Melchior's 2007 white "Comfort" Gen 2

Yes, yes it does. Apologies for making you repeat yourself, and so politely too! That is so much cheaper than I can find them here. But if they last 120,000 miles, I'm not so sure it is worth worrying about the price.

This evening was lovely warm and still, OH doing some working from home so I was free (you know how it is) to do as I wanted. That HV battery ventilation fan was calling me so I pulled some trim off and had a chat with it, the dirty little thing...

Around 8 years and 207,000km's worth of schmutz:


Split in half:


Job done:


Dead easy job, I'd recommend doing it if you haven't done it before.

 

Today with 207636 km on the odo, I changed the oil again. A mere 658 km (just over 400 miles) since fresh fully synth 5W30 went in, and it came out with the colour of dark maple syrup (not the same consistency, thank goodness). Obviously this engine has not had its oil changed regularly but for the next few months it will do, until it starts coming out cleaner.

As for the fan cleaning, this evening after changing the oil I went for a drive and for the first time the sound of the fan running. Either I was subconsciously listening for it, or it is actually louder since being cleaned, I'm not sure. Suspect the latter; less filth = more air flow = more air flow sound.

 

Now with 210250km, the oil is still pretty clean looking so the worst of it must be cleaned out.

Last weekend we did a 500km each way trip. The car was faultless, cruising on the German autobahns at between 125-135km/h it was quiet and still used only around 5-5.5l/100km (around 50 UK MPG). The armrests on both sides are too hard, that's the only comfort issue I have with it.

Yesterday I had the urge to excercise our carpet cleaner so set to work on the Prius. It doesn't look a huge amount cleaner but does smell a bit fresher. Despite this only slight visual and nasal (?!) improvement, the dirt which came out was pretty shocking.....



Sorry if you're having your dinner

 

Another oil change today with 212206 on the clock. After 4500km the oil came out very very dark brown but not black. Still got some cleaning to do inside that engine, but getting better.

Apart from this, I have nothing at all to report!

 

The temperature here is due to drop suddenly in the next days so today I swapped from summer to winter tyres. Whilst under the front left wheel arch, I found the protective sleeve over the strut to be broken and so exposing the strut.

Is there a way to replace this cover easily? Or maybe even.. "easily"? I suspect not and suppose the whole strut and spring will have to come off, spring compressors used to take the top mount off... and so on. :-/

 

No action taken on the rubber strut cover yet.
Nothing at all to report save for the odo ticking over to 220,000km a couple of days ago. It just works - first car I've EVER owned which did!

 

Since I've had this car it has felt like it needed the alignment done. It doesn't pull left or right but the steering wheel doesn't sit straight and at full lock it doesn't want to self centre.

As I write this, the car is up on ramps at a local Euromaster having the job done

 

All done, the results are in. They told me it was WAY out. Maybe it's had a bump in the past, or suspension work without alignment afterwards. It feels a bit better now but I only drove it half a mile back to work so far.



Odometer reading is now 221020 km.

 

OCD ODO achieved yesterday.

 

APK test today (Dutch version of the English MOT, German TÜV... a yearly safety etc. inspection)

Passed with no issues, the tester did mention the rear pads are getting low. They'll replace them for just under €100 but I figure I'll have a look for myself when I swap to summer wheel/tyre in the next few days. If it looks like there is a decent amount left, I'll re-check them in 6 months when I swap back to winters.

 

It's now a year (give or take a few days) since I bought this. There is pretty much nothing to say! It just works. It is easily the most boring car I've ever owned but its stupidly low (i.e. non-existent!) running costs mean I am seriously considering buying a fun car to run alongside it.

ODO now reads just over 224,000 km which means I've done 18,000 in a year. If the HV battery holds out (which I am fairly sure it will; there are no hills here and the climate is very mild) then I reckon I'm just going to keep it and keep going.

To celebrate, here's a photo taken a couple of days ago. The micro car is a Canta LX which is powered by a 160cc single cylinder petrol engine. No driving licence needed, they can be parked on the pavement just like a scooter. Lots of people use them over here

 

Of my Prius or the Canta? If the latter, please use Google - the one in the photo above isn't mine, I just happened to park next to it. If the former, then just imagine a base spec white Prius, that's what mine looks like inside and out

 

I have not replaced either. Maybe a previous owner has, but I'm not aware. The handling and ride are fine though so I see no need to do this work.

Incidentally last weekend I did buy a fun car to run alongside the Prius, a 1992 Mazda MX-5 which is the polar opposite of the Prius. Thirsty (ish), noisy, low, impractical and lots of fun!