Problems to Look Out for When Buying a Used Toyota Prius
Greg _Your Car Angel shows you everything you need to know and problems to look out for when buying a used Toyota Prius. Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, and Gen 4 are all discussed with problem areas explained. From headlight problems to piston ring problems in the 2010 model Greg makes sure you understand the areas of concern . Generally high quality the Prius has some defects year by year. through each generation.The Honda Insight is also mentioned.
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Strange though it may seem, a straight up video like this, with honest and unbiased commentary, is a rare and welcome thing in this day and age. Fair play, Greg. I admire your neutrality, lack of agenda and commitment to just telling it like it actually is (not to be confused with the political 'like it is' nowadays which cannot be trusted. I have learned a lot from this, and I'm pleased to report that 16+ minutes is no burden when the content is good.
I want a Prius because of the climate control and because of the milage. The thing is... Is i have never owned anything except for a Honda. I have never had any trouble with any of them. I am so spoiled, I'm afraid they will break down. What should I do?????
😅
Totally agree
I have a 2004 , I bought it new in Florida , today , it has gone over a million miles , all original, original battery , Toyota Dealership in Miami wants to buy it fir display but I said na na , it’s for me for keeps .. way to go Toyota .. o what a feeling !!!
why you didn't say trade for new one
I was at a Dealership in Utah about 2 years ago where a guy had a 06-07 TE Model w/over 600,000 was Mint condition, but then as a Technician he may of been meticulous in caring for it! The 2nd Gen is far superior in comfort to the 3rd Gen for long distance driving! they need to put the 2nd Gen Seats in place of the chinsy seats of the 3rd Gen!! *** Almost as Important *** Who designed the confounded Reverse BEEP BEEP BEEPING SOUND, why did they not put a volume control on it! ?? GOD BLESS AMERICA- THANK A VETERAN
Mitchel Crilly you can get the dealer to change it to only beeping once when you go in reverse.
Has the touch screen gone out?
How much did they offer you $$$?
Short Summary: 2nd gen: Buy the 06-09 3rd Gen: Buy the 11-15 4th Gen: This guy freaking HATES IT!
😂😂😂
Lol definitely thought his reaction to the 4th gen was hilarious
I love mine! Think it looks awesome!
I'm using 2010 my only problem is oil consumption. Other than that, I'm very happy with everything.
@@ignerevhak How much oil does it consume?
The description of the aesthetics of the fourth generation had me DYING 😂😂😂
After watching this video, we purchased a 2011 Prius with the upgraded package and have had the most amazing car for the last year! Your video made all the difference in our final decision. Thank you!!
Totally agree, we have 2 Gen 3's and love them! He is spot on with all his comments on this video. The Gen 4 designers were indeed on some bad acid!
I work at a Toyota dealership. Any Prius that isn't a 1st Gen is worth your money. And I'll be honest with you; for most consumers, it isn't worth your money to solve the "timing cover" seepage issue. These issues, as well as any other gasket failure on Toyota motors, is simply because Toyota assembles their motors with RTV for most gasket applications. If you are experiencing oil consumption/loss in your Prius, I'd strongly suggest reducing your oil change interval mileage from 10k (Yes, you heard me right, that is Standard Mileage for an Oil Change at a Dealership for nearly ALL Toyota products since 2014) down to 5k. I advise against using Lucas Oil or other such additives that will "swell gaskets" and increase compression in these motors; the ECM is not only already used to the current operating conditions, but RTV is NOT meant to handle high levels of compression, especially beyond stock, due to the type of RTV they use during assembly. If you have a failing battery, don't buy a new one!! Go out and find a shop that can deplete, balance, and recharge light/medium duty application LiPo's or other commercial batteries. 99% of the time, this is going to save you 3-4k over a remove/replace job. Or, if you think you can figure it out, you can purchase some cheap Battery Management unit off Amazon and deplete/balance/recharge the cells yourself. As long as you have a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm Socket on a ratchet and the same wrenches, you can do nearly anything on a Toyota.
I don't own a Prius but hope a lot of others who do read your post.
I was burning oil at 1qt per 1k then started leaking coolant in engine Found a German and he replaced the blown head gasket now it’s 💯
@@InnocentFormalities Very strange. Are you the original owner? If not, how long did you own the car before problems noticed? Have a good PPI done before purchase?
wholeNwon prob a good year or two and no I just kept oil in my car for longest time until it started leaking coolant then had to get it fixed ASAP had it since 2014
wholeNwon 200k and going strong
I have owned all of these Prius models. I agree with many of the warnings on buying a used model. But once he got to the Prime, I was like WTF? I mean, it went from being a video about looking out for problems on used cars, to just trying to subjectively rip the car based on its appearance. I own one of these and happen to think it is attractive both inside and out. I agree about the touch-screen air conditioning controls, and that is something I have complained about on many different cars, including Tesla.
I had the new orientation helper set it on 71 degrees and forget it.
