Need Advice on potential Prius problems

Just now posted at the Green Car Congress website http://www.greencarcongress.com/ :

Hybrid info from the Union of Concerned Scientists at
http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybridcenterindex.cfm

and their blog at http://www.hybridblog.org/

 

Claudia,
I bought my dad's 2004 Prius (a stripper) last August with 9k miles on it at the time, and traded it in 4 mos. later at 14k miles on a 2005 package 6 that I'd had on order. (My dad sold me his because he scarfed up a package 6 as well.)

The 2004 gave me no problems in terms of breakdowns, etc., but was subject to a number of recalls, TSBs, etc., one of which led to the tech blowing the ECU, and they had the car for 3-4 days before the part came in. My display screen also went out, was replaced under warranty. I didn't bother with the gas pipe TSB because I didn't want my car touched any more.

Although I loved the car, I felt this was way too much hassle for a new car to give me in the first year of ownership. I think these bugs have been worked out for the 2005 models, though. I've had the new one now for 4 mos./5k miles, and it's been perfect.

Anyway, like you, my wife has a 2004 accord, paid off. Hers is 4 cyl EX w/leather and NAV, and sunroof, and she adores it. But she got a job recently that sometimes has her driving all over the state, so she's been trading cars with me for those trips. She's decided she would definitely trade her accord in for a prius, if one came along. We're close to putting her on a waiting list, or maybe searching out of the Cities for one. I'd just have to install heated seats for her!

So, I'd say you'd be very happy if you switched to the Prius. You'll double your MPG, which is pretty amazing...I considered the accord to be fuel-efficient when we bought it!

Rob

 

Claudia- If you have a long commute, I recommend the Prius. If you have a short commute, I would stick with the accord. Really messes up the equation when you are in an almost new car right now. Good luck maam.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ray Moore\";p=\"86930)</div>

An excellent point -- I agree with Ray. I have short commutes (3-4 miles), and I'm usually on the low end of the MPG scale (39-46, depending on the temperature.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"86862)</div>

This is only necessary if the brake system hydraulics are opened and requires bleeding. In every other aspect, the brake system is a conventional front disc/rear drum configuration that is as easy to service as any other vehicle. Brake pads are easily changed.

 

Most techs would bleed at every brake job, but granted, that would be optional.

 

"I'm not an idiot - I know that ALL cars are subject to problems."

Claudia, nobody thinks you an idiot. In fact, I'd venture to say most everyone here thinks you are rather wise for reading Edmunds and even finding PriusChat.

I'm sure you don't believe everything you read on the Internet. I don't believe very many "owner reviews" on Edmunds are written by owners. Don't believe everything you read here. This is a fanboy site and we're all Prius fanboys (and girls).

Except unlike most fanboys, we actually OWN these cars - well, most of us.

Actually... PriusChat is probably one of the most UNbiased fanboy sites I can really think of! Almost everyone dislikes the JBL "premium" sound system and we're not afraid to say it. Ditto on the pre-TSB gas guage or as we called it, the "guess guage."

So most of the "facts" you've read were more than likely taken out of context from a place like PriusChat, and posted to Edmund's and other open forums.

For instance... early on, folks were running the Prius until it ran out of gas! The dashboard likes up with all kinds of alarms and you run on battery until it too goes dead. Something the manual warns us NOT to do. So some clown reads that, runs over to Edmunds and posts, "I heard" or "I read" that the Prius stops on the highway! Well, DUH! What does any car do when it runs out of gas?

So take it all with a grain of salt because I'm really a big orange tomcat who needs a nap.

 

Actually, UNLIKE other cars, including I believe Honda hybrids, even if the ICE stops running, you still have electric power to get you at least safely to the shoulder.

 

I called my insurance company (Amica) and they said my 2005 Prius would cost 63.00 more than my 1997 Mazda. HARDLY a concern. GOR FOR IT Caludia! Anyone I have spoken to who knows an owner, RAVES about the car and thats ALL age brackets. Others have told you about Consumer Reports. 94% of the owners woukd buy the car again and it scored tops in realiabilty.

