Looking to buy a Prius

[Heidfirst]

11 hours ago, PeteB said:

The floor mat thing was after a number of Toyota and Lexus cars had the accelerator get stuck down due to loose floor mats.

which usually (if not always) were non-oem products.

[barrycoll]

The Japanese Prius imports will not have Toyota 5 year warranty + 10 hybrid health warranty.....they are only covered by an AA one year warranty from vendor.

totally different spec with odd colours (well that goes for all Prius’s), and interiors....

Sold my 2013 T Spirit in March last year,  although probably underpriced at £13.5k with just 18k on the clock....the phone never stopped ringing, and the bloke who bought it saw it in ALLAMABAD (!!), from Autotrader in the first half hour of being online.

Doubtless it is now working full time as a private hire

 

[FROSTYBALLS]

13 minutes ago, barrycoll said:

The Japanese Prius imports will not have Toyota 5 year warranty + 10 hybrid health warranty.....they are only covered by an AA one year warranty from vendor.

The 5 year new car warranty is for cars supplied by Toyota GB. Europe has the 3 year/60,000 mile warranty

[batfan]

My budget will probably only stretch to cars outside warranty so an imported car, as long as it has a V5 and an MOT, will not really be an issue. Still looking though......

[danowat]

3 minutes ago, batfan said:

My budget will probably only stretch to cars outside warranty so an imported car, as long as it has a V5 and an MOT, will not really be an issue. Still looking though......

Just out of curiosity, what is you budget?

[batfan]

flexible!

[Catlover]

On 1/30/2018 at 5:07 PM, PeteB said:

In my opinion, yes.  The Gen 2 was a very good car, and many are still very happy with them.

In my view, then Gen 3 post 2012 face lift was the best, not least because it gained daytime running lights, and electrically folding mirrors.

The Gen 3 has a better ride quality (especially on 15" wheels, although a T-Spirit will have 17") and more conformable seats, both being unduly firm in the Gen 2.  I've only come across one person who didn't get better mpg in the Gen 3, I certainly did.  The dash displays and steering button are generally more comprehensive on the Gen 3.

Only a decent test drive will confirm which you will prefer, however.  There are certainly some on the Yahoo Prius-UK group who don't like the Gen 3.

If you do look at a Gen 3, make sure the brake recall was done (generally required on pre-face lift versions) and also a ECU (engine management) update required on some early models - the inverter could get fried if this wasn't done.

I am looking for a Prius, if I do a Recall Check on a vehicle and it says "We are pleased to confirm that your Toyota is not affected by any voluntary customer service campaigns or outstanding safety recalls and no further action is required" , can I take that as gospel and that the 2 items PeteB refers to here will have been sorted????

[PeteB]

1 hour ago, Catlover said:

I am looking for a Prius, if I do a Recall Check on a vehicle and it says "We are pleased to confirm that your Toyota is not affected by any voluntary customer service campaigns or outstanding safety recalls and no further action is required" , can I take that as gospel and that the 2 items PeteB refers to here will have been sorted????

I tend to take nothing as an absolute guarantee, but I think that's about the best you can hope for.

It may also mean that a recall wasn't necessary for that particular car.

[FROSTYBALLS]

According to the DVSA website, the brake recall affected cars built between October 2008 and October 2009. If the ECU update was part of a customer service campaign, the recall checker should include cars that needed the update. If it wasn't a customer service campaign, presumably it won't.

[Catlover]

I would like a Gen3 Prius for its looks.  I have a 2010 Auris Hybrid (hope I can pass on to the wife who drives the 59 plate Yaris TSpirit 1.4D) so know what to expect performance wise.

But, there are some nice Gen2 2006-2008 cars for sale. I know the engine is smaller, but I am going to notice a big difference in performance between Gen2-Gen3

[FROSTYBALLS]

The one drawback with a 2006-08 Prius is that the older ones will be beyond the hybrid health check hybrid Battery warranty and the younger ones may be just in scope if the hybrid health check is done immediately prior to the car's 10th birthday.

[PeteB]

2 hours ago, Catlover said:

... there are some nice Gen2 2006-2008 cars for sale. I know the engine is smaller, but I am going to notice a big difference in performance between Gen2-Gen3

There's not a lot in it.  Gen 3 is a fraction of a second quicker to 62 mph (100 kph) (both around 10½ sec) and top speed is limited to 112 mph (106 Gen 2) which makes no difference to most people (except maybe in Germany!).

For my money, even the Gen 1 Prius was more than adequate, despite a 0-62 of just under 13 sec and 99 mph limited top speed.  I didn't often floor it, and would be happy enough with that performance today.  No doubt Jeremy Klaxon types would disagree. 

The rationale of the larger engine was claimed to be more about reducing the petrol engine rpm under harder acceleration and when cruising, leading to better economy and refinement rather than brisker performance.

