I need a reliable used car for £12,000 - should I buy a Toyota Prius?

I need a reliable used car. I only cover 5,000 miles a year, mostly local shopping trips and a monthly long journey to the Lake District from my home in North Yorkshire. I have seen a 2012 Prius for £12,000 via Toyota's used car scheme. It comes with a 12-month warranty and has had two previous owners, with 50,000 miles on the clock. Does this read like a good buy?

Asked on 31 May 2022 by Albert Barclay

Answered by Andrew Brady
You're right to be a bit cautious – any older vehicle will need more maintenance than a nearly-new car. That said, Toyota has an exceptional reliability record, and the Prius ought to be extremely cheap to run. They're popular with private hire drivers for this reason – so look out for signs it may have been used as a taxi, although that's unlikely on an approved used car with 50k miles on the clock.
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