 

Oh and another thing Claudia forgot to mention. Being Mac people, we like to "Think Different". We have a license holder on the Accord from Apple that bears this saying. It will follow us if we get the Prius. It kinda fits I think. Before anyone goes on a rant, I am not dissing PC folks. You guys are in the majority and we can all be friends.

 

Wow! Kudos to you for all the digging around you had to do to find a #4 (they're worth the $$!)

Glad the info was of help. I really think you'll like this car -- and am so glad you got a chance to test drive it.

Your experience mimics mine -- thought the Prius was a great idea, but didn't fall completely in love until I had a chance to test drive it. The front visibility is so excellent, I felt like I was in an SUV -- but without the guilt.

Let us know when your Prius comes in! (And keep those questions coming!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Claudia\";p=\"87944)</div>

one small note from me... i had a bit of time getting used to the view out of the front of the prius because of the way the A-Pillar splits at the dashboard and that it's visually wider than the ones i was used to (97 Taurus for 30k miles). i had several close calls with pedestrians who didn't seem to get into my field of vision very well.

i've adapted to the car, and really love it! practically have my wife wired into trading her '98 camry on the hybrid camry when it arrives....

you'll really appreciate the chairlike front seats with the view they supply, and they're darned comfy, too...

happy motoring, one way or the other....
+af

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(plusaf\";p=\"90143)</div>

In vehicles with very sloped windshields and the 'extra leg' A pillar that supports them: You MUST stop at the white line. You must STOP at the white line. Besides being the legal thing to do, as you slowly approach the line and the crosswalk, people just at the edge of the road will frequently be invisible behind the A pillar. If you don't stop, and they keep walking, you may not see them. Of course they figure since they can see you, you CAN see them and will stop. This was true in my '95 Odyssey as well.

Maybe we need pedestrian signs that say "If you can't see my eyes, I can't see you" like the big trucks have for cars in their blind spots.

 

Claudia, we have a different situation. Last December we replaced our old Accord after 18 years and 235k miles of reliability with a new V6 Accord. We just love our new baby. We have a Prius white/#4 package on order to replace our Nissan pickup that just turned 237K miles. We are REALLY looking forward to our Prius, which is supposed to arrive in Port Newark the 1st week in June. Believe me when I tell you that you have a very happy problem, because you can't lose no matter which direction you go. If you decide to go with the Prius, from all that I have read, you'll be happy. If you decide to keep your Accord, you'll be happy. Then, when it's time to reconsider a Prius, you know, with Toyota's philosophy, the Prius will be even better than it is now. Claudia, you're in a win-win situation. Good luck!

 

Claudia - Good luck with your purchase. Due to the uniqueness of the car, there is simply more mis-info out there then normal. We (and others) were able to get a Prius in a week in Petersburg (a bit of a haul for you) but I think they've all been the higher package.
We're racking up miles quickly on ours, and no problems so far.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Claudia\";p=\"86914)</div>

It seems like this might be as good a time as any to go over what the EPA numbers are and, more important, what they aren't.

They aren't promises. They aren't contracts. They aren't even predictions or indicators. The are numbers that you, the consumer, are supposed to use to compare cars (and even then only cars in the same category). If Car A has an EPA highway number of, say, 35 and Car B has an EPA highway number of, oh, 26...this does not suggest that the owners of each car should be able to *expect* that performance from these cars. All those numbers allow you to reasonably conclude is that Car A would likely get better highway mileage than Car B. But, again, if Car A happened to be a Chevy Aveo and Car B was a Buick Rendezvous, those numbers would not "compute."

 

Claudia-

If your dealer falls through come on down to Durham NC, our dealer has quite a few on the lot waiting to be purchased and they're selling at MSRP. I don't think it's too much of a drive from Danville...

I'll give you the name of our salesperson who treated us very fairly if the situation arises.