Is the 2008 Prius the BEST Prius ever built???

Considering the dubious record on the newer gen3/2010 Prius, I think you're probably right.

 

I have a 2008 and a 2010. I would rate the 2010 as a better car.

 

Its not clear why the 2008 would be so much better than the 2006, 2007 or 2009 models... Or for that matter, the early 2G, 2004 and 2005.

 

Toyota Prius Reliability

2008 has the lowest repair rate on truedelta.

A few years ago the 2005 and 2007 were vying for that but they eventually shifted away from the most reliable spot.

If you are going by Gen II the most reliable years are

1st 2008
2nd 2007
3rd 2009
4th 2006

I guess we will have to wait a few years to have comparable data for the Gen III models but early data says

1st 2012
2nd 2010
3rd 2013
4th 2011

the current repair rates look better for 2010 vs 2009 but who knows if that comparison will still hold if you check back later.

 

If going by those "reliability" ratings by year, there is a serious flaw since there is no control. Drivers, routes, styles, weather, and lots more play into what needs to be repaired when. The car is the same, so unless there is a bad batch of some part (i.e. the switchover from D2R to D4R bulbs in 2005 for 2006 models) the ratings should be equal.

There was a difference between 2004-2005 and 2006-2009.

As to if the 2008 is the best, again that would have to be a "is the 2006-2009 the best" and that's highly subjective. I would agree up until now. However if I had the GenII interior in the GenIII I would disagree. The flying bridge is a major no-no.

 

I think the sample size is too small considering the number of uncontrolled variables to form a reasonable opinion. The data may show general trends between car models, but I don't think it's very useful for determining that, for instance, purchasing a 2009 model is riskier than purchasing a 2008.

 

There are numerous differences between a 2004, an early 2005, a late 2005, a 2006, a 2007. Each of those has some improvement or new fault that none of the others have.

The early 2005 and 2004 have a MFD that has a bad connection that flexes too much and will cause the MFD to fail and isn't covered by warranty for many of the people that have to deal with that issue.

The 2007 has a rear hatch handle that turns to goo that isn't an issue on any year before or after it.

Go ahead and tell me which year the TPMS was added as an option and which year it was in all trim levels even down to the base model.

Tell me the same for rear backup camera.

Tell me every single part that changed year by year. I'm not going to bother for just this post as it'd be too much work.

I think it's an oversimplification to say it is only two groups of Gen II years.

 

2008 is second best, 2012 pip is the best!

 

Washington state adopted the CARB rules in 2009. If you live in Washington state, the 2009 is better than the 2008 because it carries the CARB warranty (and the 2008 does not).

 

No.

 

I don't have much stick time in G2's, but I have 55 kilomiles in G3's. My beloved company started adopting Priuses in 09.
For me personally the G3 is a much better vehicle except for interior fit and finish. I abhor drum brakes, and the G2 handles even worse than the G3 does, and it's one of the few cars that's even slower huffing and puffing its way up to 70-mph than "my" G3.
That's admittedly a very biased opinion, but it's at least an informed one since I do have at least a few hours in type (with the G2.)

Maybe, but that doesn't mean it's a "better car."
If, for example, a Pontiac Aztec had a lower repair rate than a G3 that would not make it a "better car."
It would just be statistically more reliable.

I like the G2 (a little) but:
Is the 2008 Prius the BEST Prius ever built???

Maybe. Maybe not.
Tell you what.
Let's do an experiment.
Line up 10 G2's, 10 G3's, and 10 Pips.
Put 30 Key fobs on a card table and tell 20 people that they can have which ever one they want.

Count the remaining cars in each category.

Experiment done.

As always......
YMMV.

 

Best for an accountant?

Best for a salesman?

Best for a race car driver?

Best for a lumberjack?

Yes everything is relative. Myself I think of reliability and MPGs first. I don't care that much Gen II vs Gen III. The reliability numbers at truedelta by year are very close together. The MPGs between Gen II and Gen III are very close together.

If I had the choice of a 2008 with 30,000 miles on it or a 2012 with 30,000 miles on it both for free I'd ask which color they are before I'd choose. If one of the two was Blue I'd take it over the other one since both are going to give me the best reliability and MPGs over any car I've had previously. If they were both the same color I'd take the newer one just because it's newer but looking at used cars that I do have to pay for I'm not going to pay much extra for a newer year.

 

I sure do like mine!

 

I like mine too!

 

I have a 2007 package 6 and my wife has a 2012 package 4. My car is a lot more fun. The 2007 has better arm-rests, lots more cubbys, a better sound system, and it cost 1/3 of the price. (bought used) My wife's has heated electric seats with lumbar support, and the engine / electric motor transitions is a lot smoother (a lot), has USB - which is great, bluetooth is more functional, and it corners more precisely. Two fantastic cars! Love them both. Oddly they both get the same average mileage. 49 mpg in winter and 54 mpg in summer.

 

So, my Mom is currently (1-2019) looking at a 2005 Prius with 99,000 miles and a 2009 Prius with 147,000.. My brother is having kittens because she is considering the 2005 because he says there were a lot of technological upgrades between 2005 and 2009. Were there that many technological upgrades and differences between 2005 and 2009?
Thanks in advance..
Sue

 

Never mind. Why do newbs not look at when these things were posted?

 

Your 64 and your mom STILL DRIVES?

And yes the 2009 has upgrades from a 2005.

 

Not really any big differences. There are minor cosmetic differences.