[Cyker]

From my, admittedly limited experience, I feel the Gen3 was much nicer on the motorway than the Gen2 so if you tend to do longer journeys I'd lean more toward the Gen3.

If that's rare, then the Gen 2 is perfectly adequate and will probably be a heck of a lot cheaper too!

I do prefer the dash of the Gen 3...

 

[Catlover]

Thanks guys for all the comments.   Today I bought privately a Prius Gen3, 59 plate 2010 model. 105,000 miles for £5750.  Bargain price I feel, ok the 4 alloy wheels need some work but probably worth doing. Its got 12 month MOT, just had a Mr T service in the last couple weeks, 2 new tyres, new discs and pads on the rear, 10 service stamps (8 Toyota).  Drives nice, nav maps probably not updated from new!,  Yep, I think got good deal.  Actually I feel it is nippier then my Auris hybrid so go me a bit confused.  Just needs a bit more upholstery clean on the boot fabric and the driver seat.  In my favourite colour too - silver.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Does your profile need updating.

[PeteB]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

From my, admittedly limited experience, I feel the Gen3 was much nicer on the motorway than the Gen2 ...

I do prefer the dash of the Gen 3...

I did about 167,000 miles in Gen 1 Prius, 50,000 in Gen 2, 56,000 in Gen 3 and 25,000 so far in my Gen 4.

Each generation is a little better at any given speed than the one before it, but I did a lot of motorway miles in both Gen 1 & 2, and was very happy doing so in both.

I also preferred the dash of the Gen 3, but like my Gen 4 dash most of all.

Having done over 320,000 miles in cars with digital dashes since 2000, I really, really hate old fashioned dials, which is one reason (of many) I've stayed with Prius even though a smaller car would be better for my needs.

[Catlover]

1 hour ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Does your profile need updating.

Not yet, not picking up till midweekl.

[Cyker]

@PeteB - What sort of speeds are we talking tho'? My memory of the Gen2 at a sustained 70mph was of a fairly revvy ICE, something which I find the Mk3 Yaris HSD tends to do too!

I know what you mean about the dials tho' - When I was forced to change from my old diesel Yaris Mk1 (KHAAAAN!!! ), I went out of my way to find a Mk2 Yaris that had both the £30VED 1.33VVTi *and* the digital dash; It seems 2009 was the ONLY year these two things overlapped as after 2009 they went to crappy old-fashioned dials for everything and before that they only had the £135VED 1.3VVTi .

I do wish Toyota were a bit braver with innovating away from the norm as their collimated digital dash is easily the nicest dash I've ever used. The fact that I can still see the number without having to refocus my eyes or hunt for a tiny needle has, I'm certain, saved me from a few crashes! Esp. because I don't have to look away to e.g. check my speed when they suddenly change the speed limit! (*grumble* stupid 'smart' motorways*grumble*)

 

It's partly that why I'd never get a Mk3 Yaris (The other being the interior is disgraceful - So much wasted space compared to the Mk1 and 2, which had storage bins *everywhere*!)

My worry is the only other people that commonly do digital dashes seem to be the French... 

 

[PeteB]

25 minutes ago, Cyker said:

@PeteB - What sort of speeds are we talking tho'? My memory of the Gen2 at a sustained 70mph was of a fairly revvy ICE...

Often I'd do 70 mph on the clock, and if in a hurry 75 (true 70, so still legal).  It felt very relaxed to me.

Obviously going uphill the revs would increase, but not drastically so unless trying to accelerate.

One thing the Gen 2 was quite sensitive to was a low HV Battery SoC - accelerating gently up a slight incline would use quite a few more rpm than usual, but not for long.

I took the Gen 1 on a of tour of Scotland a couple of times, and apart from being the first time I experience a maxed out HV Battery I found it surprisingly good on the long, steep hills - 5 or 6 miles at 20% gradient sometimes.  I set the Cruise Control to 60 mph indicated, and it happily maintained speed without too many revs, and without having to draw power from the HV Battery.

Interestingly, my company had a plug-in conversion done on a 2007 Prius, and as part of that they installed an additional screen behind the steering wheel.  Amongst other things, it showed the ICE rpm, and I found it usually settled to about 1100-1200 rpm when cruising, even at 70 mph.  It may not be representative of a standard car though, because the conversion company used the standard connector to the Hybrids system, and it worked by lying to the car about the HV battery SoC.  Whenever it had enough charge to support all electric driving, it pretended the HV battery was maxed out, so the car naturally tried to use EV mode all the time and happily stayed EV up to around 60 mph unless very hard acceleration was demanded.  At above that speed, it would feed more than usual electric power into the equation so that's why I suspect the rpm might be higher in a standard car.  The car would do almost 40 miles on a full charge.