I agree. When you buy a Prius aren't you looking for efficiency and reliability? I mean wouldn't that automatically make the 4th Gen the best option?
Totally. I agree with him on the touchscreen. Tactile buttons are essential when you're steering a 3k pound turtle. However, his transition from older Prius model reliability to "Prime's ugly" is hilarious. You might as well be comparing a blowfish to a Corvette.
Why was he ripping on the appearance of the new gen? Nobody buys a prius for looks. But if you ask me I actually think the Prius Prime looks way better than all the previous gen.
What year would you recommend? I had an '06 and have had a '10 now for ten years. If you've had all, which do you like best? I really don't care about "looks," either...you don't buy a Prius for looks.
Your descriptions of the fourth generation Prius omg 😂😂😂
You own a Prius Karl ???
I found this funny too, but I disagreed with your opinion. I think the 4th gen looks cool and like the interior. I don’t like the huge screen on the Prime or that you need to take your eyes off the road to use it, but the regular model solves both those issues and looks great.
Lol ya it was funny
The robot face… “my grandma’s microwave oven” … acid trip… so funny
hi big fan
For the 2nd gen prius this video didn't mention alot of common mechanical problems for the car including an inverter pump that goes bad(bricks the car till its replaced), an bad combination meter that goes bad, a 3 way coolant valve that typically goes bad. These issues I think should be looked at before purchasing a 2nd gen prius otherwise it will be alot of harsh learning moments. Good luck and get that prius!
As previous gen 2 (2007) owner, all of these happened to me
2004 with 350k 2013 210k 2018 prime 35k Still own all of them and never had any issue
jazz devou original battery on all?
Ya but it's a shitty car with a zero to sixty time of 35 minutes, and they can't go up a hill if u stop in the middle of it so ya....... Good job by buying 3.....
Trade I got a sexy blue 2009 197k for that 2013 2010k?
George BUSH Right...because paying $80 a month for gas (SUV) vs $40 every two months (Hybrid) is such a fun experience...
George BUSH lol shut your pie hole... sounds like you’ve never driven one. Mine goes 0-60 in 27min
Here's a summary: The Toyota Prius is one of the lowest cost cars to maintain. Battery packs last between 180-200K miles Gen 1: 2000-2003 (42 mpg city, 41 mpg highway) Gen 2: 2004-2009 (48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway) Minor but persistent issue with headlights Thin cloth interior that's not durable (leather recommended) 2006-2009 changed dashboard and interior door panels from painted surface to durable textured surface Gen 3: 2010-2015 (51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway) 1.8L engine upgraded from 1.5L Drum brakes upgraded to disc brakes 2010 model has piston rings problems -- stay away Gen 4: 2016-Present (54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway) Has some bad/weird design features Reliable and highly efficient
Austin Wilhite 👏
My 2012 Prius C has a 1.5 L engine and is rated at 52 city, 46 hwy. (USA)
damn you're telling me after 20 years they only manage to improve 10 MPG? At this rate I think EV cars are the way to go in the future.
Whats the headlight issue with the gen 2?
300k?
I love my Prius V, but I’d like to add that the 3rd gen engines in 2010-15 Prius and 2012-17 have head gasket problems which may or may not be related to the EGR valve, cooler, and intake manifold becoming clogged up with carbon. Having said that, I’m still going to replace my head gasket because the car has 220k miles and has been flawless on all of my cross country road trips. It’s the perfect camping vehicle!
240K miles on our 06 Prius, and it still runs great. Only problem is that it is losing about a quart of oil between oil changes every 5k. We also had a gen1 which was good and my daughter-in-law has a gen3, which is really nice. Her's has the solar panel roof that runs the air circulation fan when the car is off; one of the best ideas I've ever heard of.
Could be your piston rings. Piston rings is an issue on Toyota engines on general. Not a deal breaker, just something that needs to be done when you start having these issues.
You need a new short block installed
2005 with 664K miles. New 12V, everything else original. Other than standard maintenance. 2010 with 382K miles. New 12V battery, everything else original. Standard maintenance. 2017 Prime with 75K miles. Original everything. Standard maintenance. On my 24th tank of gas after 75K miles.
I wont believe you made it 664k miles on original traction battery
@@morrisl7 that's fine. They never die. The cells do, but they don't. $25 for each replacement cell.
@@livingthedash6727 - Where can you buy the replacement cell.
@@slowgoat6089 I got mine in Baltimore, MD.
