Advice: For buying Gen2/3 Prius

[Wayne2015]

Hi

My 2012 Auris Hybrid Mk1 facelift was sadly written off 😥

I have a budget of £8000 and always liked the Prius, but couldnt stretch the budget for a Gen3

Without a car now, I am hoping to get an early Gen3 (if desperate, might have to be a Gen2)

I would prefer the same spec as my Auris:

1. Pearl white

2. Satnav

3. T-Spirit

4. Tinted windows

5. 17" alloys

 

I noticed £8000 just about covers a high mileage Gen3

So, the advice I need is:

01. Should I go for a high mileage (100k+) Gen3 (2009/10), though few and far - or a even higher Gen2 (2009) but more to choose from?

02. Is the solar sunroof worth having?

03. Would be existing Auris Toyota Extended Warranty cover the Prius (and one that is just over 10 years old)?

04. I noticed some Prius has a front 'corner' parking sensor, but 'no' front facing parking sensors - why is that?

05. Is an 'imported' Prius expensive to insure (saw some really nice ones with xenons, tv, mp3 etc)?

06. My Auris Cat was stolen, is it worth putting catloc on the Prius?

07. What useful options should I look for on the Prius?

08. When test driving the Prius, apart from the usual checks, whatelse should I look/test for?

 

Thanks all 👍

 

[QuantumFireball]

Personally I wouldn't bother with built-in satnav on a car of this age - the interface is slow and clunky (on my facelift 2012) and updates are stupidly expensive. Just get a nice windscreen/dash mount for your phone and use Waze or Google Maps.

The solar roof in the Gen 3 only powers the cabin blower when parked, I'm not sure how effective it really is.

I find the HUD and heated seats are great features.

[Wayne2015]

Thanks Quantum

If your 2012 is clunky, its fine with me as I am used to it then as I also have a 2012 Auris with SatNav 🙂

 

I will look out for the HUD/heated seats then!

[Catlover]

The more "bits" there are on your shopping list will mean more difficult to find. Just narrowing down to pearl white + T Spirit will be difficult enough, then finding a good one with all the other bits.....mmm!  I'm with Quantum, dont bother with the satnav, its over £200 on a 2010 model to update, and the maps are said to be out of date by the time released for updating.  Mobile phone with Waze is good, was in one last week and very impressed with Waze, worked around traffic hold ups at rush hour with ease.

 

[Wayne2015]

Cheers Catlover

I had a similar task when searching for my Auris! But was very lucky to find one within 2 weeks 🙂

 

I will give it another go for the Prius, if no joy, then will drop something from the list (satnav 😞 )

 

thanks again

[snowBALLs]

I would not buy a Prius or any car which these thiefs are stealing the cat from. Catloc will not deter them, they have stolen from cars with catloc fitted. 

[Wayne2015]

Thanks Snowballs

 

After reading up on the latest online news ref targeting Prius Gen2/3 + Auris, and reading this blog:

https://blog.toyota.co.uk/catalytic-converter-theft-how-to-protect-your-car#comments

 

I think for now, I will have to look else where, but once the storm is over, I will look again at either the CH-R hybrid or the Prius 4, hopefully in a couple of years time? 🤔

[TonyHSD]

You are absolutely right, and so many people will start moving away from hybrids. If anyone doesn’t do many miles and does nor require an auto car getting a hybrid just for the sake of efficiency and environment point is not a wise decision, just because of that stupid things happening with cat thefts. The only positive side of the outcome may well be a slightly cheaper Toyota hybrids available. 
Good luck with the new car. 

[Wayne2015]

Cheers Tony

 

Too be honest, I had trouble finding cheap Prius! Even on the Toyota website 😞

[snowBALLs]

It's understandable that owners would want decent money for their cars, but these targeted cars will drop in price. 

The dealers will always want top price until no one buys. They are not in any hurry to mention about cat being stolen to prospective buyers for sure. 

[Wayne2015]

Its interesting that Toyota blog the official replies "kept apologising and that they have informed all dealers to inform their customers"...

