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Happy 8th birthday Sophie

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by efusco, Oct 20, 2011.

  1. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    My 2004 Prius turned 8 years old today :cheer2: :party::popcorn::tea::thumb::)(from day of delivery). My kids named the nav voice "Sophie" (after a pre-school friend) and to this day we still talk about Sophie as the car's name.

    I'm right at 115,000 miles. There have been minor troubles here and there, since this was one of the first production Gen II vehicles to roll off the line that wasn't totally unexpected. But all in all she's still spinning like a top.

    At 100k miles I stopped tracking tank-to-tank FE numbers, mostly just from loss of interest. But I'm comfident I'm still in the 59-60mpg range for lifetime mpg (lmpg) and it's still the most fun vehicle I've ever own. Certainly the technology and the explosion of hybrids available has helped fuel that continued interest. And my commitment and support from the PC community certainly hasn't hurt.

    It's a tad bitter sweet though, as a year from now I may not have the car if my Tesla come in. Haven't decided if I'll keep the Prius for a back-up gasser or just sell it to help pay the high cost of the Model S...just have to see how things play out over the next 12 months or so.

    Anyway, hoist a cold one to Sophie tonight!
     
    #1 efusco, Oct 20, 2011
    2 people like this.
  2. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Get her a birthday present, like a modification. Or a hot new boyfriend like the CT200h. Or is 8 years old too young for a boy friend? Oh well.
     
    #2 macmaster05, Oct 20, 2011
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    :tea:

    Congrats Evan! That's fairly low mileage for 8 years! I think ours is a few thousand behind but it's 1 year younger and its birthday is in 4 days!
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Oct 21, 2011
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Hoisting numerous cold ones as ordered sir. I'll continue hoisting too ... as soon as I get off work.

    ;)
     
    #4 hill, Oct 21, 2011
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    She had about 9 months in there where she was barely ever driven while I was away with my family on an international sabbatical. During that time my uncle drove the care just a couple miles every week or two to keep the battery charged up and such. That would have added another 12k to the total had I been home driving it.

    That said, it's a daily driver, just not a ton of long distance driving (many reasons for that).
     
    #5 efusco, Oct 21, 2011
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Forgot about that sabbatical! It was like you never left!
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Oct 21, 2011
  7. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    My "back of the envelope" figures based on the few numbers Tesla has thrown out gives me a September delivery date. I figure you should have yours July/August. They'll be here before we know it.

    I'll be going to 2 cars because I do too much long range driving.

    Congratulations on the anniversary.
     
    #7 JimN, Oct 21, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    To Sophie! :)
     
    #8 F8L, Oct 22, 2011
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  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I hope you're right Jim, I'm ready for my EV!
     
    #9 efusco, Oct 22, 2011
  10. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    nonsense! Distance is what the Fisker Karma is for ;)
     
    #10 hill, Oct 22, 2011
  11. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    It's hard to believe 8 years have already past.

    Time flies when you're having fun.

    Congrats on the milestone.
    .
     
    #11 john1701a, Oct 22, 2011
  12. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I hadn't even thought of it, but it is that time! 8 years will be very soon for "Clover", our Tideland Green 2004 Prius that my wife now drives. Ours has about ~124k miles on the clock, manufacture date 9/2003.

    My in-laws are borrowing it for a road-trip to CA for the better gas mileage (and their 21-year-old car truly wouldn't make it).

    Agreed in that it hasn't been without early-production problems - including melting tail lenses, inverter coolant pumps, ECU reprogramming, warped dash due to failed upper glove-box springs, etc. I had to re-solder a connection in the MFD when it stopped displaying proper information.

    The HV Battery is showing signs of age (hesitates in hot weather, SOC drops pretty quick, etc.). I've replaced one, maybe two 12V batteries over the life, 1 set of struts, several sets of tires. I replaced the water pump when it started to leak at the shaft a few months ago, and did spark plugs and PCV valve for good measure at the same time. Did a transaxle fluid exchange at 60k, and probably should do another any time now.

    The wheel trim rings cracked and became brittle in the AZ sun ages ago. The clear-coat on the plastic trim on the liftgate is fading (I admit, it doesn't get enough waxing attention).

    It's been in 1 accident - rear ended at low speed when someone turned right in front of me during a U-turn. I stopped. The guy behind me did not.

    On the plus side, it was one of the first few to get a "factory" EV button. It still works - most of the time, but my wife never uses it.

    Compared to other cars at this age and class, it's still been quite reliable, and my wife still enjoys it as a local runner. It'll eventually either get sold/traded for a Prius v, Mini-van (pref hybrid), or my soon-to-be 16-year-old may inherit it if driving is in her future.

    Happy Birthday Sophie and Clover!
     
    #12 HTMLSpinnr, Oct 22, 2011
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