@@morrisl7 u can if u know about the battery, but it must be pain to drive the car in certain way, but u can get it to 300000 plus miles easily, if u r a little careful, and now a days they cost really low
Hi Greg, thank you for your excellent video. This video was the first one I was ever suggested by KZhead to watch, I am happy I did. I particularly liked your clear articulation and your no-nonsense approach. In my opinion, you are one of the very best presenters if not even the best I have seen here on YT. I look forward to watch the next ones. Thank you again, my best greetings from Finland. 🏁🏆👍🏻
Thanks for your expert advice on the Toyota Prius. I once questioned a uber driver about the 3rd generation he picked me up in and he was glad to share his experience. He had a 2nd generation with over 400,000 miles on it all original! In the New York tristate area. I assume Toyota made them look ugly by design, but I have never met a dissatisfied Prius owner after talking to over a dozen owners. Keep up the good work and happy New Year
It annoys me to no end when people say "Oh, don't buy a Prius, it's too expensive to repair". They say it like it's guaranteed to have problems. Yet the Prius and other hybrids have been constantly proven to be more reliable than their gas-only counterparts.
Sean Place Scotty says that.
@@Piwork69 Yeah, he says that about buying used hybrids. But with buying any used car, there's always a small risk that there will be expensive repairs.
I have a Prius and have to admit I pay much more on repairs than my previous Honda Civic since the parts are very pricey to replace. I have just left my combination meter not working since it cost $1K to replace. Totally insane, I would have preferred less screens so it wasn't so costly all the time.
You have to figure in gas savings into repair. Then not so expensive.
I have a 2010, I drive it hard. Had about 4 years with less work than I’ve had on others, but I need to buy the new “big battery” now; $4,500.🤔
Thank you for this video Greg. I just had to replace the multi function display screen. I have 146k on my Gen2 Prius and it when out. The dealer wanted $2500 for replacement. They don’t fix it. Just replaced it. I got a new screen from eBay for $200 and put in myself. I watched a video on KZhead how to replace it. Now it works! I also just bought a 2019 Pruis prime. I’m excited for the new prime adventure. But I love my pruis 2009.
respect to you for fixing it yourself!! Woman get scammed alot at the dealership. Power to you!!
For people who have done electronic repairs, there is a video showing how to repair them: techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/
What about the Gen3, did you have one? Was it good? I'm about to buy a 2015
$2500?! I got one from a yard for $19 and slapped it in in about 20 minutes. I had no idea they were gouging that bad for it.
Wow, impressed! Thank you for sharing that information .
Greg, I watched the whole video. I laughed several times! You did a really good job with a sense of humour. A really helpful video for us used car shoppers! Thank you!
Two years after this video and this is still gold! thanks man!
Prius, and all Toyota models, best made vehicles ever. Thank you Japan.👍
I own a 2019 Corolla hatchback. I bought one in December of 2018. In February of 2019 I was rear-ended by a Dodge ram pick up truck doing around 60mph, I was at a complete stop.The car was totaled, obviously. But, the frame of the car held together so we'll all 4 of the passenger doors opened. Me and my wife walked away from the accident. I replaced the car with an identical model. I now have 6,200 miles on the car. No problems at all with it, obviously. I've taken a decent amount of road trips in it so far. I've been able to beat the EPA gas milage by 7mpg, getting 49mpg averaging between 75-80mph on a 100 mile trip. The car is very stable, comfortable and the adaptive cruise control and lane keep is very good..
......with all the soul of a bin liner. I’ll stick to my ‘unreliable’ Range Rover I think.
@West Park well the most impressive part about my 2019 Corolla hatch so far is the ride quality, smooth transmission and gas milage. In stop and go traffic just this morning, I got 35.5 mpg on a short 6 mile trip. Keep in mind, I live in Arizona. It was 85 degrees and I was running the AC. I hit about 7 intersections in my trip and almost always hit at least 4 red lights.
@West Park Our 95 corolla we bought new, 180K miles later and 3 kids, people were fighting to buy it. lol. A few bulbs, a starter were the only fails outside of maintenance.
i get 65-70 MPG on the 2016 prius. Its AMAZING!
I think the best tip for any hybrid owner is to get heat rejection window tint. They make clear window tint with TSER (Total Solar Energy Reflected) in the range of 50%+ while still having VLT (Visible Light Transmittance) of 70%. This is important because in California and other states, you can't have front window tint that reduces the VLT to less than 70%. Getting heat rejection tint on your car is the best way to prolong the life of these hybrid batteries. They're heat sensitive and will wear quickly if hot. Clear window tint that blocks heat is the best investment you can make, especially for anybody who has just recently replaced that hybrid battery pack.
It’s really hot in Southwestern Florida I don’t think my window tint is going to save my battery...but I hope it helps.
i ruined my battery in 2 weeks, i didnt know anything about hybrid then, i think they should warn first time buyers about a few things
Where does one purchase this? Specifically a clear one - I live in a state where it needs to be less than 70% for the front windows.
@@Speakofawe go to a tint shop, really hard to install yourself correctly
@@syedrabby1027 how did u ruin your battery in 2 weeks??? What can you pass on that you learned to help???
Very helpful video, and gave the video a like. I bought a 2012/2013 basically a late 2012 Auris Hybrid with the 1.8 engine. It has just over 100,00 miles on it, but still very solid, well put together, and no loss of power. Most other cars would be falling apart at that mileage. I never get tired of the power mode, but I only do it when the car is up to temperature. I'm thrilled with the car and I average about 62 to 66 mpg so far.
