New owner of a 99

[Ashley]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I just bought a 99 Japanese import on Thursday, and I would love some more information on it. First of all, I don't have a user's manual, I'm not sure if it's at the dealership or what, but if not, is there an online version, or one that can be ordered from Toyota? A lot of my displays and buttons are in Japanese, so it's a bit tricky! Also, do you know if the 99 has a mpg display? Thanks for any tips you could give me!

[mcbrunnhilde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ashley @ Apr 6 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]419278[/snapback]</div>

Hi everyone,

My husband and I just bought a 99 Japanese import on Thursday, and I would love some more information on it. First of all, I don't have a user's manual, I'm not sure if it's at the dealership or what, but if not, is there an online version, or one that can be ordered from Toyota? A lot of my displays and buttons are in Japanese, so it's a bit tricky! Also, do you know if the 99 has a mpg display? Thanks for any tips you could give me!
[/b]

Here's a Yahoo group targeted to the 1998-2000 model, which was only sold in Japan and not exported:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Mk1_Prius/

I'm sure the group would be able to answer any questions you might have and help troubleshoot any problems.

[Delta Flyer]

Congratulations - you should definitely hang on to this car as a collector's item!

I drive a Honda Insight bought in Sept 2000, and you are the first to have an older hybrid!

If you want a 3rd-party display to help out - consider ScanGage ( see bulk order thread at PriusChat) Just plug it in to your OBD II socket. Only thing I'm not sure about is does ScanGage do UK mpg?

[Ashley]

Thanks, I've signed up to that group, and my registration is waiting for approval. I'm a bit afraid I might have gotten into a bad situation with this car now, I didn't know how rare they are, and on the front page of that yahoo group it says they're very hard to get repaired outside of Japan. I am sooooo not a car expert, so I'm afraid this might be too much hassle for me. Or am I maybe overreacting?

[mcbrunnhilde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ashley @ Apr 7 2007, 11:21 AM) [snapback]419478[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, I've signed up to that group, and my registration is waiting for approval. I'm a bit afraid I might have gotten into a bad situation with this car now, I didn't know how rare they are, and on the front page of that yahoo group it says they're very hard to get repaired outside of Japan. I am sooooo not a car expert, so I'm afraid this might be too much hassle for me. Or am I maybe overreacting?
[/b]

I'm sure that, like other Toyotas, it's basically a very reliable car and probably will never need repair!! If you still feel like it's too much to handle, is there any way you can back out of the deal? If not, I'm sure the Mk1 group can address some of your fears about your purchase. Good luck, and I hope all goes well for you!!!

[daveleeprius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ashley @ Apr 7 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]419478[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, I've signed up to that group, and my registration is waiting for approval. I'm a bit afraid I might have gotten into a bad situation with this car now, I didn't know how rare they are, and on the front page of that yahoo group it says they're very hard to get repaired outside of Japan. I am sooooo not a car expert, so I'm afraid this might be too much hassle for me. Or am I maybe overreacting?
[/b]

I wouldn't think that a 99 would be hard to get repaired. It should not differ too much from the 2000 and 2001 models, which were imported to the US and the UK I would imagine. As another poster pointed out, it *is* a Toyota, so with regular maintenance this should be a good car for you.

Would you mind telling us what you paid for it? I'm interested in these older Prius, and have a friend here in Seattle who may be looking for one in the next year or two and doesn't want to buy a new one. She likes the older body style too as she lives in the city and wants a smaller car.

Dave

[Ashley]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mcbrunnhilde @ Apr 7 2007, 10:26 PM) [snapback]419541[/snapback]</div>

I'm sure that, like other Toyotas, it's basically a very reliable car and probably will never need repair!! If you still feel like it's too much to handle, is there any way you can back out of the deal? If not, I'm sure the Mk1 group can address some of your fears about your purchase. Good luck, and I hope all goes well for you!!!
[/b]

Hopefully you're right! It's only got 23,000 miles, so it shouldn't have any major problems, I would imagine. Hopefully the MK1 group can ease my worries, because I really want to keep the car....I want a hybrid, but I really doubt I could afford a newer one. Is the 2001 model the first one sold outside of Japan? Maybe there would be an affordable one of those. But I do like the car and definately don't want to give up on it yet! I'm making it my mission to learn everything I can about it, and I think if I try hard enough, I can master it. I really want to learn to change the oil myself, so I can make sure it's always close to perfect. I'm also trying to perfect my driving skills, so I can get the best possible mileage. Any tips there?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveLeePrius @ Apr 7 2007, 10:43 PM) [snapback]419545[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't think that a 99 would be hard to get repaired. It should not differ too much from the 2000 and 2001 models, which were imported to the US and the UK I would imagine. As another poster pointed out, it *is* a Toyota, so with regular maintenance this should be a good car for you.

Would you mind telling us what you paid for it? I'm interested in these older Prius, and have a friend here in Seattle who may be looking for one in the next year or two and doesn't want to buy a new one. She likes the older body style too as she lives in the city and wants a smaller car.

Dave
[/b]

I really hope you're right! On the MK1 group it says that it's really hard to find a dealership with the proper diagnostic equipment, which seems so weird, since it's still just a Prius!

I paid £6,000 for it, basically $12,000, although I've seen some with higher mileage for as low as £4,500. I'm not sure if the prices would be the same in the states, but I wouldn't imagine they'd be too much different.

[Ashley]

I don't suppose anyone could tell me by looking at the pictures if this is an NW10 or 11? If the dealership would be kind enough to let me return mine, this would be a good alternative if it was an 11
http://www.buyyourcar.co.uk/Spec/TOYOTA/PR...TV33680770.aspx

[mcbrunnhilde]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ashley @ Apr 7 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]419567[/snapback]</div>

I don't suppose anyone could tell me by looking at the pictures if this is an NW10 or 11? If the dealership would be kind enough to let me return mine, this would be a good alternative if it was an 11
http://www.buyyourcar.co.uk/Spec/TOYOTA/PR...TV33680770.aspx
[/b]

If you look at a close-up of the side view of the car, the wheels are exactly the same as the car on the Yahoo Mk1 home page. The NHW11 version (at least the US one) had wheels with 8 spokes. Also, the bumpers in your link have a dark strip going horizontally across, and that wasn't there on the NHW11.

Ah....I just looked at that website, and it states that this one is a 2000 model year (the "Reg. Plate" line).

[Betelgeuse]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ashley @ Apr 7 2007, 02:21 PM) [snapback]419478[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, I've signed up to that group, and my registration is waiting for approval. I'm a bit afraid I might have gotten into a bad situation with this car now, I didn't know how rare they are, and on the front page of that yahoo group it says they're very hard to get repaired outside of Japan. I am sooooo not a car expert, so I'm afraid this might be too much hassle for me. Or am I maybe overreacting?
[/b]

Did you ask the person who sold it to you where he/she got it serviced? It seems like that would be the logical place to start, since they probably had this car for a number of years.