New owner of a 2008 Prius Touring with 125,000 miles which has been very well maintained in Washington, DC. I'm looking forward to doing some baseline maintenance (oil was just changed, not sure about everything else). I drive approximately 18,000 miles a year. I haven't driven a car this complex in a few years - I didnt realize what a technical marvel these Priuses are. I think as weekend tinkerer who is fairly good with things handy in the garage, this will be a fun car. I am planning to do of doing the following in the first month of ownership: (1) replacing HID headlight bulbs, possibly ballasts if necessary (the passenger side is intermittent). I will do all bulbs while I have everything open. (2) transmission drain and fill (3) new serpentine belt (4) brake bleed and inspection (5) inspect and replace air filter / spark plugs if necessary (6) headlight polishing, maybe sealing with clear coat afterwards (7) Shampoo (bissell little green) floors and floor mats, and detail interior (8) wash and wax exterior (9) Order OBD accessories and set up a dedicated Windows Techstream machine for diagnostics. (10) inspect and possibly drain and fill coolant(s). I'll inspect water pump, and may replace preventatively when changing engine coolant., I'm looking forward to keeping this car on the road for a long time.
Do you have the window sticker for it? I thought all the Gen 2 models with the Touring package had the 16" 7 spoke rims with the 195/16/55 tires and different shocks (springs?) regardless, good looking car. If you have an HID headlight that is blinking, 95% chance it just needs new bulbs. That's exactly how they start acting at EOL. Gets to the point where you have to turn the lights off, then back on again to reignite the arc for a while. Eventually they both start doing it and then the road gets real dark, real fast when the first one goes out and you don't notice, then the second goes out. Butt cheek squeezer..........don't go cheap on the light bulbs. Get OEM philips if you can.
VIN says touring. So does carfax / Edmunds / KBB. I was wondering about that as well. I ordered two generic HID’s with good reviews. The shocks feel somewhat spent and I was going to get the KYB shock spring combos and swap them out on a weekend. What’s the difference between the touring ones and regular?
