Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
If I buy the Prius I do not want to take it to Toyota for maintenance. I have a mechanic that I like and trust. I asked him this question just to make sure. He agreed that maintenance on a hybrid is pretty much just like any other Toyota, however he did say if something uniquely hybrid related goes wrong, I may have to take it to Toyota, which I would expect anyway. He also said I might want to consider taking out an extended warranty, just in case. I also don't have too many concerns since from what I have read this car looks super as far as reliability is concerned, people seem to be having very few issues.
While we only have 22,000 miles on it, going 2-3 miles each multistop trip in the city, our problems have been front tire wear (before they raised the recommended air pressure), and replacement of the 12 v. battery three times to correct dead battery problems - twice on warranty and the last time to a larger battery. Since then, no problem. We've done the handful of recalls the 2001 Prius has had. Get 42.5 MPG consistently except 2-3 less in near freezing weather that we can get here. Best millage is in hilly trips.
We added a side strip to reduce door dings. The only ones we got are front higher truck doors. Have about three hood paint dings from thrown stones. (The car is bra-less).
The 2001 model brakes come on strong as the generator kicks in. I drove a 2007 Prius and they seem to have corrected that problem. I'd buy another Prius if I needed a new car.
My issue is being able to jack up the car on the one side so that both tires are in the air. I am not sure that the front jack point which is the one I would use for a single lifting point would be capable of that.
It does appear that if I use the rear jack point to lift there, then there looks to be enough "frame rail" immediately behind the lift point to place a jack stand. I would then move to the front lift point with the floor jack.
Has anyone done this with their Prius?
My huge beef is that while looking for the jack points and studying the layout, I found that the driver's side rear had already been deformed by improper lifting, and that was ONLY done by the selling dealership. That might actually be another part of a puzzle regarding my car, since it also had a scuff on the front valance panel, driver's side, and there is a 'rattle' that occurs primarily when the left front wheel hits a bump. So this might be yet another clue. I'll be sure to point out the bent metal when I finally do bring it in for the rattle.
Anyway, since the jack points are nothing more than a double notched strip of metal, does anyone also know of some sort of adapter that might be used with a floor jack so that the lift point is not bent, as was done at the dealership?
Any pointers on lifting the car at home for tire rotation would be greatly appreciated. I hate bringing a vehicle to a dealer or garage for any work, and my new vehicle is prime examale why.
Shortly after I bought a Honda Accord in 1999 I contacted Honda asking them about jack points, and they did fax me what sound like similar pages from a workshop manual. Maybe I'll try that again. Interesting that it shows six points.
At work I'd be able to scan them....
I kind of thought that there would be some sort of block.
Thanks for your input.
- $249 Fuel Injection service
- $452 valve adjustment service
- $160 Brake flush
My car runs fine. Are these services truly justifiable?
Thanks, Eunice
1. Completely unnecessary.
2. Might be needed, but only if the gasoline engine is not running smoothly or making unusual clattering noises, especially when cold. If you have no symptoms, do not bother. Way overpriced though for what you've quoted.
3. Not a bad idea, but again way overpriced. I just had it done for my Nissan Frontier pickup at my local independent shop. They used synthetic brake fluid, and it still cost only $69 total (central Virginia).
My advice -- run, don't walk, away from this dealership. There's a reason they're called "stealerships," you know.
But go look at one. Sit in it. Check out the room inside, yet the small size outside. Check out the many storage bins inside. Test drive it. If you are still wondering, wait. If you really like it, you can't really go wrong getting one with the mileage you drive. Service for the first few years is just oil and filter every 5000 mi. At 60,000 mi HSD fluid replacement is a good idea. Still not expensive. Brakes last most people three times as long as "normal" cars. So it's a low maintenance car.
If you like the style and size, you might consider a Honda Fit. It gets about 38 MPG (highway) without any hybrid components. The Sport model is better for highway (cruise control), and the price is under 18K, at least in LA.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/buyingleasing/most-fuelefficient-cars-20- 6/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=most fuel efficient cars
If you compare the "150-mile trip", which is mostly highway travel and probably the best comparison in your case, you'll find that the manual Fit or Yaris and the Prius rate 40 mpg, 41 mpg and 48 mpg, respectively. That means that in 30,000 miles you'll use about 750 gallons in the Fit, about 730 in the Yaris and about 625 in the Prius. Currently that 125 gallon difference is costs about $400 in California. That difference is bound to go up. It could easily be $600 by next summer.
Comparing purely "hwy mileage," they rate:
Fit 43 mpg = 700 gallon/year
Yaris 44 mpg = 680
Prius 50 mpg= 600
That's only an 80 gallon difference.
But the rub is that the Prius costs a lot more. Also, putting on that kind of mileage you'll be using up your critical battery warranty in just 3 years or so (depending on your state). You can check edmunds.com to compare depreciation. Remember that a car with 100k miles on it is considered perhaps 8 years old, regardless of its actual age.
