questions on hybrid car (2006 toyota prius)?

Hyman Coren: also when buying a used hybrid car, what are some basic questions that should be asked to the dealer?

Lon Pennington: The hybrid system in the Prius requires no maintenance. The 2006 service is:5000 mile oil and filter change and tire rotation interval. Do not overfill the oil.15,000 cabin and engine air filters.40,000 transaxle drain and fill (never flush, use only the Toyota WS fluid).60,000 valve check and adjust. Throttle body cleaning. The serpentine belt only runs the engine water pump, so you might want to check it at this time.100,000 coolant change (afterwards every 50,000 miles)120,000 spark plug change.That's it for maintenance. There is a small 12V auxiliary battery that lasts about five years (just like any car battery) so you want to make sure you change that out. Because the Prius has no starter motor, there is no warning that the 12V battery is getting weak until it stops working. Use only an AGM battery.Toyota has removed many of the pa! rts of a conventional car from the Prius and replaced them with more reliable electronics and has simplified others. For instance the Prius doesn't have: an alternator, a starter motor, a serpentine belt (2010+ only), a clutch or fluid coupling. In addition the automatic transmission with it's hundreds of parts has been replaced by a simple planetary gear system similar to a differential.You want to ask the dealer if all the service campaigns have been done on the car. You can also call the hotline with the VIN number and ask: 1-800-331-4331.Be sure you get two fobs.It's really just like any other used car. You want to check for accidents, title, and mechanical condition. The one thing you can be sure of is that the previous drivers have never lugged or over-revved the engine because the Prius doesn't let you do that. 2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16,174 miles2007 -- 57.! 3 mpg 18,384 miles2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21,755 miles2009 -- 61.4 mp! g 16,177 miles2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12,134 miles2011 -- 66.9 mpg 11,272 miles...Show more

Nikita Schroepfer: HYBRIDS RUN ON A SMALL MOTOR AS WELL IN LOWER SPEEDS. THEY ALSO HAVE EXPENSIVE BATTERIES THAT EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO COST SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS THAN GAS ENGINES. ASK IF THE CAR HAS LITHIUM BATTERIES AND HOW LONG THEY'RE EXPECTED TO LAST AND WHAT THEY WILL COST TO REPLACE.