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Opinion-What year built Prius are the Best to buy and what are the Worse year not to buy?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ski.dive, Sep 8, 2020.

  1. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

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    Opinion-What year built Prius are the Best to buy and what are the Worse year not to buy?
     
  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    They are all superb, so the newer the better. Various generations have their own quirks. Since, imho, those quirks cancel each other, the newest should last the longest and be the safest.

    Then there are all the personal preferences that can't be put into "better" and "worse" columns.
     
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    For the most answers you're better off Googling your question with key word "Priuschat."

    This question has come up again and again on here and you're likely to not get very many comments. Also it has to do with your budget...

    For myself and my budget a 2009 Prius, the final year of Gen2 is the very best my money can buy.
     
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Yup! This is how I always start my Prius-related investigations. Gives way better results than the forum's search tool.

    As to the original question, I agree with you. The answer will be different for everyone. Depends on what you want most.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    2008, 2010
     
  6. rogerthat

    rogerthat Active Member

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    2010 had numerous issues, do you mean 2009, the last year of the Gen 2
     
  7. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Do you guys think Gen4 is as 'overbuilt' as Gen 2/3? There was some talk a while back ( can't remember where ) that part of the reason Gen2/3 are so reliable is because of the simplicity of the transmission, etc...and those parts that are there are 'overbuilt'. I seem to remember Weber Auto mentioning something to that effect on one of his teardown videos as well.

    What 'overbuilt' means is Subject to interpretation, of course.
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    On Gen2, I feel qualitatively like 2009 and maybe 2008 had better HV battery/reliability. There were so many more 2008/2009 Prii sold, that if the battery reliability was not better, I think we'd have a bumper crop of dead batts, yet we hear little about it.

    On Gen3, 2010 was not so hot. Later in the run about 2015/2016 they made some mods to improve the small overlap crash test, which was a new test at the time.
     
  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    They're all priced as if the batteries are healthy and new, which is obviously not true.

    So get the youngest one you can afford, it'll be closer to true, and you'll get more for your money.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sorry, i meant best and worst, to answer o/p's question.
     
  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    If by "overbuilt" you mean designed for reliability, I would say probably yes. Gen 4 seems to be at least as reliable as earlier models. I would say that mostly it's more refined so that it's more comfortable and handles better without negatively affecting the car's design goal of extreme efficiency.
     
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  12. rogerthat

    rogerthat Active Member

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    My bad, I should've read the original question!
     
  13. The Lizard King

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    Why 2008 over 2009?
     
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Because he likes the number 8 better...
     
  15. The Lizard King

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    Seems legit.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just going by the reports here, i think they slacked off a bit in the final year
     
  17. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Ooh do tell... What specifically about the 2009 was not as good as 2008? This is the first time I heard this and am eager to learn more?
     
  18. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

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    My 2008 has big mileage on the clock and still going, so that says a lot for the ones delivered to Australia anyway. Apparently the gen 3 has a stronger transmission with a more complex planetary gearset but that would really only relate to wanting to convert to full electric as far as I see it.
    My 2006 with the additional plug in battery pack is great as well, just not as many miles to prove how indestructible or otherwise the whole assembly was in the earlier model. It also has all the bracing plates to stiffen it up and better rear springs to carry the weight, certainly out handles the 2008 but then it has had a lot of wear and tear so it has to get a bit of credit given there.

    T1 Terry
     
  19. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    I have a 2010 and it has had no issues. It all depends on how the car has been taken care of.
     
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  20. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Yes 2010 was not so bad except there a few issues such as oil loss I am thinking.