As the Prius uses a lot of toxic nickel and is heavier (more materials) the environmental difference isn't very significant IF you are doing mostly highway driving. I'd be very tempted to get a Fit, preferably manual, for the particular kind of driving you do. Resale on the Fit should be very good if you feel like need to get the ultimate available mpg--Prius. But remember, you make your money buying smart, not selling smart.
We should be careful not to spread bogus stories about hybrids, whether intentional or not.
Note that there will be a hybrid Fit coming out next year (according to rumours). It is actually a cross between a Fit and another model not sold in North America. Please do compare the interior size of the Fit and the Prius, to be fair. They are actually not in the same size class.
No one is comparing the sizes. The original post was asking what might get good MPG on the highway. Size was not mentioned as a driving factor in that post or the responses. For a commuter car, the Fit is very good, and there are some advantages to ICE vehicles in certain situations.
One thing...the Fit seems much smaller to me than the Prius. Don't know about the actual size, but sitting in both of them convinces me that the Prius is more like a Camry size, and the Fit is quite a bit smaller feeling. Also lower to the ground.
obvious maintenance problems. What has been the history of aging Prius cars?
Where, if I go that way, would I go to find a reputable extended warranty?
The extended warranty you can get -through- Priuschat is from a Toyota Dealer. It is honored anywhere in North America. You can get a price quote from them, then go to a local dealer and see if they will compete. They still make lots of money at the price you can get through Priuchat. Just don't spoil it for others. Don't tell your local dealer who is quoting you that price. Just say "another Toyota dealer".
The question posed by Foxwalker was "The Climate control constantly decides when the air should be from the outside or recirculate. Even when I turn off Auto and do manual it changes back to outside air seemingly arbitrarily. I want it to stay inside except when I want the air to come from the outside. I change it to inside and I will be driving along and suddenly I will smell the road exhaust o the truck just ahead! "
My question is the same...How can I get it to stay where I put it? I want the vent closed and to stay closed unless I manually change it. I am really tired of suddenly breathing in exhaust.
Where do find this extended warranty mentioned and what it covers?
I'm pretty disappointed in Toyota overall. When I picked up my car there was 272 extra miles that were'nt there when I dropped it off. They completely denied responsibility for the miles, like it was my imagination.
I miss my regular old mechanic!
:mad:
I am assuming you mean the 12 volt battery, or was it the traction battery? What the heck happened to the fuel tank?
It's working now, except gas doesn't always register correctly in my gauge. I like the car, but I'm still a little skeptical of toyota. Thank god I had an extended warranty.
Can anyone tell me how to do this?
Sharon
2. Press the "Power" Button while pressing down the brake petal, (Prius goes to "Ready" mode.
3. Press the "ODO/Trip" button and select "ODO"on the display.
4. Press the "POWER" button to turn the car off.
5. Press and Hold the brake petal with your foot.
6. Press and hold the "ODO/TRIP" button. Press the "POWER" button., (Prius goes to "Ready" mode.
7. Continue to hold the "ODO/TRIP" button, with in a few seconds the "ODO" display on the dash will flash "------" and then for 1 second the display will read "000000" then,the Maintenance Reminder Light will go out and the "ODO" now displays your correct odometer mileage.
8. Release the "ODO/TRIP" button.
9. The Maintenance Light is now Reset (off).
On the topic of the Touch Screen, I must add that I am absolutely thrilled with the Prius unified controls. The Prius offers one-touch selection of optimal heating and defrosting. In the Gillig transit bus that I drive ten hours a day, I have eight toggle switches and other heating controls on both sides of the steering wheel and overhead on my left side that are supposed to provide climate control. :lemon: The side window defrost system is so poorly designed that cold air, wet with rider perspiration, circulates over the windows to build thick frost that blocks visibility of the rear-view mirrors on both sides of the bus, creating unsafe operating conditions. :sick: I wish that Toyota would sell hybrid transit vehicles because I know that Toyota would never produce such a poorly-designed bus.
I live in New York, specifically Long Island. Purchased my vehicle in april '08. I have heard horror stories about how this car does not perform well in the snow. I can't imagine that Toyota left this part for us to struggle with, after designing such a smart car, Can anyone shed some light as to the validity of the Prius proven reputation of this car in the average snow of the Island. What is the concensus out there. This is a very important thread, and winter not so far away, we could all use some guidance, Please, share some serious stories,snow related good or bad....
Thank you
Rolin, the Prius Gal from Long Island.
Again, from living in a snow-belt, a good set of snow-specific tires can and does make MUCH more of a significant difference in winter handling than ANY other change you can make. AWD, 4wd, Traction control, etc. nothing makes as much of a difference in winter driving as getting good snow tires.
Hope this helps.
Ken
The ticket will be dismissed when I produce a statement certifying the light is in working order, but I am concerned about this being a recurring problem as it has happened before.
Does this sound like an short in the electrical system,or a loose connection, and if so would it be covered under the extended warranty?