Great information for the used car buyers. Big thank you. About the looks, some people may dis-agree. They like the look. However he made the point. Corners of the car are most vulnerable to brush or touch something while parking or maneuvering in tight spots. Lights on such corners is a bad idea. Thank you for putting this together and sharing.
"Body shops wet dream come true.". This hippy is my hero.
bought a used 2008 Prius off Craigslist for $2200, undoubtedly the best investment I ever made. I get about 41 mpg . No issues whatsoever -so far!
Nice
Looking at some high mileage $2-3k Prius right now. What was the mileage on the 2008 you bought?
it had roughly 137K on it when I bought it, about 150K now, no problems
Jamescarey: I own a used 2008 Prius with 171,700 miles on it (I am 2nd owner) This summer repair shop replaced oxygen sensor ($500+) and this week air/fuel sensor ($980). I work from home and only logged 1100 miles this year. Everything else seems to be good. I'm afraid it might be turning into a money pit. Any advice??
@@kmason7204 first advice, find a new mechanic sounds like you might be going to the dealer that is a rip-off those sensors are not that difficult to replace should have been 200 Max If I were you I would get rid of or trade it in at 200,000 k
This guy - the carAngel - is REALLY, REALLY good at what he does. His language is nothing short of IMPECABLE, exuding knowledge, directness, and impartiality. He gives a lot of credit to Toyota where credit is due; when analyzing the terrible design of the lights on the rear bumpers of the fourth gen., prone to getting destroyed on any minor accident… "if you get bumped here, it's a bodyshop’s wet dream come true... it looks like the designers went on an acid trip".
I just wanted to thank you Greg. I have watched many of your videos, and with your help I chose a gen 3 prius. I am happily enjoying just over 53 mpg.
Toyota Dealer service employee here. Couple things to touch up on: - Second gen Prius models seem to have oil consumption issues like the Camry of the same model years. We see people point out to us that their oil pressure light comes on when taking turns, a sign of low oil. - On third gen Prius models they have a ton of lightbulbs in the headlight assemblies and they go out all the time. - Also on third gen Prius models, we’ve never recommended the timing cover seals just because they hit 75k miles. But we do see them seeping frequently. Toyota switched from a rubber gasket to a liquid gasket (similar to RTV) on a lot of their models and they seep often. - On fourth gen Prius models with radar cruise control, everything on the body is hideously expensive to fix. The Toyota badge on the front bumper cover, JUST the part cost, is $480. I am not making that up. A guy got backed into in a parking lot and we had to quote one. If you want a Toyota that rarely has issues according to what we see, get a Yaris. They have nothing to break in the first place so they last forever, super cheap to buy, and can hit similar fuel economy numbers if driven properly.
My 2014 Toyota Prius V had a bad head gasket and the dealership took five weeks to try to fix it ended up having to just go ahead and replace the motor. I actually got Toyota to pitch in half the cost which was about $4,500. What a fiasco. It was a used motor with about the same amount of Miles which was 72k
I have an 08 Yaris with 280k+ miles on it and still running strong! I easily foresee getting it to 400k!
Thanks for this
I have a second gen Prius and this is spot on. Headlight ballast failed, paint peeling, replaced battery pack, and the cloth coming off. But I don't care because it paid for itself in gas savings 😂
You are 100% legit unbiased reviewer! I love my gen 2, 200K. Great video.
Just purchased a Gen4 - 2017 Prius 4 and love everything about it...including the robot face!
Newly in the market for a used Prius, this was super informative. Thank you.
2010 prius with 138,000, I have had NO problems, and get 46 to 50 miles to the gallon.
This is the best consumer review of a car line ever!
Thank you for taking the time to give your knowledge and experience with these cars. Extremely Grateful!
I bought my Prius new in 2006, I had it for 13 years without anything whatsoever happening to it until it finally had hybrid battery problems, best car I ever owned.
thankfully the hybrid battery is super cheap to replace now with the rebuilt packs. even the original toyota pack is not that bad considering how much you have saved in gas
How many miles before the batt issue?
I had an 07 TE , was great until I took it to a Dealer for some sort of recall on resetting the computer. then it had the magical Dash light issue and vehicle would not shut off, I sold it a cpl years ago w/210k and was still on factory original brakes and suspension! I drove this thing like a V-8 , it liked oil, mpg was 36-46 depending on how hard I drove it! Toyota should send me a check for showing a few gas guzzlers that technology is going to surpass old school performance by storm and quite easily!
@@philhartman1258 Not that bad? Close to 10000$ is quiet bad. You will never save that much in gas in a life time compared to a standard civic or corolla.
@@mitchelcrilly5178 the problem with the dash display was a small capacitor on the speedometer board. there are videos to fix it cheap
Greg, I always enjoy your videos. You are serious, knowledgeable and objective, and you dress well. Keep up the great work!
