which is better a gen 2 or gen 3

I would suggest if you are at all concerned about seat comfort, to rent one for a few days. Just 2 weeks ago I bought a Prius- and while it's a brilliant car, incredible mpg, the seat is horrible for me. Sciatica, that had gone away, has returned since having the Prius. Sciatica did not bother me in my Acura that I had before this. In fact sometimes my Acura seat would help me feel better! I am actually considering replacing the seat, or even selling the car at a loss, because the seat is causing me to have additional pain I did not have before. Anyone want a nice sparkling new 2013 Prius? I wish the Acura Hybrid wasn't so darn expensive.

 

Ok. Since you are thinking of a gen 2 keep in mind that while they are very reliable and scheduled maintenance is reasonable you are also considering a 5 year old car. My 09 has 107k miles and I have spent nothing on repairs, just consumables and scheduled maintenance. I'm expecting that to change though. The issue with the Prius is some repairs can be expensive because of the hybrid system, quite a bit more than a traditional car. As long as you realize this and are ok with it then great.

 

If you're set on a Prius, I would take both for a test drive and see what you think. There's nothing wrong with getting either. I personally don't like the center console of the Gen3, but it should deliver a few more MPGs than a Gen2 in the same conditions.

 

I think glen68 should do what I and Lisa Jean suggested. Go rent one for a week or three before he sign's on the dotted line. That way any doubts should be erased or confirmed.

One thing I will say is this. Maintenance? What Maintenance! Basic as basic could be. 5K oil and filter changes. Air Filter and Cabin Filter at least once a year. Rotate the tires at least once every 10K, better at 5K in my book. Nothing real major until 100K and then some more at 120K. Transaxle fluid drain and refill every 60K is desirable, but strange as it may sound not in the schedule.

The real nice thing is the price at the pump. I have yet to put more than $32.00 worth of gas in it and that was when the gas was almost $4.00 @ gallon. Lately I have been filling up and getting change back from a $20.00 I love the small tank even if I do have the evil "bladder".

 

There is a rubber bladder in the gas tank of the North American Gen2 that expands and contracts with how much fuel is in it in order to keep the gasoline a liquid. This can reduce overall emissions. It can be a pain when it only lets you put 7 gallons in it during the winter. The Gen3 doesn't have it.

 

Some folks have trouble when filling up a Prius. The Gen II can get contrary at times if you try to pump the fuel in real fast. Plus the volume of the bladder changes when the temperature changes.

Gen III doesn't have the bladder. Only the US models Gen II were cursed with it.

Since I started venting like edthefox suggests, I haven't had any trouble. But I live in the deep south where it doesn't get real cold. At least most of the time. But earlier this week we had lows of 24 F. I see variation of about two to two and a half gallons from winter time to summer time as far as volume is concerned.

The bladder is one of those things you learn to live with on the Gen II. I like the style of the Gen II over the Gen III. To me the console is a waste of space in the Gen III, plus the cup holders are better in the Gen II IMO. But, if I did have a Gen III the first thing I would do is to mod the shifter. I saw a push button shifter offered a year ago. It mounts where the joystick is and has buttons to push rather than the stick. I can't recall who is selling it, but to me it looked real sweet in the post's I read here on Prius Chat!

When you get your Prius, please post pics of it. And good luck with whatever you get!

 

I love Google! Here is the push button shifter I was talking about. Fits in the console in the Gen III Prius.

Electronic Switch Shifter with Backlight installed! Pics! | PriusChat

Don't know if the part is available anymore, but it looks sweet to me. I was always a sucker for push buttons, I guess that is why I liked running the CNC machines all the years I did. (Former machinist by trade).

 

The touch screen in the gen 2 looks neat but the hybrid system indicator in the gen 3 is a LOT more practical and useful. It sits a lot closer to the windshield so you don't have to look down as far, and it gives the driver a lot more information as to how their driving is impacting gas mileage. Toyota did their homework in that regard when they designed the gen 3.

Plus, I find that having touch screen buttons are harder to hit that an actual, physical button. The gen 3 has touch screen buttons for some things depending on the package, but things like climate control are all with physical buttons in the gen 3 which again is more practical.

 

Hey I have an '05 and I also only have a 3 mile commute. Once you figure out how to drive the prius (not like non hybrid cars) you will be fine. Sure you might get 30s some days, but that still beats the teens you would get from a Carolla.

My overall average over 3 years is still 41mpg.

 

Let me add that I have test driven a gen III and I hated it. A lot of that has to do with the fact that I A) love my gen II and B) loathe change.
If I had to replace my gen II I would get a V which has a more familiar interior to me.

 

For those long road trips you take, the Prius is a great car. I go back and forth from Ohio to Virginia twice a year, and I love both the gas mileage and the fact that the low engine noise makes is more amenable to roadtrip music.

Having driven the GenII and GenIII, I don't think either choice would be terrible.

 

Which is better?

If given the choice I'd go with Gen 3.

Don't get up in arms Gen 2 owners, I love Gen 2 Prius, those were the Prius that first got me interested in Hybrids. They are great automobiles.

But THERE ARE differences between Gen 2 and Gen 3. Most importantly, Gen 3 does NOT have the sometimes problematic gas bladder. Gen 3 does not have the coolant thermos, instead using a heat reclamation system.

If I'm looking to own one? And it is an either or question? I'm easily choosing the Gen 3.

Also I would factor in the truth that we are getting close to the Gen 4 Prius. Relatively soon, The Gen 3 standard Prius becomes the "Previous Generation" Prius, thus making the Gen 2 Prius even one rung lower on the evolutionary scale.

I would not be unhappy with a Gen 2 Prius. There are things about a Gen 2 Prius I like better than a Gen 3. They are classic Prius IMO. But if I'm looking to buy today? I'm going Gen 3.

 

lol, good luck with that one Mr Electric Me

 

Had 2008 which at 140,000 miles had no issues or repairs only regular maint. Drove on 350 to 400 mile trips regularly with no problems with comfort. Now have 2013 gen 3 hoping I enjoy it half as much as my gen 2 ... We'll see!!


iPhone ?

 

The hybrid system works best warmed up. In the Gen 2 Prius, coolant is actually pumped to and from a coolant thermos to help it stay warm, and to speed up and shorten warm up times.

In the Gen 3, the coolant thermos was replaced with a heat reclamation system which heats the coolant using reclaimed heat from the exhaust system.

I'm certainly not the best person to give you specifics of how either system actually works in detailed specific.

Here are two threads that discuss the two systems.

Is this unique to the Prius: Coolant "lunch box" and back-up brake power? | PriusChat

How does the exhaust heat recovery system work? | PriusChat