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Gen 2 prius or camry hybrid? Which one more reliable?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by stewarttransport, Jul 24, 2017.

  1. stewarttransport

    stewarttransport New Member

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    I need an inexpensive hybrid car for uber. I have come down to either a prius(gen 2, 2007~2009 model year) or a camry hybrid(2007~2009). of these nearly 10 year old cars, prius is much cheaper(nice ones can be had for under $5000), but camry is more roomy and the ride feels much better. I test drove a few priuses they all feel like a very cheap small car. Camries on the other hand feels smoother and way more comfortable. Camry hybrids that have similar mileage are about $1500~2000 more expensive though. I'm now more concerned about reliability. Is camry hybrid more reliable or prius? I know for 10 year old models you can't expect them to be rock solid. But in general which model is more reliable and cheaper to fix? Thanks.
     
    #1 stewarttransport, Jul 24, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    about the same.
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 24, 2017
  3. CNCinCal

    CNCinCal Junior Member

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    I have owned and driven both. I can tell you I can drive the Camry at least 4 hrs straight without leg cramps, something I have never been able to do with any car. 4 hrs is currently the longest stretch of driving I have attempted without a pit stop.

    If you plan to do your own maintainence, there are far far fewer resources available on the web. YouTube and forums directly dedicated to the TCH are not to be found.

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 ?
     
    #3 CNCinCal, Jul 24, 2017
    bisco likes this.
  4. CNCinCal

    CNCinCal Junior Member

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    For the 3 months I have owned mine, with 168k on the odo, it's been rock solid as far as relieability. They seem to be sensitive to rock chips on the windshield. You can watch the cracks propagate almost immediately.

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 ?
     
    #4 CNCinCal, Jul 24, 2017
  5. stewarttransport

    stewarttransport New Member

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    Jap cars are like that. Their windshields are paper thin. Thanks for your reply. I'm leaning towards camry as well. Prius saves a little bit more gas but gas is super cheap nowadays. If one day gas goes back to $4.5/Gal I may reconsider but right now there's really no point.
    By the way what's "SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 ?"
     
    #5 stewarttransport, Jul 24, 2017
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Both have been reliable. I'd give the slight advantage to the Prius just because it was Toyota's 2nd generation (and first attempt at worldwide sales) so you would think they need that car to be bulletproof or risk worldwide mockery at its failure.

    But yes, a Camry will always ride better than the Prius. It's just a nicer car, bigger (better for Uber) and more comfortable.


    That's just the signature when people post ?.. It inserts their phone model for some reason as default (just like Apple does with " iPhone" in e-mails)
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jul 24, 2017
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    The early Camry hybrids were improved a lot. On technical performance, MPG, cargo space, I'd be tempted for a 2009 Prius which seems pretty darn reliable as the last model year of Gen2.. Comfort in the driver seat is +Camry of course.
     
    #7 wjtracy, Jul 24, 2017
  8. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    IMO, Gen2 Prius >>>>>>>>> same Camry. The HSD parts on the Camry are *just enough* different to be odd and VERY expensive compared to the Prius. Both are good cars and certainly the comfort and room of the Camry are superior.
     
    #8 05PreeUs, Jul 24, 2017
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  9. Scott56

    Scott56 Junior Member

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    My aunt has a Camry hybrid and she said on her 1 hr highway commute she only gets between 34-35 mpg. She complained about the trunk space being much more restricted as well and that was something she overlooked when buying it.
     
    #9 Scott56, Jul 26, 2017
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    trunk space improved from gen 1 to 2. gen 2 gets around 40 mpg at the speed limit. tell her to pump up her tyres, but it sounds like she's right on for the gen 1.
     
    #10 bisco, Jul 26, 2017
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