Someone has a 2009, and I Get a 2005, What do they have that I don't?

i had an '04 and '08, didn't notice anything substantila. both great cars, same basic in and out, same mpg's etc.

 

From my point of view, most 2005s should have a worn-out traction battery right about now. At least some 2009s have approximately four more years to them. Replacement is a few thousand bucks when done right, so that's worth knowing.

They're all old enough to show individual characteristics more easily than those engineered into them in the first place.

 

Okay so The '04 and '05 have to me the nicer painted upper door panels instead of the foam with vinyl over it same with the dash pieces the upper and lower glove box the piece with the power button is painted instead of vinyl over foam. What that means is those pieces in the '04 and 05 can be freshened up and taken care of very nicely whereas the '06 to '09 once those foamy pieces start to split and get nasty it's replace only think that doesn't make a difference. Well it does if you get to see it '06 to '09 with the tan interior and the upper glove box is all blistered and messed up panel with the power button in it there's blistered and messed up and maybe the driver's door panel could be blistered on the upper portion because that's the most used door panel there's no fix for that You have to take the door panel and the pieces off and have others to replace it with 04 and 05 you can just paint the pieces I like the black cherry and gray Don't know what I'm talking about No big deal It's not for you to worry with. The '04 and '05 some people call it the short nose it's about 2 cm or so shorter the front fenders will not swap from '04 and 5 fenders will not go on the later. An 0405 could have been bought with all the options that an '09 would have or could have navigation and all of it was available an 04 5 navigation has not been updated for long time. Not sure about the batteries they're all over 10 years old so they should be all changed by now they'll be one two or three or something still running around getting miles put on them with batteries that are worn out because they're not being taxed that much. If you could find the black car with the black cherry gray door panels and gray leather or velor seats that's a nice interior Don't buy anything with the tan velor interior that's crap looks like hell probably look like hell when you're buying it Don't do it unless you absolutely don't care what have you My work vehicle is a tan velor interior It's more like oil stain interior.

 

2005 has one less running light in the headlights than 2009 has... It also doesn't have high definition screen with revers camera. No side air bag curtains and a slightly inferior inverter system. There's others, but they're more determined by trim level,

 

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I’ve got an ’05. It’s the only Prius I've had. It’s about to turn 189,000 laps. The only $$$ I’ve put in was all standard maintenance and things that cars with that many laps could expect. Tires from the get-go. Front wheel bearings a coupla thousand laps ago. I just had an electrical corrosion clean-up issue. I also replaced the 12v battery. Aside from that it’s just been filters and oil changes. Any maintenance that can be done by a shade-tree mechanic is very easy. I’ve got NO comparisons to give you but that it’s the best car overall for numerous reasons that I’ve ever had. 60-mpg overall driving is one of them. It’s got NO sunroof and the stock stereo sounds crummy with the windows down. They have a bladder in the gas tank to cut down of fume emissions. That has given me issues with just how much gas is left and never being able to put more than 7-8-gallons in an “empty” tank. Now all those pissy little complaints don’t add up, for me, to not loving the bageebies out of this car.

 

As mentioned, there are a bunch of "minor" changes from 04-05 to 06-09. The finish of the interior panels (painted vs wrinkly). The MFD - later got higher definition display and backup camera.

The Combination Meter (speedometer), later ones moved the "ready" light and odometer can go above 299,999. Tweaks to inverter and most of the hybrid powertrain ecu's programming (also ABS system?)

The fuel tank vapor emissions system is different between early and late. I think all 06-09 have TPMS (not present on 04-05).

Nothing really THAT different, just have to make sure parts are ordered correctly.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Just like a Corolla with a funny trans and a battery really. Corolla Trueno all should go to 400K w minimal maintence

 

Generally the standard features are the same across the years. The big differences were in the options which were sold in “packages”. So finding a car with the package you want is often desirable.


Obviously a newer year is preferable. Fewer annoying expenses as simple things fail. Just worked on a well equipped model where the AC evaporator leaked (expensive) and the hatch latch failed (annoying when you have to remove everything in the back from the front and remove floor panels to manually open it).

So don’t think a Toyota will run for 15 years without repairs. As stated above, the hybrid battery is past its lifespan and sellers often temporarily repair old batteries with a few better but still used modules. To do it right will be another $2000 or more.

200,000 miles with repairs can be expected. 400,000 means replacement engines, major AC work, bearings failing and more. Don’t buy a 15 year old Prius to save money unless you are a dedicated diy’er who can dig in when the special coolant storage system fails, the brake by wire brake booster needs $2000 or the dash goes black requiring a teardown. The first 150,000 is gravy for the original owner, very few repairs - but the next 75k can cost the used car buyer.

 

@rjparker made me think, this website is good for older brochures:

Auto-Brochures | home

 

Of course a lot of times you're buying one of these cars where the owners who may not be very bright have had all service all campaigns every time the Toyota dealer sends them something in the mail they come in even for oil changes I bought an '07 car that the lady had serviced at the dealer her whole life every receipt is in the car from the dealer right in Georgia and on the Florida line there of Georgia that I can't think of the town ever I mean this car had a catalytic converter replaced because some technician at the drop of a hat said it was time at 170,000 mi $1,800 later a new converter was in this car for whatever reason I wasn't around I have no idea break actuator pretty much everything a lot of stuff on the car and then they told her right before she parked it and put it in the permanent not driving category anymore because she was scared of the display going out and whatever they told her the coolant storage tank was going bad had some kind of p code that corresponded to that All I did was fill up the coolant bleed it and let it rip I got the code one time when I first got the car sitting in my driveway or something I could not figure out what in the world was going on The car heated up very quickly The heat works great the AC works wonderfully the little pump down there by the coolant storage tank seems to come on it sometime when it's called on nothing seems broke. But other than that when I bought this car basically all it needed was the CM monitor replaced for the capacitor problem and a few modules or a rack of modules and that was it $700 so this car should be ready to go to 600k and all the receipts in the glove box and the original owner of the car was available for me to talk to by telephone and the daughter who was driving the car that parked it in Raleigh North Carolina was standing in front of me although they were no help the paperwork was great The dealer knew the car well this is how I try to get the used ones and why I will buy them from a towing lot especially when the glove box is loaded with records like this It's a win-win situation I'll pay $700 all day long.

 

The newer cars have a spoiler underneath the back of the front bumper cover. Or at least they do until it tears off, since it is very low and tends to hang up on the cement blocks at the nose end of parking spots. We didn't replace ours once it was torn to pieces, and I can't say that the difference was noticeable. Maybe an extra .3 mpg at highway speeds if it is still on?

 

I would get the newest one (i. e. 2009) with the lowest miles.

There are more benefits this way. While the running gear might conceivably be more worn, the big battery will be better for the higher use.