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I know one thing about the earlier Prius cars, if the normal battery goes bad the electronics to run the rest of the car will not work so car will not run at all because computer is dead. The gas motor is pretty weak and won't move the car well without the electric motor assist. I would think if the drive batteries are new and everything else is good it should run fine for many years till the gas motor or traction batteries die again.
Bosses kid at work bought a used 07 and they drove it with tested good batteries till early last year, only issue was the under hood battery went dead as mentioned and car wouldn't do anything till they replaced it.
He sold it for good money and bought a new mini SUV as they have kids and a dog now. I mainly hate the way they look, the very first ones looked like a normal Toyota cars then they got all wedge shaped but most folks have great luck with them as long as you understand how to drive them to maximize efficiency.
I drive a 95 Neon highline coupe and it's been a great little car and has a 177k on it now. Gets 19 mpg in town and 28 to 30 highway with the automatic. They can be bought dirt cheap now and are easy and cheap to fix for most things, used parts are all over the yards too.
 
Dustin,

If the battery pack has been replaced, it's a good Prius.
A dealer will charge upwards of $3,000, but others do it for less.
Gas is low now. If it does climb very high, You might consider a more roomy used vehicle now, and then a used Chevy Bolt in a year or two for commuting to work.
It is smaller than a Prius, but it all depends on your needs.
 
In Defense Of The ION

Dustin, as an owner of three Saturns (a 2000 SL1, 2004 ION 2 and my current 2007 ION 3), I have to defend their quality. I've never had any major trouble with the first two cars, and I must disclose I recently had to replace the left wheel bearing on the '07 (along with the brake pads), but aside from that, my ION has never cost me a fortune to maintain or left me stranded. I bought it new in September 2007. I wanted a Red Line, but since it didn't have an automatic available, it was a deal-breaker for me. I however, found the next best thing on the dealer's lot (I miss you, Saturn of Las Vegas)--an '07 Ion 3 with the rare 2.4 engine (only about 10% of IONS had the engine) and just about every option Saturn offered, save for a sunroof. It's black with a grey cloth interior, and I wish the plastics inside were of higher quality. But it has been durable, and it's our main car. With just under 50,000 miles, I can jump in, turn on the satellite radio, and hit the highway with confidence (thanks to the optional touring package, with its ABS and upgraded suspension). And I get between 25 and 30 miles a gallon; mid-grade gas is recommended, but I have used Costco's premium with very good results at a very competitive price. I know when I eventually sell my Saturn, I won't be able to replace it with a new model. But as long as it doesn't let me down, it'll be in the garage for some time to come.
 
True Mike S,

The Saturn Ion was a first generation Delta platform car, the same as a Chevy Cobalt. Opel derived Ecotec 4 cylinder, hydraamtic T-4e transaxle from Windsor Ontario.
 
Go Toyota!

You honestly can't go wrong with a Toyota! I love my gen 4 Camry, and more than likely will always drive one. Avoid the Saturn CVT equipped cars, and the ION in general, were not good. Mom's VUE had the CVT fail at 60K. Even the most bulletproof engines, ex. the 3800, still have minor problems. Our 3800 had a bad rubber hose that was starting to seep. If it wasn't replaced it would have blown and caused the car to overheat. My moms boyfriend's car ended up doing this just a few months later, ironically. The car was trashed. My grandma had a gen 1 Buick LaCrosse and it was seriously the worst car I have EVER driven. Nothing was good about it. The High Feature V6 has its issues with timing chains early on as well, so be aware. If you need more advice, ASK!
 
vacerator

My Dads old Buick Estate Wagon had an $1100.00 heated windshield in it. My VW costs that much everytime I have the timing belt done at the dealer. All cars are expensive these days but the Mercedes W123 diesels from the mid 80's have the reputation of being the best cars of all time.
 
Best of all time;

I believe you. It is ironic that I had a co worker whose husband drove a '92 Roadmaster Estate wagon, and also owned a 1985 300SD sedan.
I bet they still have it, because when he wanted to sell the Benz, and buy a new Cadillac, she said NO! It had very low miles.
They kept it even after buying a new 1998 Lexus LS 400, then a 2000 RX 300, and retiring to Las Vegas. Their son in law is part owner od Spartan Lexus/Toyota.
 
