How many Gen 1's still in day to day use?

I see a couple a day out here in Northern California .

And out here they are in decent shape too.

Always nice to see the still running around .

 

still see a lot around here, beautiful condition, considering road salt. no idea how you can find out the number of registrations

 

UK: I've seen none round where I stay. I think the UK only got one model so that website you mention should be easier to figure out. There are also import ones from Japan too and I have seen a LHD for sale.
I think this is why the parts are expensive here as they have to be imported. £225 +vat for a lower suspension arm from the dealer. Ouch!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I need to take a look at the site and see what you mean.

As to corrosion, mine is a 2001 and the recent MOT allowed me to get a good look underneath. Just in front of the rear wheels, the inner sill had the start of corrosion. So I've applied rust converter and coated it in a good waxoyl. That was the only bad bit I could find so happy days.

Looking at the history of where the car has been: started in Wales then moved to the Scottish Borders. And now me in Lanarkshire. And at 184k on the clock, I'd say the bodywork has survived really well.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Yours sounds like mine. I got a ton of receipts with this one and I mean a mountains worth. Checking through them it's had plenty done to it including a new hybrid battery 6 years ago hence why I bought it. My other threads detail some of the issues I've had, worth a look, including replacing the ICE part due to a con rod breakage whilst driving down the motorway. That was fun!
At that point I was ready to write the car off but I love driving it. My other car is a full on Ev so this one complements it by being a HEv.
I reckon that if you service it regular and by that I mean more than the recommended intervals, your gen1 should run for many more years to come.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Glad to hear your determined to keep the car good. It's not just a runner which I think a lot of people treat them as especially in that price range.

As to the seats, I was lucky enough to pick up a set of Renault Zoe seats that had 400 miles on them and we're free.
I cut off the original runner bases so that they would bolt in to the same holes and welded them to the Zoe seat. Nice a comfy compared to my drivers seat that was really gone.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Totally agree. I'm tempted to store this one forever and get another and another etc LoL

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The Prius likes to be driven too. Leave it sit & the batteries will deteriorate from neglect.

 

I'm in the UK and have not seen another Gen 1 for ages. I see one about every three months. I saw one in Morrison's car park owned by an elderly gentleman. He gave me the thumbs up!

Mine is coming up to 18 years old now. It has no parking dents or scratches at all. I've just replaced all the tyres, and a wheel bearing.

At 98,000 miles it feels like a new car still. I absolutely love it. Mine gets used every day, and it always gets curious looks.

The only trouble is the red triangle of doom. It comes on now and again. It's being diagnosed soon, so hopefully a replacement of a few modules. I have been quoted £700 (unseen) to replace the whole lot. I shall consider that if a cheaper module replace is out.

 

Hi.
I am in North London.

I had my hybrid battery reconditioned over the weekend and it now drives like a new car. Apparently a few modules were very low and that was causing the dreaded triangle to appear. £400 it cost and I thought that was pretty good as Toyota UK wanted £1700!!

I have no rattles at all. I used to have a few rattles but they all disappeared when I replaced the tyres with higher quality one's. Four wheel laser alignment also did wonders.

Do you have the factory fitted sat nav in yours? Mine doesn't unfortunately.
I am also planning on keeping it for a long time.

 

You say that like you're comparing like for like, but it is apples and oranges. Your guy changed a couple of modules for better ones, but you still have a very old battery that could give out again. What you would get from Toyota UK is a completely brand new set of modules that will last 10 or more years. But, you have to consider, is it worth spending that kind of money on a car that is not that far off from its twentieth birthday?

 

I bought a 2001 with 191,000 kms in British Columbia Canada, previous owner said had just replaced both batteries. I cannot get over how new looking inside and out , great quality, no codes or engine lights, no rust visible except on brake drums. Lower accelerating power than the 1.6L Swift it replaced, but twice the fuel efficiency.

 

It was far more than a couple of modules that were changed. The car's only worth about £1000, so was not worth Toyota UK's price. I got a two year warranty as well. So it can give out within the next two years and he'll fix it.

To be honest, even though I love the car and will keep it until it becomes uneconomical - I have my eye on a newer shape Prius. Hopefully that'll be a long way off yet.