So my main question is: if I Prius is older with low mileage is that necessarily better than newer with twice the mileage? If a 2005 only has 54k, doesn't that mean that it wasn't driven very regularly, and isn't that bad for battery life?
Either car will carry relatively same risk of break down, which is very low... I suspect the wear and tear on the lower mileage one is much less. But in my direct experience with working on Hybrid battery packs in cars of this age is that the ones in the 100K mile range are the ones that need work and the ones up in the 200K mile range are still going strong. That's specific to hyrbid battery problems though and not the rest of the car. There's lots of reasons for that, but the main one being is that a Prius does much better as an every day vehicle rather than an occasionally driven one.
you are correct. but the '05 would be a very nice car with a new pack. in either case, if you are a serious diy'er, they are both good. if not, plan on getting to know your toyota service manager on first name basis.
One last thought, I'd buy the 2007 because of more advanced safety features like side air bags and backup camera.... That backup camera saved a little kid from serious injury once...
Yep, go with the 2005 and start saving for a new battery. Hopefully it will go a year or 2 before it craps out. The prolong system might help in this situation, you might research that also.
$$$ running away from you... I am not a mechanic and I have successfully done some pretty major things on our 05. And using only 4-5 different socket sizes/ other common tools. If you have a little will, a few tools, and a beginner mind and humility then you can become a competent DIY with these vehicles. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
This is an excellent example of how important and valuable Priuschat is to helping people who can't afford major repairs fix it themselves. Anyone care to name any other car that has more online support for DIY? Perhaps Mazda Miata and maybe Toyota trucks? Earlier Honda Hybrids use to have pretty good online forums, but those places are a ghost towns now... Pretty sure PriusChat is the leader among all major car maker DIY forums, but I'm biased. What say you?
Our '05 has SABs, every one I looked at did. BU cams are no substitute for "situational awareness" or backing INTO parking spots, not out of them.
I rarely use the B/U camera on any vehicle but it's certainly not a negative option. If it picks up on an object I can't see very near or around the vehicle then i'm good with that. Agreed that a situationally aware (and undistracted) driver is the absolute #1 safety option available. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Yes... I've backed up thousands of times and never needed it... But in that one particular situation when a parent lost grasp of their little kid who started running, I'm certain that there's no other possible way I would of seen 'em had it not been for the back-up camera.
Definitely true. If you want to know you can find valuable knowledge here. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
