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Prius Owners w/50K - What We Think Now

256 messages,  Last post on Mar 02, 2013 at 8:01 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 26

#1 of 256 PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW by railroadjames

Mar 05, 2007 (7:30 pm)

I'd like, very much, to here from owners of the Prius with 50K miles or more like myself. Give an appraisal of the car. What's good..What's not so good..and what could be improved. I've owned my '04 Prius 3-1/2 yrs and now have 55K plus and am on my 2nd set of tires. I replaced 1-airfilter 1- hdlt bulb and 1-set of wiperblades. Still on the original brake pads to my surprise.
 
Complaints are as follows...Windshear, at times, a problem. Ride could be a bit better I'd like to think. Digital gauge lts could be better on sunny days. I sometimes think the center screen is too complex to operate while driving. Replacing a hdlt bulb is next to impossible. It took nearly 1/2 an hr. and some serious cussing and scratched hands. I think I'll let my wife do it next time. Every time I have to clear the "warning lt for oil change" I have to get the book out to remind me "the procedure." Rr carpet mat slides around too much. Special cloth interior is a son-of-agun to keep clean. Can't put a sunroof in car darn it! Lastly, I wish people would go to dealers and give me a break. I feel like a salesman when discribing, "what a great car it is."

#2 of 256 78K+ by skip1

Apr 14, 2007 (12:54 am)

I have a 2006 Highlander limited and a 2006 Prius.
 
My son is driving our original 2001 Prius which we had before people knew what a Hybrid was. The original has the 78k on it.
 
It has Original brakes, 2nd set of tires, will need a set before this coming winter. Runs like it did when we bought it in 2000. Had the converter and exhausted changed around 73k which was under extended warranty and that has been it other than scheduled maintenance. He doesn't get the gas mileage, we use to get on it, but thats his driving. My wife has driven it and can still get 48~50mpg on it.
 
We converted in 2000 and would not go back,even to a Cadillac again. I know what you mean about being a sales person for Toyota. I have had so many people ask me about the Original as well as the ones I drive now along with letting them try it out at times.
 
Use of the car is mostly in Milwaukee area with several trips to New York and Georgia a year.
 
They are great cars.

#3 of 256 Re: PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW [railroadjames] by kadensgram

Apr 26, 2007 (9:02 pm)

Replying to: railroadjames (Mar 05, 2007 7:30 pm)
I have a 05 and one of the major reasons was for the milage between California and Arizona as we have a home at the river and are there 3/4 weekends a month for the past 5 years. I have 60K miles and the major issue I had was the ride..replaced the tires at 22k for Perrelis w/ 80k milage warrenty. What a major difference the tracking and road ride was, I would do it again in a heartbeat, it was pricey. The oil, air filters etc I have replaced at recomended intervales as well as rotated tires every 5k miles. I am having a major issue with the blower on my air conditioning unit. If you go to "electrical issues" I posted the problem April 12. Love the car..will most likely replace with a Camry Hybrid my sister bought a 07 a month ago and is getting 40mph right off the bat. The mystery with the air conditioner will most likely cause me to dump it, and yes we have the extended warrenty..they can't fix what they can't find...Must have air in Arizona it got to
123 degrees last June..yep thats right ..just for a few weeks then 112 113 the norm.

#4 of 256 Re: PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW [railroadjames] by kdhspyder

May 02, 2007 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: railroadjames (Mar 05, 2007 7:30 pm)
I'm just approaching 50k mi in my 2005 but I have a friend who purchased one of the first 2004's in Jan '04 who's at 140,000+ miles. He's posted here on another thread under 'carbot' that he's still on his original brakes but his 3rd set of tires ( that makes sense ) with no issues at all except the armrest fabric needed repair. He too mentions the screen in sunny weather is almost unusable.
 
There is no deterioration in performance at 140K miles. That's important to me as well since I expect to hit 250K miles in 6-7 years.

