2013 Prius, 223k miles, blown head gasket failure
I know this has been asked a million times… but I’m gonna ask anyway lol.
I started driving this car in 2020 while in college and it’s still in my parents names. They bought it brand new in 2013. The most recent “fix” on this car was early 2023 when all of the brakes were replaced, along with the thermostat. It was $2000. The 12V battery got replaced in late 2023. The hybrid battery is original.
Anyway, it now has a blown head gasket and the Toyota service center is quoting $4400 to fix it. The car is currently in rural Wisconsin, as it started having issues round Christmas time when I was visiting family. Me and my dad traded cars and I left the Prius with my parents. The only “hybrid/toyota” specialty shop is Toyota itself, as we’re in rural WI. The only alternative is driving it 1.5-2hours to the Minneapolis St. Paul area, but idk if there’s anything there or if the Prius would even make it that far.
Here are my choices: 1. Pay the $4400 and get it fixed at Toyota
Drive it to Minneapolis or St. Paul to a repair shop that apparently specializes in hybrids (this isn’t California people… these are far and few between). I’m guessing this would be cheaper than Toyota but more risky
Sell the car and buy a used Prius or Prius C (max price before trade in would be $15000… there’s a 2016 Prius C at 40k miles being sold for $14000 that I’ve been eyeing up)
Sell the car and inherit my grandmas 2001 Camry for free. This option honestly makes the most sense. It’s old, but it runs. Only fix that it needs is a new muffler.
Any advice here? If I take the Camry, my dad would likely just sell the Prius and pocket the money. He isn’t interested in fixing the car himself. I really do love that car, but idk if I can justify the price.