Buy or not to buy, that is the question.

58,000 miles is nothing on a 6 year old car.

 

Agreed, that mileage is really nothing to worry about for that year vehicle. I wouldn't let that deter you.

The "ex-fleet" thing might concern me a bit more. How was is used exactly? A "fleet" vehicle has lots of meanings: company car, rental car, etc. A big difference if the car was driven as a rental or by the local church ladies a few times a week. Know what I mean? Also, some things may be out of warranty, but the battery is good for many more miles IIRC.

I would ask to have it looked over by an independent mechanic. But remember, it's a Toyota - that means it's damn reliable!

Good luck!

 

There is something wrong here. A second gen. Prius is a 2004 to 2009 car. A 2003 Prius is usually a first gen one. See my avatar on the left which is a GII Prius. All GIIs (2004 to 2009) look like that.

If the car offered is indeed a GII, make sure it had the steering box defect addressed and the display (MFD) perhaps too. Those were the two things that failed in early model GIIs.

 

you mean Gen 2...

 

Not sure what you mean by "shudder:"

If you mean the engine is quiet and suddenly makes funny noises then that's normal.

If you mean the brakes are grabby, that is not normal.

 

Maybe the shuddering happens when the gas engine is turning off/on? There should be no drivetrain vibration while you are actually moving backwards since you are under electric power only.

In North America, we have the concept of model years which is not the same as calendar years. Thus 2004 model year vehicles usually would commence sales in October 2003 and end in September 2004. Sometimes this general rule is not followed, for example with the 2010 Prius which started North American sales in March 2009 and will continue to be sold for more than a 12 month period...

However it sounds like in Europe and Australia, the calendar year of manufacture is used, not model year.

 

If you have the heater on the engine will start straight away, being in Melbourne this will be the case more often than not.
Not sure about the shudder, but you will notice slight shakes when the engine cuts in and out.

$17k is a good price, they are currently selling at government auction for about $20k in SA.

To our American friends, in Australia we refer to the year of manufacture rather than model year. So a Generation II Prius can be a 2003 model as production commenced in late 2003. The practice of bringing out a car in mid 2009 and touting it as next years model was banned here, it is deceptive. I actually find it ammusing that it still isn't December 2009 and a lot of you already think you have next years car. Funny because they would have started designing the current Prius back in 2005/6 and would currently be working on the next Prius while you are driving next year's car.

 

Don't do that, it wastes energy and fuel.

 

Hi udor, another Aussie here. I recently bought a secondhand 2004 model Gen2. My advice is that the price on the car you're considering is not really that great and that you might be able to find a better deal.

Granted there are not so many Pruis in Australia (compared with N.America) so the S/H market is a bit thin, but it's still a buyers market out there. One that I looked at had been on the dealers lot for 17 weeks and believe me that by then they were quite keen to move it.

I can post some more details of prices of what I looked at and eventually bought when I get home later tonight.

 

Ok I didn't notice that. What extra features does that model i-tech have?