrid vehicles and what it takes to properly care and maintain them to last as long as possible. In addition, buying a used Hybrid takes special considerations apart from buying a used gas-only vehicle. In other words, low mileage is not necessarily a good thing when it comes to a used Hybrid vehicle.
Follow along with the host as he does a “Show ‘n Tell” of the 2005 Prius using a scanning tool to verify the original diagnosis was correct and that battery replacement is to be expected when buying an older Hybrid car.
Related article: The Once in a Lifetime Toyota Prius Maintenance You Will Ever Have to Do
And finally...for an idea of when is the best time in a Prius model’s life to buy as a used car, here is an interesting article to consider where one Prius owner discusses why buying a used Prius when it is only a few years old can be a financial mistake.
For additional articles related to the Toyota Prius, here are three recommendations:
- Replace the Hybrid Battery in Your Prius with an Upgraded Battery
- Toyota Prius Auxiliary Battery Info You Need to Know
- Prius Owner Repair Warning from Toyota Mechanic
Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.
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