New Here, 02 or 05 Prius?

The 2005 has a better HV battery design, plus used batteries are easier to find, so I would buy the 05 on that basis alone.

 

The 2004+ (Gen2 Prius) NiMH cell was redesigned to reduce the internal resistance in the battery assembly compared to the 2001 - 2003 (Gen1) model. The same cell design is used in the newest (2010) models as well. The Gen 1 had a SSC (special service campaign) to reseal some (all?) HV batteries.

I have seen a few higher mileage Gen 1 cars here on PriusChat that have needed battery replacement. I have only seen a couple of Gen 2 cars which needed replacement. Toyota says that the battery should last the life of the car; in testing, they found that the battery should last at least 160k miles.

So, you shouldn't need to replace the HV battery, but you do have a higher likelihood of needing to replace a Gen 1 battery compared to a Gen 2 battery.

It is also possible to replace a Gen 1 battery with a battery modified to use Gen 2 cells. This is something that you would need to DIY or have done by an independent shop; the dealer would not do this for you.

Other potential high cost repairs with the Gen 1 include:

Problems with the Electric Assist Power Steering
Problems with the Catalytic Converter and HC storage system

A couple of resources to explain common repairs:


Hybrid Specialists


Luscious Garage | Blog | Prius headlight problem, D4R HID bulbs *still overpriced, not covered under warranty*

 

In addition to the pionts mentioned already, the mechanical design of the newer transaxle is better. At least a little bit.

In the past, this question has generally been answered at PriusChat with a strong group preference towards the newer model. That haivng been said a few of us remain very fond of the NHW11.

The newer battery (electrode design) generates heat more evenly through the cell. Probably also a bit less heat. This is good for battery longevity, and in addition the NHW11 battery cells are apparently more prone to leakage. That's why there was a special service campaign.

It is had to know the true proportions from internet pstings, but we have indeed seen an increasing number of NHW11s with bad cells (at least). I cannot tell you confidently if the proportion of the fleet is 10% or more or less. But I guess at that % right now.

I don't think even Toyota knows it, because some people are not going back to toyota when their batteries fail.

Back to Q, you have a choice between 2 cars. What do you like and dislike about each? Cost difference? Review both vehicles' full service histories. If your dealer has a good shop they will be able to test the condition of both vehicles' batteries, If they cannot do this you are not at the right Toyota shop.

Each car's tranaxle fluid could be analyzed and that might reveal something about health of that system. But I realize that not all prospective buyers are going to chase that down.

 

An 02 Prius is a decent car. However, it is still a car, and is built to last as long as any other car. It is not built out of magic pixie dust, and will last as long as a (relatively well-built) conventional car. I think our common concern is that, for someone on a budget such as you, a battery failure might be a serious financial issue because it is a repair that typically runs in the (1-2) thousands. Typically, battery failures have been reported here for the Generation 1 (01-03) around 120-150k miles (this isn't a scientific number, just a off-the-top-of-my-head summary assessment). Many batteries will last longer, some have not lasted as long.

If you hypothetically needed to replace the battery, and wanted to save money doing it, you'd want to get a salvage from a crashed Prius. There are many, many more batteries from 04-09 cars, meaning higher availability, and resulting in an altogether lower price.

 

I think another big factor is if you are competent at wrenching on cars. If you can do much or all of the work yourself, then it isn't out of the question to go for the cheaper car. But if you are dependent on the dealer for repairs, some of the repairs could be very expensive.

 

given your financial situation, you should consider a corolla or equivilent. excellent gas mileage and much more room in existing mileage at your price point to add another 135,000 miles. and, if it does need a repair, it will most likely be much less costly than a prius.

 

http://priuschat.com/forums/generat...n/70067-buying-00-prius-battery-concerns.html

Also, it may be of use to you to read the experience of those who have had HV battery failure in the 2001. As you do not expect any warranty coverage of the used car, many of their points of contention do not apply.

Gen1:
http://priuschat.com/forums/generat...toyota-wont-pay-repair.html?highlight=failure
http://priuschat.com/forums/generat...id-battery-dies-can-i-continue-drive-car.html

Gen2:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ion/76515-hv-battery-failure-please-help.html


I would agree with bisco above. I would recommend that you spend your money on a reliable conventional car.

 

Maybe.

If you're totally set on getting a Prius, and willing to take a weekend road trip to test drive a few and negotiate, there are quite a few options ~200mi away.

Cars for Sale: 2005 Toyota Prius Hybrid in Mesquite, TX 75150: Hatchback Details - 271795453 - AutoTrader.com

Just be aware of the possibility of sudden, high maintenance costs.

EDIT: it would also be helpful for you to run autocheck or carfax reports on these cars to narrow your choices. I personally prefer autocheck.

 

If you're an environmentalist, like me, and nothing but a Pruis will do, I'm concerned that you can't afford a Prius at this time. I would like you to have a greater cash reserve to take care of any used car problems.

If you're determined to get a Prius, your best price is usually one that is sold privately. Of course, if you were serious, you would have to spend some money checking it out. You want to do a CarFax and a pre-purchase inspection at a Toyota dealer (about $120.00 for both). And do not buy one with a salvage title unless they have before pictures and you pay for a body shop to inspect that car as well.

You best buy is a Gen I that already has a new battery. At this age, any Gen II at any mileage, could need a new battery. These are hard to find but there are a few out there (try Craigslist). I've seen a few of these for around $6K with 150K miles. A new/rebuilt battery is a minimum of about $2K depending on how far you have to ship the core and other factors.

I suggest a 2004 or 2005 Gen II with even higher miles. The price might be in you range, but of course the risks get higher. I drove a 2005 Taxi with 220K miles and it drove very nicely. But I can't tell you how many trouble free miles it has left.

Lots of luck, Dan

 

Hi! Welcome to PriusChat! I too am a newbie; I just bought an '07 with 40,000 miles.

Are the two cars you are considering at a Toyota dealership? Just doing a quick search on autotrader.com (not sure where you are located in Oklahoma but I did a quick search for a zip code there and used it in my search), I have found several 2005's priced lower than the one you are looking at but with well under 100,000 miles.

This one has 71,000 miles and is priced under $12,000.
Cars for Sale: 2005 Toyota Prius Hybrid in North Little Rock, AR 72116: Hatchback Details - 272561643 - AutoTrader.com

It's just something for you to think about. I would hate for you to pay more than necessary when you could get a car with fewer miles for less. If you haven't done so yet, take a look on autotrader.com as most dealerships have their cars listed on that site. It's worth a peek

And if I were deciding between the two cars you mentioned, I would go with the 2005 for sure, but partly for aesthetic reasons because personally I like the design of the '05 better. I don't know that much about the technical differences between the GenI and GenII cars, but it seems that if the battery in the GenII will last longer, that alone would be reason to go with that car. If you do decide not to shop around, at least take some of the lower priced ads for the cars listed on autrotrader with you. You should be able to get a lower price on that car, I think.

Good luck!!