I'm considering a 2009 Highlander Hybrid with 188K miles on it. The price seems OK ($7000), but I'm not sure how hard it is to replace the hybrid battery if and when that needs to be done. If everything else checks out OK, what are your thoughts?
I have a 2004 Prius at 300K+ miles. I needed to change the hybrid battery around 275K+ miles.
You'll get a huge warning when it is time to replace the hybrid battery. And an error code. The good thing about Toyota's hybrid is that you can still keep driving the car with a subpar battery. You just don't get the extra oomph from the electric motor. Just make sure you get it changed soon after getting the warning.
Technically speaking, I don't think it is that hard to replace the battery. You spend more time removing the seats and side/back panels of the interior, than actually touching the battery. (Just make sure to remove the orange safety disconnect on the battery before you do anything.)
The problem might be finding a compatible battery.
Most of the forum and Scotty are probably against a used hybrid. And I don't blame them.
From my POV, if it is a Toyota Hybrid, everything checks out, and you know what to expect given the age and mileage of the car (and of course if it is the right price), then it may be worthwhile deal. Toyota Hybrid's are the only ones I would take that gamble. Any other hybrid, no way.
There is a great online video about replacing teh battery in a Prius - not too difficult, and much less expensive than having Toyota do it, but the Highlander battery is more than double the price of a Prius battery (so I assume double the size, and Toyota apparently allows much more time for the replacement. I'm not ready to take on that level of risk. Had it been a straight gas car, I migh have jumped.
I would probably stay away from it because the hybrid generators are notorious for breaking down as they age and those cost a boat load of money for a brand new one. I would pass on that and just stick to a regular Highlander.
OK. I'm no longer considering it. The cost of the Hybrid battery (even if I can do it myself) is just too great.
Just get a prius, corolla hybrid, or the camry hybrid. Anything over the camry hybrid is stupid imo. Why toyota even makes those "efficient" gas guzzlers is beyond me. SUV drivers dont care about fuel economy. If they do, why do they need an SUV?
Toyota, STOP PUTTING >1.5 LITER ENGINES INSIDE YOUR SUV HYBRIDS! AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TURBO'ING THEM!
Even better, put a 1L 3 cylinder engine with no turbo in ALL of the hybrids.