Just bought a 2011 Prius Two today.... Love the way it holds the road during curves. And seems like I made a great choice after listening to this video.
One of the best car reviews I've seen. Well done
Greg, you don't nearly put out enough videos, your knowledge and advice are priceless.
I agree. Greg's an angel
Yes post more videos please
I agree you should put up more videos!
It takes me about 25 hours of time to write, shoot, edit and publish a video. My intention is to make more videos but I’m still a family man with two kids who has to make a living.
@@YourCarAngel I would have guessed it takes you even longer than that to produce a video of this quality. I take my hat off to you Mr Angel
Love my Gen 3 (2015) Prius! Thank you for this excellent review.
Have your pencil and paper ready! I took lots of notes. Thank you Greg!
Dude, your not only informative / intelligent but funny as hell. Thanks for the review ! Ima get a 4th gen.
My 10-year old Prius 3rd generation runs like new with 110,000 km. Both the outside and inside look like new. It has not been expensive to fix and maintain. I was thinking of changing, but the automobile club told my wife that we would be stupid to change it, since it should be good for at least another 100,000 km. Winter is long and cold up here in Canada, but it has held up really well.
My 2017 4th generation PriusC is wonderful. Interior is very different, no weirdness. Turn knobs to adjust heat/cooling. I just drove across country and got an average of 47mpg at 75-80mph. I get much better gas mileage when I keep my speed down around 55-60.
Yes, that's correct, you get better gas milages going under 50 and breaking and stopping, quite the opposite from any regular car.
I've probably never seen a MORE HELPFUL video on YT. Thanks man.
You are really, really great at this and I believe you could successfully review just about anything worth reviewing. Two Thumbs Up Car Angel!
This guy made me buy a Prius instead of a Corolla and I don't regret it!
The Prius C is a Gen II Prius in a smaller package, same drive train but in a Yaris body. Great car.
Best review that i've seen on KZhead. Thank you.
Thanks Greg. I bought a Gen 2 and viewing your review. I am very happy with it.
Scotty would be so proud of this video.
rev up your prius!
actually Scotty has talked shit about the prius and hybrids in general.
@@limeyosu2000 lmfao!!! oh geeeeezzzzz🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What happens when Because he doesn't know how to fix them.
BloodyPandaAE86 Hh
Greggggggggggggg. The world needs more of you
You put out a great informative video. You were very consistent on being on point.
I’m in the market for a used Prius and your video helped me a lot as I am new to Prius. So very informative. Thank you much!
Greg damn you! your video just jack up the price of Prius about 10% nationwide.
Hi Neal. You could also look at it the other way around. Your prius just went up 10% in value. Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Gen 4 just dropped by 10%. He hates it
😆
Idk why but I love 4th gen design; base and prime
Thank you so much! My 2006 Prius just got rammed by a tractor trailer, and I'm contemplating getting another one used. This is really helpful.
😂 Your description of the 4th gen. 👌🏽👹 I am SO happy with my 3rd gen. red hatchback - it’s got some sexy & slickness (just enough) with the moonroof fully open. I heard about “typical Prius drivers”, and I’m like, how not me is that? 😁 From Chicago (my hometown) to LA County…and driving across the country, I love my Prius, and wouldn’t trade it for some luxury/ slick sports car, as it perfectly fits me and my personality in at this point in my life (in my 40s and forever young). So reassuring to watch this video - did not realize how reliable these cars are. Thank you for this beautiful assessment. 🙏🏽
Yeah. I just bought a used 2013 Prius after 14 years of not owning a car (doing the environmental thing). When I sent a photo to my family, my nephew texted, "Nice car. I can totally see you driving that." And now, with this video, I'm reassured that I bought the right car for practical reasons as well. 😄 Single owner, 85,000 miles, no accidents, well maintained.
Just got a 2019 prius. Just love it so far!
Awesome video, great to have all of these lined up. I'd love to see you review the new 2020 Prius Prime.
Thank you for the rundown on different Prius generations. Your video is extremely helpful for me as I am planning to buy a (used) Prius. Again, thank you so much for this educative video, which is another addition to my knowledge library....Take care..
Thanks to these tips I felt confident searching through craigslist, and am now a proud 1st time Prius owner! Thanks for helping me avoid any pitfalls. Much appreciated!
how about the gas pedal recall ?
Regarding the Prime's front bumper... the nice thing is that it's multi-piece, so you can just replace a small portion of the bumper if that's all that was damaged.
I think my generation 4 Prius 3 is good looking, with the 17 inch tires and black leather, but then again I popped acid a few times back in the 70s.
LOL, maybe that's my problem. I love the way my 2019 Prime looks.
Mark Whitton I agree I have. 2017 prime and love how it looks. I get people asking me about my car all the time they can’t believe it’s a Prius.
I like the way it looks too. It helps shake the geekiness of the prius looks.
