Unique Cars and Trucks

frank@uniquecarsandtrucks.ca

Unique Cars and Trucks

WE SPECIALIZE IN THE FINEST LOW-KILOMETER, EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN, TOYOTA PRIUS CARS WITH RECONDITIONED HYBRID BATTERIES

Important things to know when buying a used Prius

Not all Prius Batteries are Healthy

If the car was left for long periods unused, parked outside in the heat, and the battery cooling system never cleaned, these and many other issues will cause the battery to degrade. Just buying a Prius with low kilometers is no guarantee the main battery will be good.

What we do to ensure you get a strong hybrid battery.

We purchased the software and applications to thoroughly test the batteries, and all other systems, before we buy the car. If the tests show a 70% or better life expectancy we will buy the car. 7 out of 10 cars fail that test. Dr. Prius - (priusapp.com)

We can then recondition them back to over 95% life remaining.

Reconditioning the Hybrid Battery

The Prius battery can be reconditioned if it is healthy. We invested in the best equipment available to properly re-balance and recondition the battery. This gives our cars long life and maximum fuel efficiency.

(Hybrid Automotive - Prolong Battery Systems)

Older Prius cars can have Water Leaks

Some Prii, as they age, develop water leaks. We examine every car we buy to make sure they do not have any leaks now or signs of leakage in the past. High Voltage and moisture is the perfect recipe for corrosion. This can cause numerous problems with the battery, computers, and all wiring connections.

We then go one step further and reseal the areas where potential leaks could develop in the future.

Inverter Coolant Pumps

One of the few weaknesses in this generation of the Prius is the inverter coolant pump. There was a recall on these pumps but not all the cars received the updated model. We replace this pump on all our cars using the genuine Toyota new version pump so you will be protected from this failure. (Dealers charge $650 to replace it).

Catalytic Converter Anti-Theft Device

The most targeted vehicle for catalytic converter theft is the 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius. More of the rare materials, platinum, rhodium and palladium are used in the converter and thieves get up to $1000 for them.

After we lost one and several of our customers had them stolen we started installing shields on all our cars to protect the converter.

WHY WE BUY OUR CARS IN JAPAN

SHAKEN LAW

This is a vehicle registration program that involves the most stringent inspection of vehicles of any country in the world. Through this program the Japanese government can be sure that only safe vehicles are permitted to drive on the streets and highways of the country.

INSPECTIONS

It is a very expensive proposition to own a car in Japan or to drive one on a regular basis. When you purchase a car in Japan you must first make an appointment at an approved Shaken center to have the vehicle inspected before you can get it registered. The inspection cost ranges from $1000 to $2000 dollars and then there is the fee for registering the vehicle.

The vehicle has to be inspected after three years and the costs rise dramatically. Every possible part of the car receives a thorough inspection, even down to the smallest details. As the car becomes older it gets even more expensive to have this inspection carried out and the registration fees as well as the insurance costs increase with the age of the car.

LOW MILEAGE

Because of the costs of operating a car in Japan they are not driven nearly as much as their counterparts in North America. We look for the lowest mileage cars that have had all the required inspections and One Owner vehicles that have been well looked after inside and out. Consequently we can offer the finest used vehicles in the world at a very good price.

BEST CAR VALUE

Here is an opportunity to get a car that is as close to new as possible at a fraction of the replacement cost. We search for the best available low mileage, one owner, dealer serviced vehicles.

A car that has been continually inspected and maintained. When you see our cars you will be a believer. There is no better value in the world

GETTING COMFORTABLE DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE

It can sound like a big difference but after a few hours you will wonder what you were worried about.

We have a wonderful cross section of customers, men and women of all age groups and most were initially concerned that there would be a big learning curve and all were surprised how quickly it became meaningless. It really does not matter which side you are sitting on. Come on in and test drive one, you will see what we mean.

2004 - 2009 Toyota Prius

PHENOMENAL GAS MILEAGE

22 KILOMETERS PER LITER -----

1000 kilometers to a tank of gas (45 liter tank).

One reason most taxi companies use the Prius exclusively is the fuel efficiency.

Another reason is the amazing reliability.

It is not uncommon for them to drive 300,000 to 400,000 km. with few, if any, major repairs.

SUPER CLEAN

Emissions — Japan have more strict emission regulations than most of the world. The hybrid system produces nearly 90 per cent fewer smog-forming emissions than a conventional internal combustion engine. The Prius has been certified by the California Air Resources Board as a “super-ultra-low-emission vehicle.

BATTERY LIFE

Prius Hybrid batteries must be maintained and treated properly. Just buying a car with low kilometers is no guarantee the battery will be strong. If the vehicle has not been started and run regularly and the battery properly cycled it will degrade. If the car is from a climate where it sits outside in the hot sun the battery degrades. If the cooling vent for the battery is plugged it will overheat and be damaged. People with pets that shed can completely plug the battery cooling system. This is why we do every possible test to make certain we are buying a car with a healthy battery.

Hybrid batteries get weaker with use, the more kilometers on the vehicle the less efficient and the fewer the km/liter. By the time you hit 250,000km. the great gas mileage is disappearing. Our cars have fully reconditioned batteries with a minimum of 95% life remaining for many years of awesome fuel savings. .

HYBRID BENEFITS

The Toyota Prius hybrid system is so efficient that the only vehicle that beats it is a full "plug in" electric one, If you can spend $40,000 to $140,000.

When you buy ours you have money left over to buy enough gas to go 300,000 km.

With over a 1000 kilometers to a tank you can take long trips without any concern for where charging stations are and take time to always pick the lowest price gas station.

We always try to keep some in stock. You just can not beat this Value.

Why The Japanese Prius is such a great Buy

When the second generation Prius was introduced in 2004 it was an immediate success. People in Japan were lined up to buy them. Toyota would only sell them to those who would sign an agreement to always service their Prius at a Toyota Dealer. Consequently these cars have had all scheduled services at the dealership and have had only factory trained technicians working on them using genuine Toyota parts. Another interesting feature is the Japanese model has "Electric Only" mode and "Intelligent Parking" which was not on the North American model.