Buy a 2009 or let them work the bugs out (buy a 2008 instead)???

Welcome oceanrhythms. The first really good bit is narrowing your choice to a Prius !

The 2nd bit, which one, is just a matter of personal choice; the more you can afford, the newer the car can be and the more bells and whistles you can have.

I think after 11 years Toyota have go the tech bits right, so there is no reason to assume the 2009 models will be cranky, but they may be harder to come by, given that demand for the Prius in USA is increasing for exactly the same reason as you are now looking at acquiring one.

I got my Prius with relative ease compared to some of the posts I have seen on PC. I think over the next few weeks you may just change your views and values and just get what model you woudl like, opting for the nearest fit.

Sorry I can't help you on pricing, but if our UK Prius were under $25,000 I would be ecstatic (mine cost south of $40,000 - package 6 equivalent).

Good luck in your quest

 

My guess is that the 2009 model year Prius won't be much different from 2008. You'll have to wait until the 2010 model year if you want a Prius with new technology. Who knows how reliable that new model will be.

If you want a 2008, supplies are getting short so I suggest you buy sooner vs. later. I understand that dealers are not discounting, due to the lack of inventory.

The HID headlights are quite expensive to replace (hundreds of dollars) when they fail. Thankfully I have had no problems so far with 51K miles on my 2004.

The upgraded JBL sound system is really nothing to write home about. If good sound is important to you then it makes sense to buy a lower package and upgrade the stereo.

 

One of my fog lamps broke and it was about $350 to replace. I hate to think how much an HID light would cost to replace. I have them, and hope I don't have to find out.

 

I agree with the quote above.

Lots of people keep thinking "2009 Prius = nextgen Prius".

Most likely the 2009 is a carry-over of the 2008 with minor changes.

Next Gen probably begins in 2009 as a 2010 model.

Maybe there should be two forum sections... one "2009 Prius" and one "Next Generation Prius"

 

I agree there are no bugs to work out. Get a 2008 and the best package you can afford. If gas prices continue to go up you probably will have a hard time finding a 2009 or any model for that matter. I bought my '08 two months ago and there were plenty around. Now there is a three month waiting list in WI area and the prices have gone up. I don't think there will be any major changes to wait around for in the '09 and they will cost more. Besides you don't want to waste time that you could be enjoying a great Prius!!

 

YES! Every time a friend of mine is in the car with me at night I hear "I LOVE these headlights".

They are a lot brighter and whiter. There is only 1 bulb per side - 'high beam' means the shutter is lifted so the light shines farther. There were reports here of some cars having the headlights misaligned from the get go but they were a very small number. I am very careful to drop them to low beam when I have cars coming at me or passing me. I have had HID Prii behind me (like my wife ) and not had a problem with low beam HIDs in the mirror. The full size pickups and SUVs with their lights mounted at the same level as our rear view mirrors are a much bigger problem. We need a law that says all headlights must be mounted the same height off the road (and use the CAR height, not the PU/SUV height!!)

I don't know how long they last ( at least 68K miles so far ) but I did find this web site. The page is for HIDs used in 2007 and later Prii. The price is $329 per PAIR. Presuming they are like regular headlights, might as well replace both when one goes because the other isn't far behind.
HID-D4S Bulbs

I find the 'fog lights' to be useless. At night, in fog, in snow, doesn't matter. They go on ONLY with the low beams and I can barely see where they hit the road. I am 6'2" so it isn't like my angle to the road is low. I figure they will be useful as REALLY low beams when an HID finally does go, until I can get it replaced.

Now this is totally unscientific but I have come across a deer on the Interstate at night twice and both times the animal kept moving. I don't know if the brighter white lights have less of a "deer in the headlights" effect or I just got lucky. One of the times, I saw the deer just after I dropped from high to low beam and the deer crossed at the distant edge of the low beam. The other time I was on low beams. Both times the deer looked at me while it kept trotting across the road (only 2 lanes in VT). :thumb:

I don't know the price difference between a #2 and a #4 but I like having the 6 CD in dash changer and self dimming rear view mirror as well. (yes, I am old technology, no iPods or whatever). I see that the #2 has the SmartKey and VSC which were only in higher packages in 2004. I don't see side and side curtain listed so I guess it must be standard in all the packages now.

 

I recently bought a Package 2 Spectra blue. I am very happy with the Package. The P#2 sound system is VERY GOOD, And I am a bit fussy about my music. The Pioneer reciever plays MP3 and WMA cd's which can yield about 10 hours of music per CD. The center counsel has a power outlet and input jack for your IPOD and it sounds great through the sound system. P#4 sound added 2 more tweeters in the rear doors and the 6CD player, not needed if you make MP3 disk or use the Ipod connection ( no readouts for the Ipod on the screen- Hey i only put my favorite music on it anyway). I read on this forum that the auto dimming mirror didn't always work well with the bar in the rear window, and after driving a bit at night I can see what they mean- the car behind you- their headlights are often blocked by the bar and the dimming wouldn't work. You also get bluetooth phone in the package if that helps. In the end it will probably boil down to what package is available when you start looking. In the NW we had to wait a week for delivery, but other areras are taking longer.

 

IMO you'd be very lucky to have a choice. The 2008 model year is over. Good luck finding one.

 

I went with the #2 and I am very happy with it. I used the savings to buy an 80 gig iPod and take a canoe trip in the arctic. The iPod works great. I have my entire CD collection on the iPod and 80 percent of the space is free.

 

Stop blabbing and just buy damn thing!

 

Buy a 2009 or let them work the bugs out?

GM should be so fortunate to have so few bugs. After all, we are talking Toyota here.