Thanks so much for your efforts and toughts to produce this clear and very informative analysis and explanation video. You are a real wealth of information and expert.
We had a 2010, around 220k it started burning oil and lasted until 276k when the head gaskets finally went out. We will purchase another one they are a great vehicle.
did you clean/change the egr system to prevent that head gasket failure?
You are most definitely the best car reviewer I've seen. And not to mention it's on the Prius models, you absolutely rock macke
I have the Gen 3-C, a 2013, and I love it. I took it across country and use it locally and on road trips. It has more pep than my lady's 2014 sedan that just seems to feel sluggish. You nailed it on the license plate bulbs burning out--happened on her car recently.
Out of all the car videos I have watched over, what, 18 years?... You have done a great long term review and touched on key points that nary another has touched upon. You can sit there and watch reviews where folks spew the same information at you as the last video... But this was practical and concise instead! Loved it! And especially since you share similar sentiments when it comes to the ridiculous things they are doing with dashboards these days! How these engineers lived long enough to design absolute trash designs that make you take your eyes off of the road, the primary thing a driver should NOT be doing, is something that baffles me. They should be fired for incompetence! I am glad that the non-prime versions retain a more tactile setup for basic controls. Thank you for this video, it was a refreshing change, and has given me a few things to look out for when I do my shopping for a gen 3/4! I am a function over form person, so might just have to go for that gen 4 for the reliability and economy! Cheers!
LOL! made me laugh about the steering wheel robot face.. 'you really cant unsee it"
Looks like a penguin to me 🤔
No, you can’t unsee it. It wouldn’t even help to go blind!
I’ve never been a small car guy but I had to save gas....my 2010 Prius goes through hell n keeps ticking. 220k miles and still runs like new Survived 2 deer hits
Just sold my 2010 with 348,000 miles on it. Bought it from auction with 33,000 miles on it. Sold it to a cab owner that is painting it up into a cab. Just bought a '19 Prius Prime new from the dealer with 25 miles on it. Unlike the author of the video, I love the looks of the new one. Continued good luck with your '10, mine was the best vehicle I have ever had.
Paul, great to hear that you're at 220k!!! I'm about 106k on my 2010 and was wondering what the remaining life "could" be. I did just have a wheel hub replacement done, though, but I don't blame the car, I blame the crap roads and the fact that I hit a huge pothole in the fast lane of a highway (Major Deegan Expressway) in NYC. When that happened, the two "luckily plastic, not metal" hubcaps flew off the car and I saw the front one flying over a fence into the oncoming northbound traffic lane.
kevinh995 NYC is a Third World country
@@kevinh995 I'm sorry to hear that Kevin. Keep and eye on the oil levels! The 2010 prius is one of the few with bad rings. The good news is, you can keep it alive. I have a 2010 and it burns 1 quart of oil every 600 miles. Im at 200,000 miles now. I have to take the intake manifold off every 10,000 miles to clean it to keep it running right. the Intake manifold gets clogged with oily guck. I installed an oil catch can to help reduce the clogging. I had to change the small 12 volt battery at 8 years old (thats great!). Replaced both front end wheel bearings at 180,000 and one at 200,000k, and about to change the front sway bar links. I don't mind the wheel bearings and the links, those are kinda easy to fix. The bad rings are the killer. I noticed my oil burning around your millage kevin. I've owned a 2011 and currently a 2013 and 2010. I was one of the very unlucky suckers to buy a 2010 prius from the dealer for $12,000 that burned oil out the door. No toyota dealer will tell you your car is burning oil. I had to run my Prius out of oil and have an oil pressure light turn on before I knew. I assumed it would hold enough oil in between dealership oil changes. WRONG.. Avoid the 2010 PRIUS!!! Trade it before it burns oil is my advice.
@@Hwy_Boy I have a 2017 drive 850 miles a week averaging 49 miles to the gallon and can only hope it lasts 300000 miles
I just wanted to mention I solely bought the 2021 prius prime in that blue magnetism (all black interior, no white) just because I 100% love the way it looks. Practicality I see why you hate it but as long as no fender benders I’d say your golden. I fell in love with Toyota with my first 2007 Prius and the 4th generation I am in absolute love with. I got it roughly 6 weeks ago and haven’t needed to fill up yet! Another 2 weeks and I will have to. Strongly recommend the Prius Prime plug in to anyone who does minimal commuting. From its handling, modern safety features, little gas guzzling to its snazzy looks this car is 4.5/5 stars for me!
2007 prius at 315k miles worth buying?
Very fair & even handed assessment of the highs & lows of this line. It seems like they’re thisclose in nailing it’s FINAL FORM!
