New Prius vs. Used Prius

Old vs New

Well I own one of each and there are some differences. The 04 is bigger, bigger engine, higher voltage and has a heck of a lot of nice features, keyless entry and keyless starting. And the 04 does seem to be getting better milage than the 03. The 03 has a longer warranty on the batteries 10yr 100k miles. I'd say you could be very happy with a 03 if you aren't into a lot of high tech stuff. That isn't to say the 03 isn't high tech it just doesn't have all the gadgets. Oh, there is one other point the 04 tires will last longer they are bigger. I really love both of them.

 

The 2004 and 2003 are practically different cars entirely. Some may disagree with me here, but I do believe the majority would agree. Besides the fact that they're hybrids, Toyotas, and share the same name, the similarties are pretty minimal.

 

GET THE 2004!!!

 

Yeah, my reaction would be to scream that as well. I definatly echo that point. :mrgreen:

 

I'd vote for the 2004 also.
The extended warranty seems to be cheap too.

Alpha

 

I think everyone would agree that the 2004 is a much better car than the 2003. Unfortunately, the high demand and long waiting lists means that a used 2004 could end up costing you more than a new one.

 

03 vs 04

Am very pleased with my 04 Prius.

Overall, the classic or 03 version, while technically capable, offers limited space, utility, adaptability and size. The 04, with the fold down rear seats, hatchback design and much, much larger size offers the best of all worlds. Yes I would love to have 16" wheels and rear disk brakes but nothing's perfect. The standard 3 module design of most cars, engine, passenger and trunk compartments, restrict adaptability and carrying capacity.

With regard to cost, as Car and Drive said and I believe, never will a car with so much space and efficiency be offered again at such a low price. Even with govt subsidies, the big 3 will take 3-5 years just to match the current Prius.

I like it and consider the car a great value.

 

Just a curious observation... there are many, many car dealers in Puerto Rico that import used cars from the southeastern part of the US, especially Florida. One of these dealers imported a used 2004 Prius and had it for sale before the first new Prius went to sale on the island through Toyota dealerships. I remember the TV add from the used car dealer "the Prius... not yet available new and we have a used one!"

Another dealer imported recently a 2002 Prius, the only one in Puerto Rico because 2004 is the first official year for the Prius here.

 

Just a question I now have due to the comment about rear disc brakes...

What's the difference between disc and drum brakes? Come to think of it, I know I've heard of rear disc brakes being advertised, but I have no idea what's so special about them. :mrgreen:

 

A traditional difference between these two types of brakes (may no longer hold trus with newer technology) is that disks brake better when wet. I like the fact that it's easy do determine how worn the pads are by looking at them through the caliper window. Rear disks are standard in all performance cars and in probably all European cars, including some (like the VW Golf) which are cheaper than the Prius.

In the Prius, which is not a performance car, rear drums or disks don't make any difference. Drums are cheaper than disks, but nowadays, with so many cars sporting rear disks, one sort of expects rear disks in all cars costing over $20,000.

 

Thanks, that clears it up a bit for me. :mrgreen:

 

Turning circle the 2k4 doesn't turn and the Classic does. I like a trunk and she likes a hatch. 7 more HP in the 2k4 for the ICE (500 more RPM also to get it) Same torque. More HP in the electric side, but only when the ICE is running, better battey technology in the 2k4 (density and intercell connectivity) More gadgets, the verdict is out on long term reliability, less rear headroom in the 2k4 vs 2k3. Both have their good and bad points. Rear disks, on a car that goes 100,000 miles on a brake job and has ABS. Cheaper is better as far as I'm concerened. Only thing I'd like on the 2k3 is SE-SS. Just my opinion.

 

Disk brakes have a rotor. It has 2 pad on each side that press in. Think of catching a frisbee "pancake" style where you put the palm of your hand on the top and the bottom and slap them together to stop it. Where the frisbee would be the rotor and the brake pads would be your hands. That is how disk brakes work.

Drum brakes think of a bowl with flat sides rotating. The brake shoes are curved and press up into the interior sides of the bowl.

Disk brakes are much more efficent. And easy to replace. Drum brakes are a pain in the @#$# to replace. Your front brakes do about 75% of your braking, that is why they disk ones are on the front.

Alpha

 

Re: Thanks everyone! Now, can I find a used one in the sout

You'd certainly think so; the trouble is, the allocations are more or less proportional. So if dealerships down south are selling fewer Priuses...they're *getting* fewer Priuses...

 

2004!!!!!!!! no matter what 2004!!! the 2003 is like an echo hybrid (almost)

 

I got my 2004 used with 12K on the clock. I got whatever the Toyota certified warranty is, and 6 or 8 years (I forget which) on the drive-train/hybrid system, or something like that, it's been a while... As for availability, it seems like they're readily available within the Boston area, but then again, that was as of last May, prior to the big gas price surge. I was fortunate enough to walk into one of the bigger Toyota dealers that happened to have 4 used ones on the lot, and bought it that very same day.

I concur with the 2004 vote. You get far more "car", not really a hey-look-at-me-I'm-frugal-econo-box.

 

Two things I liked better on my '02 than my '04:

the dash-color (light gray), layout and smaller, recessed MFD

the shifter---that's right, the shifter quirky, spaceshippy