 

Well, I have a Toyota Auris Hybrid serviced by Toyota for years, my 'cat' was stolen last year, and yet I heard nothing from my dealer warning me about 'cat' thefts...😱

[TonyHSD]

Of course they will keep quiet, if someone wants to buy your car, test drive it and like it and then while you are finalising the sell and you mentioned cat thefts, ops I am not buying that car mate., soon will happen. There is many reasons to buy, own and drive Toyota hybrid, but there is only one reason not to, and that one reason is getting so big that will overcome the good ones in many existing and potential customers, even though there is no better hybrid on the market, I’d rather just buy an ev or standard car, that is how we all starting to think. Most of the hybrids owners are people that just want simple, reliable motor, and now it is the biggest stress that you can buy and park on your drive, better Vw dsg, might break but might not, at least no one touching it. 

[Wayne2015]

I am actually thinking of getting a VAG DSG :lol

 

the newer Skoda Octavia/Superb comes back with 70+mpg (with DSG) and £20 road tax!!!

[snowBALLs]

Very true Tony. 

The Octavia are very good cars I heard. 

[TonyHSD]

Vag cars are nice to drive in general, if automatic it’s not a requirement manual boxes are better choice . 
Regards 

[Wayne2015]

56 minutes ago, snowBALLs said:

Very true Tony. 

The Octavia are very good cars I heard. 

I prefer the new Superb (2015+), but a little out of my budget if want some toys like parking sensors 😞

 

[Wayne2015]

54 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

Vag cars are nice to drive in general, if automatic it’s not a requirement manual boxes are better choice . 
Regards 

I prefer DSG, as the tech now means DSGs are faster n more econmical than manuals (though i agree manuals more fun) 😉

 

[TonyHSD]

The dsg are great transmissions but mostly for sport type driving, they are not as smooth as traditional torque converter auto to Toyota ecvt. They are also very complex and do fail more often. Clutches replacement cost £5k and they do wear with the time. I personally if I buy a car with dsg will make sure I have warranty that specifically cover clutch failure. 
Regards 

[Wayne2015]

So every 100k ?

[TonyHSD]

I don’t know that for sure , I keep away from vag more than 10 years now, but one of my work mates drives only vags dsg, he buys them new and drives them only 3 years and around 150k miles without issue, however we do drive mostly motorways, if car driven in towns perhaps may need replacement sooner as actually dsg has two set of dry clutches like in manual transmission and they wear with mileage. If you buy new is ok, if used one best is to buy used car warranty too. 

[Wayne2015]

I was looking at DSGs with just over 100k just to be within budget

But also looking at lower spec ones with 80k...

I will be doing 20k per year ...

[Wayne2015]

Any recommendations for extended warranty (as Skoda ones too expensive)? 

[TonyHSD]

 You may check Warranty wise, I had worked with them back in the days when was trading and they been kind of good one. 
https://www.warrantywise.co.uk/car-warranty 

[Wayne2015]

WarrantyWise states:

"

GEARBOX AND TRANSMISSION (MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC):

All internal mechanical Parts of gearbox, transfer gearbox, torque converter and overdrive (but excluding SMG and DSG hydraulic actuator, internal oil cooler or radiator, mechatronic unit and valve body).

"

 

What does that mean ref DSG 🙄

 

 

[TonyHSD]

Well, in that case you will be covered by warranty of the clutch packs but not the mechatronic or hydraulic actuator, which means that if the car has gearbox failure and mechanics found that clutch packs are worn out they should replace under warranty ( here is dodgy because even Vw refuses to change clutch packs as those are called service parts that needs changing with mileage like brake pads and filters, tyres etc), If the mechatronic is in fault then you are on your own, recent years Vw had improved their mechatronic units and there a less problems with that units, however the clutches will need change eventually and the job is not as easy as on simple manual transmission and it is a costly too. As far as I know around £5 k for new clutches done by mine dealer, but that needs to be confirmed with dealers or independent Vw specialists. If the car is brand new Vw dsg is great, but if old it is very risky imo, a car that cost £8k may have need a repair that will cost £5k, ?! 
Maybe there were many complaints of hydraulic actuator failure back in the days so warranty company excluded them from the list . 
I have a question for you., do you,consider buying another Auris Hybrid Gen 1, you are well within the budget and there are some good examples around?