#5 of 256 Re: PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW [kdhspyder] by railroadjames

May 02, 2007 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: kdhspyder (May 02, 2007 12:49 pm)
I would hope that more Prius owners will add to this thread in the future because of the tremendous value of info that can fill in the details & possible quirks with the 2nd generation hybrid. I recently took my '04 Prius w/ 58K miles in to check on a noticable front vibration 70-75mph. Found out I needed front only wheel alignment ($69.00) It helped but..my tires had developed bad wear 18K. I'll probably be getting new tires by fall and I'll spend a bit more for the Michelins or Pirellis this time. Better tires mean safer car.

#6 of 256 2005 Prius, 2.5 years old, 57K miles, going strong. by devsienna

May 17, 2007 (3:24 pm)

I'm at 57K miles, still on the original set of Goodyear Integrity Tires (one tire was replaced at 30K due to a un-repairable puncture) and original brake pads (6mm front, 3mm rear). Only items that have been replaced other than the oil filter every 6K miles or so is the cabin air filter once, and the engine air filter. Tires are due to be replaced in the next month or so.
 
My only real complaint about the car is the rear window visibility. Other than that, it has performed great. I'm averaging 43 to 46MPG due to the fact that I'm not exactly a conservative driver, nor do I live in a flat area. The car has survived multiple trips up and down the I5 grapevine in Southern California without a problem, and has been up to Lake Tahoe without a problem. No lack of power from my perspective. No regrets at all about the purchase.

#7 of 256 04 model over 90K now by little_pogi

Jun 11, 2007 (12:42 am)

Yes, 90k plus and still going strong. It seems that the mileage on this car gets better as it ages. I do not notice any loss of power on the ICE compared when it was still new. I use the car primarity for work around southern California. The brake pads and linings are still original and it looks as though only 50% worn out. In the line of my work, I go in and out of the car more than 20 times a day. Doing the math, that's opening and closing the front driver side door over 18,000 times since I got the car. I do not hear any rattle yet on the doors. The rubber padding on the parking brake occasionally will fall out due to wear. That's probably also due to the over 18K times I've stepped on it every time I get out of the car. Oil change and tire rotation is being done faithfully every 5K miles. First set of tires changed after 50K and the second set may be due at 100K. I've also change the inverter coolant 2x.
 
One major incident was my 12V battery getting discharged 2 hrs after going home from work. Still puzzles me as to what caused it. I have left the car in the garage for 3 wks and it started just fine. Jumpering the batt was a not an easy task.
 
Looking forward to use the car for another 50K+ before moving on to the next gen Prius.

#8 of 256 Re: 04 model over 90K now [little_pogi] by stevegold

Jun 11, 2007 (5:49 am)

Replying to: little_pogi (Jun 11, 2007 12:42 am)
Jumping the battery is easy if you ever have to do it again as there are a duplicate set of terminals under the hood. You don't have to go down below in the back to do it. Check the book for the front location but they're right there under a cover on the left side.

#9 of 256 Re: PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW [kadensgram] by airnautique

Jul 06, 2007 (8:34 am)

Replying to: kadensgram (Apr 26, 2007 9:02 pm)
We have a 2005 Prius also. We too had to replace the original tires at 22,000 miles. The dealer told us to inflate the tires to 40 psi rather that the 34 psi recommemded in the manual. It this your experience as well?
 
KCAir at Personafile

#10 of 256 Re: PRIUS OWNERS W/ 50K : WHAT WE THINK NOW [airnautique] by railroadjames

Jul 06, 2007 (7:20 pm)

Replying to: airnautique (Jul 06, 2007 8:34 am)
About tires....Be smart and purchase premium tires (GoodYear...Michelins... B.F. Goodrich etc) I found a set of Dorels and got about 21 K and noticed vibration front and noticed chiping on front tires. I immediatly went back to tire dealer and was told that many Toyotas need "wheel alignment" due to independent suspension. I learned that the service for alignment is supposedly necessary every 6-9 K. O.K....sounds extreem to me so how about every 10-12K which is also recommended by "others". I presently have 62-1/2K and bought a pair of B.F. Goodrich 185-65-15's. and will get the other pair another 12-15 K putting the 1st pair on the back. The most important issue...Get good tires ..keep them inflated right...rotate...and get wheel alignment at reasonable time spans.

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