Thanks for that video Greg! I bought a 2013 model 3 last February and although it took a while to get used to the numb steering and a CVT I really enjoy the car. The PWR button helps merging into traffic at highway speeds. I agree with you about taking your eyes off the road to adjust some feature is terrible. My car needed a new backup camera so that was replaced (under warranty) and it quit working again (out of warranty). I decided to change all my interior lights to LED and when I got to the license plate, they were burnt out and the sockets were burned! I don't like the body roll but I have to remember I'm not in a sports car. I never thought about the lights in the bumper and corners on the Gen 4 model but now I see that's a big problem along with the ugly interior. Overall I like it and besides the great gas miles I use it for car camping like other people on YT. It might be 28 degrees outside and I sleep great at 70 degrees inside.
Another great review! Thank you, Greg!
Loved you greg...great advice and assessment of the prius and the generations.
Great job , Greg ! Many thanks for this sincere video !
Man, you hit the nail on the head. As an owner of a Gen 2, I can say I would love a new one but they are indeed hideous. I still think the Gen 2’s are the best. I had to replace the HV battery at 135k miles but that is because it sat for 3 years while I had a Nissan LEAF. I think the Gen 2’s are sleek as well. Notice how other cars are starting to mimic the wedge shape? Best car made in my opinion for reliability.
My battery went out around the same mileage. 2k for a new oem one, and getting 55 mpg.
Best video I’ve seen on Prius’s!!!
2005 with 256k and still strong run without issues, just replaced the water pump. No engine light since bought it and replaced left headlight bulb 6 years ago. Recently bought 09 with 94k just less then $4k. I am happy with them. They are still original battery packs.
I had a 2008 that I sold in 2018 with 380,000 miles on it. It was an exceptionally reliable car, although I did end up replacing the headlight bulbs several times. I did all my own maintenance, so the only time it went to the dealer for service was for recalls, including the MFD screen replacement. The car was garaged, so the paint held up well, except for the plastic "spoiler", which began to fade at around 290K miles. The Hybrid battery started to die at about 300K miles, so I purchased a remanufactured battery and installed it myself (pretty easy job). I changed the front brakes for the first time at around 350K miles (mostly highway miles). The rear brakes still had life, when I sold it. At around 370K miles, the car started to have issues with overheating, which I attributed to a leaky head gasket. I poured a bottle of head gasket sealant, as a last resort and it held until I sold it with full disclosure of the issues for $4K. From what I understand, it's still running. I also owned a Gen 1 that I purchased in 2000 - one of the first Hybrids in my neck of the woods. I traded it in at around 130K miles for the Gen 2.
Wow that’s amazing! I’m about to get a 2009 Prius hybrid and need to fix a couple things but I’ve never done it. Want to do all the work I can myself. Could I ask you for some advice on that?
@@CreativelyShannon I'd be happy to help.
@@edwinvalencia3981 thank you so much! Do you have an email I can send you messages/questions about the vehicle? I actually just bought it so definitely need help with what work needs done.
@@CreativelyShannonI agree some hybrid stuff can get expensive I rather do it myself too.
"Bodyshop's wet dream come true" LOL
I lost it when he said the designers were on an "Acid Trip" for the 4th Gen Design. Because I really do agree that design of the car looks like it would only come to mind in an acid trip. lol
They were busy watching Anime/Hentai
@@joewillgo The robot face on the steering wheel LOL
That was absolutely the best and most informative review of Prius I've seen and your review of gen 4 was so funny because it is so true!
THanks for the video bro. I was thinking of getting a 3rd of 4th gen and it was helpful.
2012 Gen3. Hands down the most reliable and economical car I've ever owned. Never get rid of this car and will drive it until the wheels fall off. 107+K and haven't even needed to replace the brake pads. AWD out for 2020!
As a Prius C owner, I hate that you only spent a few seconds talking about the Prius C because it really is a quality car. I’ve had my Prius C for 6 years and other than a 12v battery replacement and new tires I’ve had ZERO problems with it. Its built like a tank. I’ve lived in 3 states, hauled furniture in it and lots of outdoor adventure gear and the interior and exterior still look brand new and I still get around 50 mpg. Its also very maneuverable in tight parking lots and spaces yet still holds a lot of stuff inside. People should drive the C and talk to real owners before making an assumption that it is made cheaply.
So glad you have brought that up dear Matt S. Have a 2014 model sans the sunroof. Been entirely trouble free, only required fuel and an annual engine oil change. It is supposed to be discontinued in 2020. The model has been the same since year one other than minor cosmetic changes and electronic gadgetry...just to tell you the motto--if it ain't broke don't fix it. If you happen to be suffering with high gas prices like me in Vancouver Canada, would highly recommended. It is a car probably not suited to a teenager but perfect for anyone older. Passing does take more time if you have more than 2 seated so you need to plan ahead. Pillars are unusually thick so do watch out for plenty of blind spots though.
I do have to admit that my 2014 Prius C does sometimes feel a bit cheaply made on the interior. That being said, it does exactly what I bought it for(Amazing city gas mileage for last-mile deliveries - I get around 55mpg most of the time) and hasn't ever broken down(Unlike the 2003 Passat that it replaced - good car, but it wasn't up to having that many miles put on it in such a short period).
