best year 2004-2007 ?

I'll let someone speak towards the specific packages that are available (i'm Canadian so they're a bit different ).

But regarding used car reliabilities:



It might be best to look at 2005+ (from what I hear, 2006's are probably your best bet).

 

Would be wise to avoid models with HID headlamps...

Do a search on many threads on this issue.

I wish mine did not have HID's. Unfortunately, Toyota was not shipping package 3's during the shortage to my region last Summer (IOW, they knew could upsell into pack5's instead).

 

Here are all the eBrochures for the 2004-2007 Prius (worth checking out to see the different standard equipment and available option packages for each model year):

04_prius.pdf
05_prius.pdf
06_prius.pdf
07_prius.pdf

I would get a 2006 Package #4 or a 2007 Package #2 because:

1. The 2004 and 2005 model years have had more issues, such as:

-- MFD defect,

-- a reportedly worse traction control that cut power on slippery inclines more frequently than subsequent model years,

-- painted burgundy colored interior panels, and

-- melting black upper tailights.

2. The 2006 Package #4 and 2007 Package #2 are the lowest option package #'s for those model years that have these features:

-- front seat side airbags (protect torso of front seat occupants),

-- front and rear seats side curtain airbags (protect head of front and rear seat occupants),

-- backup camera (IMO, it's very useful and a good safety feature because it enables you to see what would otherwise be a blindspot),

-- Vehicle Stability Control (some say that this is the greatest safety development since the seatbelt),

-- Aux Input Jack for iPod, etc., and

-- these model year/option packages do not have the problematic HID headlights.

 

We have 2-2007 year # 2 pkg. They have been great and just got better with new tires (Falken 195/60/15). These ride and grip MUCH better.
We did add a 6 cd Toyota changer @ approx $600 installed.

Carl

 

Pat Wong is the expert around here regarding emerging component failures in this model generation if bought before Toyota issued fixes, aka what we can expect to go wrong as the years pass.

• The '04 has MFD failures related to a single poor solder on the circuit board. I think it costs about $400 to fix by swapping the broken one for a fixed device. I don't know the failure rate, but doubt it reaches 1%. If the MFD has not broken yet, I don't know if progressive failures are going to accrue.

• '04 - '05 (I think ?) radiator coolant pump failures.

• Entire generation inverter coolant pump failures.

• All generation HID failures. DIY bulb replacement is not expensive, dealer repair is. I suspect that HIDs run all the time as DRLs are most of the failures.

As you can tell from the CR table, this is a remarkably modest list, has low failure rates, and the fixes are not horribly expensive. The car to car variation in seller offers is going to overshadow this list. One thing I would do is either buy a low mileage car, or only buy a high mileage car if the transaxle fluid has been exchanged since a transaxle failure is a high $$$ item.

One approach that might be reasonable is to buy an '04 or '05 car, and pre-emptively replace the coolant pumps and put in new fluids, and a new 12V if still original. I think that will add less than $1000 to the price of the car and goes quite a ways in obviating the differences in prior owner habits and model year component failure rate differences. Changing the transaxle fluid and oil and 12V is an easy DIY that saves probably close to $500.

 

I put Falken Zi-Ex on my '04 Prius in 2006. The initial grip was fun (think cornering) but I took a 15% hit on fuel economy for 20k miles, and the tyres wore quickly and unevenly despite alignment, rotations, and maintenance of pressures.

 

The MFD was upgraded for 2006. Unless the price is right I wouldn't get anything older.

 

Regarding one of your desires in your original post, note that no model year of the United States Gen II had EV Mode. You'd have to add that switch yourself, but from what I've read here it doesn't seem to be worth it.

 

What cars was this on?

The 2004-2005 dash panels and upper door panel were smooth painted plastic whereas the 2006+ had a textured plastic that looks almost like ABS plastic. That was a huge turn off for me but the fact the 2006+ were a bit more reliable might make up for that. My 2005 (late production) has had zero issues beyond a burned out tail light bulb ($0.88). My HIDs work without issue as well.

 

I was referring to the 2004-2005 dash panels and upper door panel smooth burgundy colored painted plastic.

No doubt the 2004-2005 are reliable cars -- their overall reliability rating is in the highest rating category among cars for those model years.

 

I figured as much but that sounds misleading since the panels are not burgandy. They are black with a hint of metal flake in it but is usually only visible when the panel is wet from washing/whiping it down.

 

Whoa, are they really black? They sure look like burgundy. Especially outdoors in light, and even in the dark photos in the 2005 eBrochure:

05_prius.pdf

 

Pretty much. If you see it in bright sunshine then the panels can take on a slightly brown hue and you MIGHT see some of the sparkles from the metalic flake but that is about it. The only time I can see any hint of red is when I get the panel wet with a rag and then I can see the little red sparkles but as soon as it dries that all goes away and it looks black again.

I'm going to detail the inside of the car today and I'll get a couple pics. I won't be able to post them till tomorrow though as my USB cable is at work.

*EDIT*

According to the brochure the Ivory interior comes with a brown dash and the grey interior comes with a burgandy dash! I never got to look at a grey colored interior because the Sacramento dealerships only had 2 cars available when I bought mine. lol So I guess we are both right. It just depends on your main interior color.

 

What an informative thread! I never saw this before...I guess I need to venture outside of the "newbie" section....

I guess I did well then in buying a package #3 2007 model.....9 days of ownership so far and I'm still on cloud nine.....Thanks Boo for the 2007 pdf....!!

Frank D.

 

Whoa Frank, you got it? Congrats.

BTW, here's the 2007 Owner's Manual on one pdf file: 2007 Prius Owners Manual.pdf

Comes in really handy because you can do word and phrase searches. Otherwise, you're left with the Index of the Owner's Manual which, as you may have already discovered, leaves a lot to be desired.