Looking for my first Prius

There are many differences in the Prius, it's quite difficult to figure out. From year to year, the packages contain different variations of equipment. What options are you looking for? To narrow your search, seeing you drive 70,000 miles a year, is the warranty important to you?

Also in terms of equipment, what is important to you? leather? navigation?

The cars come with a basic warranty of 3 year/ 36k miles when new. The hybrid battery will have a warranty of either 8 year/100k miles or 10 year/150k miles depending on what state you live in. With those figures, looks like you will go through the hybrid warranty in no more than 3 years on a new car. But many people have noticed on here that the hybrid batteries tend to wear out over time vs mileage. So basically a late model with 100k miles will fare better than a 2005 with 70k miles when it comes to the battery.

So you decide what's your best option and maybe the members here can narrow down what model would be something you would look at.

 

Google it, Vic.

 

Realistically you cannot be looking at gen 1 or gen 2 vehicle up to 2009. You put on way too many miles. If you were to put on 70,000 miles a year and want a car that will last more than 3 years and be somewhat problem free, you would have to start off new! Leather and Navigation isn't necessary, you would look for a Prius II or Prius III

 

You drive 70k miles a year.

What are you doing in/with the car? Do you need to carry passengers? Lots of stuff? Go on vacations with the family?

What is your size?

How important is the trade off between room, comfort, mileage, price?

What are you willing to spend?

Where do you live (weather considerations)?

Many Prius models are used as taxis so 70k a year is well proven. Ignore the hybrid battery, they seem to last for 250k plus. Normal "starting" batteries get replaced just like any car. Brakes last longer.

Prius models range from small to mid-sized to station wagon. Lets see if you can narrow things down to one basic model.

 

Mike's questions are good.

Here is a post I made about who should NOT own a Prius.

considering a Prius | PriusChat

It also lists the generations.

Prius c (for city) small urban car, 2 real seats, two seats for young children, easy to park, best mileage at low speeds.

Prius Liftback fits 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children. Better mileage on the highway than the c.

Plug In Prius pricey, but great mileage. Very good mileage on short trips. (about 10 miles of electric range)

Prius v (station wagon) fits 5 adults, lots of cargo, 10 MPG less than the c or liftback.

The Lift back was new in 2010 (gen 3), c, PIP, and v are new in 2012.

 

Kind of hard to give too much of an answer here as the OP states they are looking for their 1st Prius, but no more information.

Are we talking used? New?

If you just want to learn about the current "Prius Family" of vehicles, I'd start at Toyota's website. That would give you information about the Standard Prius, The Prius v and The Prius c and outline the clear differences between these family members.

If you are talking "used" then the decision pretty much get's reduced to what Generation?

But not knowing anything about the OP's budget or desires, really makes answering any questions difficult.

The Prius v...is a larger Prius, The Prius c- is a compact Prius. Both models haven't been out long enough to the point where any used one you would look at would be a "newer" used vehicle. Can't remember the exact release dates of both models specifically. But they are both post 2010 releases. So none of them are "Old".

If you want a Standard Prius? You can go as far back as the 2010 model year and be getting a 3rd Gen Prius. 2009 model year was the last of the Gen 2.

There are numerous differences between Prius "Family Members" The model v, and c...and Prius Generations. But the first start would be knowing what you want....Used, Newer Used, Older Used, -NEW- and/or what Prius you might be interested in.

You can glean that information and MORE from Prius Chat. But first step I would think would just be to familiarize yourself with the "current" Prius family of vehicles, and I think a simply place to do that is at Toyota's website.

 

2004 to 2009 is Gen 2
2010 on is Gen 3

Toyota has been inconsistent with model numbers some year are roman numerals, some are numbers, some are names of numbers so III, 3, and Three are all the same trim level.

 

So I think you're probably looking for a standard Prius Liftback 2010 or 2011 (Gen3).
All the Prius c, v, and Plug-in are relatively newer versions so not available in the years you want.
Alabama is not a CARB state, so the regular hybrid battery warranty is 100000 miles or 8-yrs.
If its Toyota certified used they may give you 12-month warranty (but probably not at your miles/yr).
The Prius should really pay off with big fuel savings at the miles you are putting on. Good choice for you.

 

Yep.
Toyota did a great job turning the "Prius Family" into a shell game of different Generations, Trim Levels and Vehicle Designations.
But the good news? They are all called "Prius".

Even I have forgotten exactly how Toyota prescribes designation. I refer to my Prius as a "Standard" Prius. It's a Gen 3, Prius Two...or Prius 2...or Prius II or Prius (3-1) ? Whatever....I like it....

I would just keep researching. Narrow done exactly what you want and can afford. Then you can worry about minutia of trim designations. But basically 3 types of Prius....Standard, Compact and Larger....and the Larger and Compact haven't existed long enough to have a deep used car history.

But basically...the higher the trim level....the more potential bells and whistles.

 

If you buy privately, get it inspected by a Toyota dealership or a mechanic who has experience with the Prius. I personally stay away from independent used dealers. While the Prius is known for reliability, any problem could cost you a lot of money.

 

I owned a second-generation Prius (2007), bought new and driven 90,000 miles before it got totaled when I was rear-ended by a full-size pickup truck. I wasn't even scratched; all that safety stuff did exactly what it was supposed to do.

I replaced it with a used third-generation Prius (2010) that had about 43,000 miles on it. After driving it some 3,000 miles, I can say I like it better in every way over the second-generation model. The thing I like best? The driver's seat. The 2007's seat was very uncomfortable and I needed a lower-back cushion. The 2010's seat is far more comfortable and I don't need any additional support for my back.

Note, though, that I haven't driven this car more than about 45 minutes at a stretch. It might not be so good after 10 hours in the saddle.