[PeteB]

35 minutes ago, Cyker said:

... I'd never get a Mk3 Yaris (The other being the interior is disgraceful - So much wasted space compared to the Mk1 and 2, which had storage bins *everywhere*!)...

I couldn't agree more.

A Mk 2 Yaris, with digital dash, split sliding/reclining rear seats, 3 glove boxes, drawer under the passenger seat, storage cubbys in the centre console and space under the boot floor would be perfect with the Hybrid system installed.

When I heard Toyota were going to launch a Yaris Hybrid, I was excited, as the Prius is far too big for my needs, but when I test drove one I think it was the biggest disappointment of any car I've ever seen.  The driving experience was fine, but it failed on almost every other front.  With the sloping roof line, I couldn't even get in the back seats, except by walking into the car like I was bowing and then reversing into a seat, when I found my knees poking into the front seat and my head bent to one side because of the low roof.  I'm not that tall, at 5' 10".

In the US there's a Prius C that's about the Yaris size (might even use the same body shell), that does have the Gen 3 Prius cockpit layout.

 

 

[Catlover]

20 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Does your profile need updating.

Profile now updated, the seller delivered today.  The seller wanted paying by bank transfer, which happened but not without frustrations. My bank was concerned about scamming. I put in an online request to transfer funds at 10:40. By 15:40 nothing had happened so I contacted my bank, who explained their concern that by transferring money before receiving goods left me open to losing the money with no goods. I appreciated their concern. I was asked had I actually en the goods (the car), driven it and happy.  The seller agreed to bring the car 30 miles, then I could contact the bank again to say car had arrived. By 17:40 and after another discussion with the bank they transferred the money instantaneously. The seller checked his account and could see the money had arrived.   I must say the bank were, after talking to me, willing to release the money if it was my will, but they preferred to do it carefuly and I agreed to go along with them and so did the seller, after all the alternatives to him was pay the PAYPAL fees on eBay, and he certainly didnt want someone turning up on his doorstep with loads of money (and the risks that involves)..  I am left with an headache, but with a nice Prius sat on my drive.  All of this because of the state of society, where what used to be simple transactions are now spoilt because of dodgy people and systems having to be tightened up to cope with them.  Such is life.

 

[Cyker]

@Pete - Yeah, me too! I was also quite excited for the Mk3 but when I found they'd removed every Yarissy feature from it so it was basically just a normal boring car (I still think the pre-facelift one looks like a Vauxhall from the front ), it kinda lost any attraction or differentiation over other manufacturer's cars. Right now I'd easily pick a Mazda 2 over a Mk3 Yaris if I was buying new!

Then again I had thought I'd be keeping my beloved Mk1 D4D until someone came up with a Yaris-sized EV capable of 300 miles at 70mph! (KHAAAAAN!! )

 

@Catlover - It is a bit of a pain but have the warm fuzzies that the bank is keeping an eye out for once! A lot of people get scammed with bank transfers, and you don't get any of the protections that a credit or even debit card would have afforded so they tend to be a lot more cagey about it.

That said, if you'd done it via on-line banking they probably wouldn't have blinked! 
 

[Catlover]

 

I mentioned in earlier post I bought a 2010 Prius for what I think is a bargain price, but the wheels let it down (kerbing, bubbling, flaking). Took it to a wheel refurbishment specialist today and booked it in for Ed/Thur at £360 inc vat for all 4. I was reckoning on £400 so was within "budget". Really pleased with the Prius, drives so different to the Auris for some reason - like I said before - nippier.  The Auris hybrid is now the wifes and today I took my/her 59 plate Yaris T-Spirit 1.4D to a local car sales and they took it off me straight away for a better price the webuyanycar.com. I know they will sell it quickly for a good business profit, but I couldnt be bothered trying to sell privately for maybe couple hundred more, especially now you cant just add a car to your insurance at your earned NCD. I had until tonight before the Yaris insurance expired, then it was £94 for a 2 week extension or just over £20 for a 2 day insurance ring-up-when-you-have-a-viewing.  Couldnt be bothered. I hope it gets sold to someone local so I can see it knocking around.

 

[Cyker]

Weirdly, I've very rarely seen alloys in good condition when I've been car hunting; Both Mk1 Yarises I've owned had shocking alloys. Is partly why I deliberately sought out one with steel wheels this time round so I don't have to care!

How much did you flog the 1.4D for if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Mike J.]

On ‎04‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 2:53 PM, PeteB said:

Amongst other things, it showed the ICE rpm, and I found it usually settled to about 1100-1200 rpm when cruising, even at 70 mph.  It may not be representative of a standard car though ....

When using Torque Pro, I have seen similar revs and speed in my Yaris. That is the beauty of the hybrid CVT - you can get a ratio giving at least 60mph/1000 rpm ( a 'normal' petrol car has around 20 mph/1000 rpm for its top gear).