It's time to say good-bye to my 2004 with 260,000 miles. Especially since we have two other Prii. It runs fine and has the original hybrid battery. But the body is falling apart in several places and some parts are held in place by duct tape and baling wire. The paint job on the roof is crap (living in the desert without a garage or carport for twelve years will do that). Essentially zero trade-in or KBB value. I have the phone number to donate it to my local NPR but just can't bring myself to call. How do I get my head around this? It's just a car, right?
We did the deed two days ago. I am sad. But we were hardly ever driving it. I never liked the interior consoles on the future generations and prefer the Gen II shape over the more angular contours. But "progress", I guess.
Time to bid adieu to my 2005 Prius. It still runs but has code P0420 and the traction battery too on way out. 12 volt battery has recently died after 10 years. I have not replaced it, since I was planning to junk it anyway. I have been using jump battery to start the car initially in the morning. Then it does start on leftover charge from the 12 V later in the day. I got trouble free 371K ( 298 K of my own) miles out of it. I have used and abused it carrying lot of stuff many times. It has fair amount of body damage, with a recent damage when someone backed into it. Couple of hit and runs in parking lots damaging bumper too. Selling it for 1000$, mostly the value of used catalytic converter. I thought of removing and replacing the cat , but did not find it worth the efforts for 200-300 $. Feeling very sad though, bidding farewell after 12 trouble free years.
