Is there much of a difference between an '05-'06 and an '09 Prius?

You need to dig a little deeper than just years and mileage, but the answer to your question is "not much."
Service history?
Carfax?
Traction battery?

Both cars will need AT LEAST some comprehensive maintenance (not to be confused with repairs) in the next few years.
What's the plan for that?

 

With prices, it's also helpful to consider that the Prius is a poor seller right now, so you may be able to negotiate a decent discount. When I bought my 2009 Prius last December, I got it for $400 less than the advertised price with hardly any effort at all.

From the studies I've seen, there's a drop in battery failure rates from the 2008 model year and more recent (from around 3% to less than 1%). Other than that, comparing the cars would be best in person doing test drives for each. That way, you also get to see what features each car really has, as ads are sometimes mistaken or forget things.

 

welcome!
i would go with the '09. the extra safety features and newer mechanicals make the extra $1250. worthwhile. and you'll get good service from it, and recapture the extra money if you sell.
the '06 battery could die at any time.
all the best!

 

Advertised price was $8000 for 2009 Prius in very good condition with reverse camera, aux. port, floor mats, & cruise control with 105,000 miles. I negotiated down to $7600. After taxes and fees and everything, final cost was $8223.

 

A traction battery, also called a drive battery or HV (high voltage) battery, is half of what makes the car work. The Prius is a hybrid car that runs on a combination of engine and battery power. The traction battery, like any other part, can wear out. Also like the engine, it is very expensive to replace. However, it is designed to last the life of the vehicle and Toyota initially tested them to 180,000 miles. That means you probably won't have to worry about a battery going bad. Somewhere between 3-15% of people with a Prius of model year 2001-2007 have had one fail, and less than 1% of people with a 2008-2017 model year Prius have had a battery fail.

A second generation Prius is one of model year 2004-2009. The generation of the car tells you how the car looks and what the general specifications are. To check battery health in a 2nd gen Prius, go to the Energy screen on the multifunction display and look at the bars on the battery icon. It should be between 5-7 bars, and should not go more than 2 bars higher or lower on a test drive. If the indicator bounces between 1 or 2 bars and 7 or 8 bars, then the battery is going bad and you should look at a different car.

 

moi?

 

As the owner of a 2006 that just experienced a traction battery failure, I'd say that the 2009 would give you about 3 more years battery life than a 2006. A replacement traction battery costs $4500 barefoot at the dealer, $2000 if you are an expert shopper.

 

aha! vindicated.

 

...you might find reading all you can about grid charging to be enlightening, and there are many threads hereabouts discussing the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a maintenance charging system! (see also Hybrid Automotive) Good luck! ...and Welcome to PriusChat!

 

i think i'd go with the '09. how new is the pp, and what is cargo space?