I'm looking to be a first time Prius owner and found a '04 base model Prius for $15,000. It has 39,000 miles and is in excellent shape inside and out. Is the '04 model trust-worthy at this price?
It can be, but you should research the VIN to confirm that it is not a salvage. A Prius is complicated; so much can go wrong and then be un-fixed in a salvage situation that it'll give you the willies. For the same reason, assuming that it is not a salvage you should then pay a Prius certified tech (most of them are at dealers) to thoroughly inspect the car before buying, to confirm that everything is in order and to confirm that all applicable recall items and TSBs have been installed. The 2004 had a couple of these.