You are so right. I have a 2012. C CR rated the c over 6 years as the most reliable Toyota your u can buy. The c or Aqua in Japan out sold every car for years. The c more reliable than the Prius I bought the c because it was more like a normal car with the gear shift on the floor. Every where I go people like the car. Very subjective opinions around.
I agree. My 2012 Prius c. Only battery 12v and tires. 50,000 miles Consumer Reports fewest problems over 7 years 1 Lexus GX 2 Prius c 3. Prius Any I don’t care if people like the looks. It’s modern that’s all I care about. Lexus and Toyota’s are modern looking cars Shame the discontinued the Prius C
Plus I think it's the least offensive looking of all other Prius.
Thanks for the good info. A wet dream, by definition, has already come true.
Your Toyota Prius video is very honest, practical, and gets to the point with lots of filler fluff. I agree with your comment about car style designers being on drugs. I have driven Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, VW, Fiat, GM, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and some of the designs were weird, impractical, and possibly even dangerous.
I have a 2017 Prius Prime plug-in car and love it. Driving on battery power is fantastic, with instant torque and acceleration. Sound system and ac are excellent. Only wish the electric driving range could be extended.
I'm looking at Prius Prime for that reason also but I would have to run a line underground from my house to my driveway
Greg, you're a forking legend.
Thanks so much for making my future purchase much easier!
Greg big kisses!❤️ You truly are an angel😇 Awesome review! I'm in the market for a used Prius and I've learned so much from you. You put me on the right path, tysm!
My old Prius was a 2008 with hid lights and yes if using them during the day ballast becomes a blob of goo, but you don't need to change entire light only bulbs and ballast. Another problem on gen 2 is rear lights need smacked every so often to get it to work. My 08 had a problem with using oil and killed catalytic converters but never did display go out. I had about 400k when I sold it. Next owner totaled it at 550k with original battery pack. I've also had an 10,and 11 only problems were battery packs around 200k and steering wheel buttons on the 10 and hated the cup holders and sold them. I currently have a 2013 over 300k miles and have had head gasket and battery replaced around 200k no oil leaks or any problems oter Prius owners can't believe how well it rides and how well interior is . As you may have guessed I'm a taxi owner who averages around 125-135k per year.
That's about the amount of miles I drive a year also being a courier. My '10 had 348K when I sold it to a taxi owner who painted it up and put it right back on the road. That 550k really sounds encouraging. Hope I get that and more out of my '19 Prime.
I have a 2012 plug in salvage with 120K mile. They only thing replaced was 12v battery. It's more reliable than any new zero mileage American car that I have owned like Cadillac or Corvette and better than GF's Mercedes E350.
ZZ How much did you pay for that battery? I am looking for an used Prius and am wondering about the battery problem as I have never driven a hybrid car before.
@@celetsehng4477 it was a regular 12v battery (prius has 2 batteries, regular battery and hybrid battery). I bought the Yellow top battery from pepboys for$159.
Celetse H'ng , you can change some elements in hybrid battery, not all battery.
I agree when America learns how to make better cars then I’ll try one. In the mean time I’ll keep my Prius prime handy
You truly are an angel. I have a 2008 and she’s been giving me problems for a few years now. Got almost 230,000 though! I’m gonna ride her til she’s dead.
Great job Greg, your information is top notch 🌟👍
Excellent review. I am a Second generation owner. With 70,000 miles and concerned about the hybrid battery. 180 to 200 thousand mile average life information has given me great comfort in keeping my car. Thank you.
Wow. How many miles do you drive a year?
Mines is original at 240,000 miles so not too sure how accurate is that when there are people with 300,000 on the same hybrid battery. The transmission fluid was black and one guy was scared to change it still went somewhere else and changed it still. That transmission can have old fluid and be fine it’s not a traditional auto it’s more similar to a manual if not more reliable than even a manual.
By far the most accurate reviews of the Prius years I have seen. I notice you did not include the first generation except to mention it, so I will say it: Leave the first generation to enthusiasts. Lots of bugs, including steering shakes in reverse, intermittent throttle position sensors that made the early years inexplicably lose power, four times the heat problem in MG2 because it ran off undoubled hybrid system voltage..... My son has my 2002 that needed its first repair at 195K (inverter coolant pump) but still, leave it to devotees. I am disheartened to see the interior styling of the fourth generation. I could live with the bizarre external styling but not the control weirdness. We have a Package 5 2014 (bought it two years ago when my wife's 2010 became magnetized for six months, getting sideswiped on the right, hit by a deer in the driver's door, and finally falling prey to an epileptic who thought medication was optional. She wiped out both passenger side doors with her Xterra, going to full throttle on impact. Everything worked except the windows obviously could not be rolled down, but the repair cost was too much for an 8 year old Prius.
Magnetized? Like dragging spoons behind it, and stealing watches?