How to know 09, 08, 07... ?

i think i figured out that the 2004-2005s were different from 2006 and up based on the
position of the brake lights, thats about it. i think the 2006 or 2007's have a small spoiler airdam dealy underneath the front bumper, and they started to put tpms in 2007 also? not sure about that one

 

The 10th digit of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) indicates the year. For instance, if it's an 08, the 10th digit will be 8. If it's an 07, it will be 7. Etc. For cars older than 2000, they use letters for digit #10.

 

I think the year number in the VIN may be an America-only thing (as that's where they obsess about "model year"s).

If you're not American, then you only really want to distinguish between the 2004-2006 version and the 2006- facelifted version. The newer version is most readily distinguished by the chrome front bar, the chromed brake lights either side of the lower rear window, and the "Hybrid" badges above the wing indicators.

There may have been slight differences in available options within those timescales.

Oh, and in May 2005 there was a refinement to handling and soundproofing. Don't know how you easily spot whether you have that variant though (and I don't know how significant a refinement it was).

 

Relatives of mine bought a Camry this past April -- which is titled as an '09.
(Also, seems to be the only one I've seen with dual exhausts)

As a result --
1. Oh boy, 'so cool' to have a car out of the future.
2. When it goes for re-sale, it will appear as a hi-mileage car, having accumulated 6 month's worth of miles before it was numerically 'born.'

 

When in doubt....
Take the VIN to a local dealer. They should be able to look up a complete description of the car.

 

When did they start putting the little "hybrid" badge on the side of the car? My '04 does not have it.

PA P

 

2006 model year, this idea probably came from Toyota's Department of Redundancy Department.

NHW20 is the Toyota designation for 2G Prius, model years 2004 to present.

I assume that the "L" character means left hand drive. UK and Australian models probably have an "R" character in that position.

The USA model code is NHW20L-AHEEBA while the Canadian model code is NHW20L-AHEEBK. Hence, the last character shows which region of the world the car is intended for. Looks like your region has "W" assigned to it.

 

PA Prius,

That "Hybrid" badge started going on the side of USA cars with the 2006 model (but it may have gone on the Prius in other countries' markets before that). The '04's & '05's were the same as each other except that in '05 the rear window wiper became standard instead of an option (drop'g the # of option pkg's from 9 in '04 to 6 in '05). If a car not meet'g the visible identification characteristics (mentioned in the next paragraph) of the '06 & newer models doesn't have a rear wiper, it doesn't automatically mean it is an '04. It could be an '05 pkg zero (for the rental & municipal fleets).

Then the major changes came in 2006 with the addition of the back-up camera, tire pressure monitor'g system, aux input for the stereo system (for ipods & such), new paint colors, expanded interior colors, factory installed leather, touring model, lowered rear seat cushion bottoms (for more rear passenger headroom, tops of rear lights (even with the small rear window below the spoiler) changed from black lens to clear lens, front & rear light assemblies have a horizontal row of what looks like little LED's (near the middles of the light assemblies), an additional yellow/orange reflector in the side of each front light assembly (2 instead of one on each side), re-programmmed, less agressive traction control, the chrome horizontal center piece in the front grill, the "hybrid" badge (you were ask'g about) on the side of each front fender, & of course (not to be forgotten) the new part number for the extremely failure-prone HID headlight bulbs that have given the '06 owners so much trouble.

I don't think I have forgotten anything & nothing much (if anything) has changed since 2006 to differentiate the '07's & '08's from the '06.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

Hi Ken,

More changes for 2006 include new DTC codes, tweaks to the EVAP system, body tweaks to reduce noise, changes to the combination meter display, new nav system and updated MFD. The attached file shows all changes from 2005 to 2006.

The Touring model was introduced in 2007.

 

If I remember correctly, I believe the '07 was the first year to come out with curtain airbags in the rear.

 

Hi Stan,

The curtain airbags were available as an option back in 2004; my car has them. See attached file for more info.

 

Changes in the styling is what he is after with out looking at Vin #'s. Are there any?

I know like certain years of Ford, Chevy (55-56) looked like every thing was the same except a slight grill and taillight change.