GAN,

I know a retired nurse from Buick in Flint, and my ex's cousin is/was married to the plant doctor from Fort Wayne assembly.
I heard some stories you wouldn't believe. I'm sure the work force in Spring Hill is more down to earth, so to speak????
 
As a Volvo owner (Ford Free 850, and previously a 245, many moons ago), they are tanks, but not gas sippers by any means, especially compared to my old Civic which didn't need feeding very often at all.

One of my friends had a Satan that just wouldn't die - he finally gave it to a relative who needed a car and was down on her luck.
 
Davey,

Volvo was likely the only Ford owned company not to gain quality improvements.
They didn't need any. They were even using Toyota automatics in the rear drive S90.
Now the S40 Contour/Mondeo variant I feel was an emberasment.
Jaguar, Land Rover, (except the V6 Freelander engine), Aston Martin, all gained in quality thanks to Ford. The Freelander V6 was built by an outside supplier.
Yes, I know about the AJ V8 timing chain tensioner problem, but if replaced as soon as noise is heard, within a timely manner, the engine is saved. Most cars have some maintainance or problem issue by 80 or 90,000 miles anyway.
 
Yeah, the quality went down from what I hear, once Ford bits starting appearing. A friend of mine owned Jaguars (and Volvo's*) back in the day, i.e. 70's when she was rich, aka married to a doctor and running his practice. She said the joke about needing the mechanic first and then buying the Jaguar was true. I rode in a recent Jaguar sedan a while back, it really did feel special, not quite like a Bentley, but close - coolest thing was the flap over the dash vents that closed when the car was off. Must be a similar feeling to the original 60's "personal luxury" cars, i.e. Thunderbird, Toronado, etc.

*They were driving along and the gear shift lever came up and out. Most people would have pulled over with the clutch in. But no, they fixed it while underway with a big wrench!

I got lucky with my 850 - I was on a quest for one with a stick and most of them were ratty and beat up with torn up interiors (even the successor models were tatty, especially the leather interiors - so where the SAAB's). My other choice would've been an early aughts Civic Si like my cousin has.
 
Civics, Toronado's etc,

Civics go a long time for sure.
There is a company in England which makes reproduction Jaguar XJ 8's with modern electrics, as that was their main problems.
Now the Toronado was sheer innovation for automotive design, since the Cord 812 anyway. At least the ones up to 1985 were. Even if their fit and finish were cheesy with plastic erzats wood on the dash and doors.
Mechanically, they drove and performed excellently. Roomy also, with that flat floor all the way across the front seat area.
How many cars could drive coast to coast then on one quart of oil consumption?
Tolerances were not what they are today. That should tell us something about the Oldsmobile V8 engine quality.
 
Ok, with some more searching and researching, I'm pretty much set on a Toyota Prius- likely 2004-2008. Anyone here own one and what do you think of them? Still a little hesitant of the whole hybrid system and cvt transmission, but I may change my mind once I've driven one. I really like the interior and exterior design, would rather have the tan cloth interior and green or blue exterior, but that's just personal preference. The rear seats even fold down and the hatchback design should give me at least some room for hauling. Now to find one... They seem pretty scarce on craigslist around here, but they are all over on the roads. Need to get a few new problems on the van repaired before I can sell it anyway.
 
re; Prius

I know one person who owns one. A 2008 model. Very low miles, but they love it.
Not a good test vehicle because of that. It has the original battery pack and has had no problems.
Dustin, if I were buying a used one, I'd opt for an extended warranty because of the expense of battery replacement.
 
Now i have gone back to a Hybrid car-a 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid-love this car!!Like it better than the straight gas motored one.As I pull into work or home to park-only the electric motors work-like the feeling!Tracton batteries in these vehicles can last the life of the car.The battery charge management circuit in the vehicles doesn't let the battery charge too much or discharge.For NMH batteries this gives the longest life.The "plug in Prius" uses lithium batteries.The other Toyota hybrid cars use Nickel Metal Hydride batteries.
 

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