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Do I have the most well traveled Prius in the world?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by pmelc1, Jun 29, 2024.

  1. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2023
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    Location:
    NJ USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My 2006 Prius has been with me to 50 countries so far (I myself around 70), including:

    46 of 48 states of contiguous US (all but Iowa and Oklahoma), soon to be 48; this includes a 30,000 mile, 10 month continuous road-trip in the US (and Canada), mainly the Western US. (I realized years later this would have been a Guinness World Record for longest road trip in one country, but at the time was not aware it was a record / wasn't thinking about it. I also may have DQ'd part of the mileage by entering Canada, though at that point I may have already exceeded the record. The current record is around 35k.)

    27 of 32 states of Mexico (except BC, BCS, Sonora, Colima, Zacatecas)
    Canada (2 provinces, AB & BC, soon to be 7)
    Central America: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
    40 countries of Europe:
    Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France, Monaco, Germany, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Moldova, Greece, Turkey

    I shipped the Prius to Europe in 2014 with plans to travel around the continent and sell it after 1 year. I ended up staying there for 2.5 years and living in a few different places, and since it had some dents and dings and wouldn't get much at resale (the used market in Europe was lower at that time), and intending to keep it for the long haul, I decided to ship it back in 2016. Cost was about $2500 each way.

    I got it repainted in Chihuahua Mexico a couple weeks ago. $650 for significant bodywork (took one guy almost a full day) and a high-quality paint job. The original paint was a gunmetal grey, but when I got it repainted at Maaco in 2016-17, they botched the color formula and it came out lighter, but I ended up liking it more. Other modifications are 5% tint in the back and 35% up front.

    Proof of travel includes photos, gas receipts / bank records, export and import records, etc.

    If I don't have the most well traveled in the world, wondering if I have the most traveled Gen2, which IMO is sort of its own beast.

    (Anyone from Toyota who's interested in talking to me for a 'Go Places' ad or something, I'd be interested; I am loyal to the brand and also have a 1989 Toyota pickup still running great, and a '98 Tacoma with 300k)
     
    #1 pmelc1, Jun 29, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2024
  2. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2023
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    Location:
    NJ USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  3. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
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    Location:
    Sausalito
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Four
    Wow..... you must have an encyclopedia of stories to tell.

    Yes, you may have the most well traveled Prius :)
     
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,489
    5,056
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    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    What are the miles and major mechanical repairs?
     
  5. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2023
    35
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    Location:
    NJ USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Mileage is probably around 225-235k. My combimeter was out for 7 years so I don't know for sure.

    Unless I'm forgetting anything repairs have been limited to the following

    -Brakes 2018 (originals lasted 130k)
    -Inverter and mechanical water pumps 2022-2023
    -New set of ignition coils 2023 (only 1-2 were bad but replaced all 4)
    -Combimeter 2024 (started failing part-time around 2014, would not work 99% of time by 2017ish)
    -Brakes and shocks 2024 (they were getting low and replaced as preventative maintenance prior to Latin America trip)
    -ABS module failed around 2014-15. I replaced the module with a used module and it appears to work intermittently / warning light has gone on and off. Car brakes fine without it and in emergencies I will use e-brake and regular brakes together as a precaution.

    Other than that, just tires and batteries. May be forgetting one or two small things. Car needed zero mechanical repairs for the first 12 years of ownership even after crossing the ocean twice.

    Hybrid battery is starting to go. Car still drives fine and I get good mileage (45mpg average, sometimes in the 50s) but the replace-battery warning light will come on occasionally and I will go down to 1 bar in hilly areas. When it goes I plan to get a remanufactured one for $1200ish.

    If engine or transmission ever goes I have a spare motor and transmission that I got from a Prius I bought on Copart for $1k, mainly for doors and body panels.
     
    #5 pmelc1, Jun 29, 2024
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2024
    bisco likes this.
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,047
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    does she bern any oil?
     
  7. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2023
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    Location:
    NJ USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes; I'd estimate about a quart per 1500-1800 miles or so, and I use Mobile 1 High Mileage oil. Have always used full synthetic. Really can't say how much, but it's probably between 1-2k miles depending on driving conditions.
     
    bisco likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that's really excellent for the mileage