I just traded in my 05 BMW 330xi for an 08 Prius touring w/84k miles. Inside & out it looks brand new. Runs good, handles great. 49mpg avg first tank. Paid 8k for it, all maintenance done by dealer, recalls done etc. I think I got a good car but I have been a guest browser here for several months so Im aware of the HV battery maintenance / imbalance issues over time. Also aware of the common gen2 issues and original owner seems to have dealt with those. I drive a gen3 taxi for "Green Cab" in Madison for past 3 years. LOVE them!, but price was great for my gen2. I have a 03 Toyo 4Runner and do all the ICE maint myself. I plan to do all the familiar maint on the Prius myself and learn the electric side asap. In all the auto forum sites I have visited I have NEVER read such technically knowledgeable posts! I am not an EE but obviously many here are. I am blown away to have access to the knowledge and advise available here. Thank you to all of you for hopefully saving me a lot of frustration, confusion, time and of course money. I'm Kinda anal about having all systems working as efficiently and smoothly as possible. I'm also lucky to have Eric of EV Powers here in town. Anyway hundreds of hours of reading posts later I purchased the following equipment to properly care for my "Mighty Red Mouse". Please let me know if I'm missing something or you disagree with my choices. Remember I'm a 49 year old hybrid virgin owner so be as specific as possible with your feedback. Thanks! Scanguage ll, Prolong Grid Charger, Prolong Discharger (box), Optima yel top 12v battery, EBH, oem: plugs, coolant, oil & air filter, transmission fluid, ran Seafoam thru gas tank, I use Shell premium gas w/ no ethanol, will clean throttle body and MAF sensor, I plan to use Mobil 1 0W-30 summer and 0W-20 winter, replace drive belt, Sunshade, Navihood, Leather Steering Wheel cover, LED interior conversion, LED fog lamp replacement, Seasonal engine blocking, IPhone/IPad kit (?),........ Note:Inverter water pump (& coolant) replaced 2013, Steering Shaft replaced, CA filter replaced 2015, air filter replaced 2015 with 80k service. Brakes cleaned, adjusted then, 50% worn, everything seems to work inside although I have not been thru every computer diagnostic system yet.
Oh, I will post pictures as soon as I take some. Right now the cars outa state cause my fiancé took it! Seriously this has to stop!!! She took my Beemer too and I'm left driving the 4Runner (Actually the 4Runner is a blast also).... Still I'm itchin to drive my (her?) new Prius and she's off visiting her folks in it. She fell in love with it right away. If she brings it back I'll post some pictures.
Re: "In all the auto forum sites I have visited I have NEVER read such technically knowledgeable posts!" I see the same thing here - and that's one of the things which strikes me about the Prius - people seem passionate about them. I haven't got one - yet, but reading posts is very encouraging. I've a Ford Fiesta Diesel - great little car, averaged 50mpg (USA) over 60,000km, but not the car you get passionate about except about the fuel efficiency. But I've had a few VOLVOs over the years - their owners have the "BRICKBOARD" where passionate VOLVO owners from around the world "meet", solve technical issues and generally discuss Volvos (more-so the older ones - there isn't the same passion for the newer ones). And PRIUSCHAT seems similar - except there is a passion for the new as well as the old.
Yea, and like literally dozens of her female friends and business associates own or used to own gen2's.... Here in Madison they are like the status symbol for Eco responsible liberal business professionals. I fear that I will hardly ever get to slide behind the steering wheel. Oh well at least I'll get to maintain, tinker and modify it!! I can't wait. (Smile).... I don't know how to do the smiley faces on here yet.
Whoa...you sound mighty proactive. About all I do is drive it! The only thing I might mention is the fuel choice--the Prius is really designed to run on regular octane. Some have reported error codes produced when using premium fuel, and most find there is no benefit to using it. It's just an Atkinson-cycle Yaris/Echo engine--it doesn't know what to do with "fine wine". The stable here is somewhat similar: '07 Pri and '85 4runner. I remember test-driving the 4th-gen 4runner when it came out. Nice truck, but the salesman was quite squirrely and degrading ("please avoid that dead rabbit"..."your Mom isn't going to need the hill descent control"). My parents ended up in a 3rd-gen instead, which Dad still has. Does yours have the 1GR or 2UZ? Cheers!
