1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Noob, Greetings! and... did I make a mistake!?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by psycho_drama, Dec 13, 2011.

  1. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    20
    0
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey everyone!

    I'm new owner of 2008 Touring/Option 6 as of last night!

    And of course I've been doing some additional research online and came across this a site called consumeraffairs.com that lists multiple problems with Prius and Toyota's unwillingness to step up and correct some issues.

    Did I make a mistake?! :(

    I know every car has issues, but this laundry list does make me quite nervous.

    Thanks for all the insights/wisdom in advance! :confused:
     
    #1 psycho_drama, Dec 13, 2011
  2. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2004
    1,711
    654
    0
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    No mistake in my opinion. I'm on my second (2004 and now 2010) and I'm very satisified with the Prius.
     
    #2 DonDNH, Dec 13, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,038
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Don't be alarmed by an attorney's bait website. They exist to drum up business. Consumer Reports magazine finds Prius and Toyota among the most reliable of cars and brands.
     
    #3 richard schumacher, Dec 13, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  4. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    20
    0
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks for the assurance, I did do quite a bit of research before pulling the trigger. I guess I have the new-to-me-car jitters. I was and still am so happy to dump the gas guzzler. :D
     
    #4 psycho_drama, Dec 13, 2011
  5. LaughingBonsai

    LaughingBonsai New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    11
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just breeze through the "200,000 Mile Club" thread located in the Gen II Main forum, it should give you some reassurance. My '08 has about 85,000 miles now and I couldn't be happier. The ONLY issue I have had is with my HID bulbs burning out (well known problem), so I really can't complain.
     
    #5 LaughingBonsai, Dec 13, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  6. psycho_drama

    psycho_drama New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    20
    0
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yeah, the issues with HID is concerning and can't believe it hasn't been addressed by Toyo. I could put up with a $50 issue occasionally, but an ongoing issue with $200-250 per incident I can't stomach.
     
    #6 psycho_drama, Dec 13, 2011
  7. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2006
    7,201
    1,073
    0
    Location:
    Northampton, MA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes, you made a mistake, but you can learn from this. Don't make the mistake of going to consumeraffairs.com again - they're a bunch of ambulance chasers of the sort that give lawyers a bad name.
     
    #7 Stev0, Dec 13, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  8. LaughingBonsai

    LaughingBonsai New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2011
    11
    1
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The upside to the issue is that you don't necessarily have to go to Toyota to have them replaced for *ridiculous price* . New bulbs can be purchased from eBay for ~$45 USD a piece and there are instructions here on the forum to DIY.
     
    #8 LaughingBonsai, Dec 13, 2011
  9. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    There is some discussion about replacing the transaxle fluid every 60k miles. Toyota just has it "checked" but no replacement date. It is supposed to be "lifetime" fluid, but when your transaxle dies that date is the "lifetime" date.;)

    When you take it in for your first service, have the change the transaxle fluid as well. Costs less than $50 (much less than replacing a transaxle).
     
    #9 Codyroo, Dec 13, 2011
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,497
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    So true, so true!

    PD, notice the difference here: Consumer Reports vs. Consumer Affairs.
    Consumer Reports is the unbiased group that attempts to test and rate everything.
    Consumer Affairs is a bunch of class action lawyers who claimed squatters' rights to a website that looks and sounds a lot like a legitimate consumer advocacy group. Someone who can't quite remember the name Consumer Reports could easily be tricked into believing they wanted Consumer Affairs all along. And once there, they are again tricked into buying into their own get rich scheme (class action lawyers make tons of money while the actual victims usually get relatively little).

    Also, my '04 is still running great after seven years and almost 90,000 miles.
    Welcome aboard. :welcome:
     
    #10 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 13, 2011
  11. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2010
    3,326
    1,512
    38
    Location:
    Santa Fe, NM
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Please post the name and location of the Toyota dealer that only charges $50 for a fluid change with ATF WS. Lowest I have ever heard of is about $75, typical is $80-$100. Just trying to manage expectations for the original poster, who should get a trans fluid change done.
     
    #11 seilerts, Dec 13, 2011
  12. NYPrius1

    NYPrius1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2007
    1,181
    125
    0
    Location:
    Middletown, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    We purchased a 2007 Prius. We were so impressed with the car that we purchased a second 2010 Prius.
    We are just so pleased with the cars that we may purchase a PIP to replace the 2007.
    Relax my friend and enjoy your New Ride!
     
    #12 NYPrius1, Dec 14, 2011
  13. don_chuwish

    don_chuwish Well Seasoned Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2009
    816
    180
    0
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    60K+ miles on both 2007 Prius and 2005 Honda Odyssey. WAY fewer problems, and zero serious problems, on the Prius. Odyssey? Well I've gotten back the value of the extended warranty a few times over at this point. Enjoy the Prius, read these forums & learn what to look out for, you'll be fine.

    - D
     
    #13 don_chuwish, Dec 23, 2011
  14. LIPriusFreak

    LIPriusFreak Can I haz JDM?

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2011
    449
    34
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    91k miles on my 06 and no issues....there is a guy on here (too fast 4 u) who has 450k on an 09 (original owner too) and he's mostly on all original parts.

    toyotas for the most part are bulletproof...enjoy the reliable mundaneness called Toyota ;)
     
    #14 LIPriusFreak, Dec 23, 2011
  15. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2009
    294
    176
    0
    Location:
    Western North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
    psycho_drama I don't know your needs for a car or your finances, but if you've made a mistake you may find that it was not buying a Prius sooner.

    My wife has a Prius at the top of her "want list" and I'm sure that after she finally buys one she will be asking me why I didn't insist that she get it sooner. Of course, I'd prefer not get into the issue of why I don't care to insist. That's a lesson that life has taught me.;)
     
    #15 GrGramps, Dec 23, 2011
  16. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,854
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Read up on HIDs: http://priuschat.com/forums/knowled...n/101472-not-all-hid-bulbs-created-equal.html

    Inside of there is an explanation of the D4x vs D2x bulbs, the Toyota HID non-issue and why not to purchase cheap flea-bay bulbs.
     
    #16 2k1Toaster, Dec 23, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)