What will be a good model (year)Toyota Prius to buy?

hello · 03 Nov 2010, 08:09 pm

i don't want a new one...i one maybe, 2004. 2005....i want the one that gives about 50miles per gallon...which started from the 2004 correct?

Bobo · 03 Nov 2010, 08:24 pm

The older it is and the more miles on it, the sooner you have to buy that $8000 set of new batteries.

Michael · 03 Nov 2010, 08:39 pm

2006 is a good starting year. The fuel economy is the same as the 2004 and later years but an early problem with the Multi-Function Display was ironed out by 2006.

Don't be worried about the main battery. I have not heard of anybody actually having to replace a second generation battery. My Prius is a first generation, with a much less robust battery design, and I will probably have to replace mine (about $1700) around the 200K mile mark as judged by the experiences of others. The second and third generations probably will rarely have to face battery replacement.

I have never owned any car anywhere near as reliable as the two first generation Prius cars in the family.

JerryJ · 03 Nov 2010, 08:55 pm

Michael is correct. 2006-2009 are good years. However, I have a 2004 and the display problems Michael is talking about were corrected long ago under warranty. To tell if the display has been replaced, press the info button. It should flip back and forth between the Energy and Consumption screens. If it doesn't then it hasn't been replaced. There is a fix which an electronic shop can do for $15 to $25.

My 2004 and 2001 Prius have been very reliable. 115,000 and 80,000 trouble free miles, respectively.