Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius questions and answers

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Q: Should I buy a used Toyota Prius? How can I check the battery life?
I'm looking to buy a used Toyota Prius but I'm not sure how to evaluate the battery life and whether there will be severe mechanical problems in the future.

A: Plenty of Priuses in service as taxi cabs in cities like Vancouver have routinely exceeded 200,000 miles with ZERO battery issues. http://www.allaboutprius.com/blog/1019563_toyota-prius-tough-enough-to-be-a-taxi-anywhere If you can get 200,000 miles out of a car with no major problems, you are already ahead of the game. Oh, and there is a phone number on the Prius battery pack you can call to claim the $200 bounty when you bring that battery pack into a Toyota dealership for recycling, if you decide to junk the car at the end of its service life. That "toxic battery in landfills" crap is getting old. If you want to buy a used Prius, I recommend getting a 2007 or later. The 2007s were 4th-year second-generation Prii, and all of the little annoying bugs have been worked out in the prior model years. The 2007s were the first second-gen Priuses to have no major TSBs (recalls) issued.

Q: Just how good is the new 2010 Toyota Prius? And is it out yet like in the dealerships?
Dad is going to buy the new Toyota Prius that I recommended him because he likes Japanese cars and quietness and comfort. Prius owners, please tell me about your experience with this prized car that gets 50mpg.

A: I have a 2005 Prius and I love it. It is fun to drive and gets me about 45 mph (which is why I bought it). I am a big beautiful woman and I fit very comfortably as does my 6'6" man friend! I also often carry a child in the backseat in a car seat and he never complains! There are so many extras but the 2010 is just mind blowing w all the extras! I want one! They are available in the dealerships now (as an owner I get updates and just got one 2 days ago that they are available at my dealership). You can purchase the package that has this cool sensor and steering combo that can practically parallel park itself! I can haul stuff w the seats down in back or I can cover what I am carrying w the shade in back. It is very, very quiet...lol...once I left the car on for 6 hours while I did something else. I had forgotten to lock it and hadn't turned it off because I didn't hear it running! It didn't use any gas during that time and the battery wasn't drained either! It has a mechanism built in to the auto-lock so you can't lock it running though. But the 2010 has a special thingy that allows you to start it from outside the car while locked so that it can warm up or cool off for you! Plus it has a solar powered cooling system that you can set to keep the car from getting hot on hot days. The only thing I don't like is the stupid spoiler on the back that limits rear vision and is made of plastic so ppl are tempted to push on it to close the back end and it breaks. The 2010 though has a back-up camera and better mirrors so you can see all around the car...way cool. I want one. Did I say, I want one? Well, I do.

Q: Is the Toyota Prius truly environmentally friendly?
A lot of people claim that the Toyota Prius is environmentally friendly since it has very good gas mileage. I was sort of tempted to go along with that, but I also remembered that you have to plug it in so that the electric engine can run. Since you have to plug it in to charge it, how big is it's carbon footprint? Since coal is burned to produce most of America's electricity, is the Prius truly environmentally friendly?

A: The Prius and other hybrids recharge their batteries through regenerative braking and using the gas engine as a generator. There aren't any plug-in hybrids currently available, but there will be soon. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars have smaller footprints than regular hybrids, which have smaller footprints than gas cars. This is mainly because electric motors are extremely efficient, so the more you rely on them, the lower the emissions you create. Studies have shown that even if you recharge an electric car with 100% coal, it still produces less CO2 than a gas car because the EV is so much more efficient. Currently, about 50% of the enegy in the USA is produced by burning coal. On top of that, one of the Obama Administration's main goals is to get more of our energy from renewable sources. Plus we waste a lot of energy during off-peak hours, because most power plants don't power-down while we're asleep, because they're difficult to turn back on. We could power millions of electric cars just with the electricity wasted during off-peak hours.

Q: Toyota PRIUS?
If this car is so good and economical, why do I never see many around wherever I drive.

A: They are everywhere. They can't keep them in stock. That question doesn't even make sense. That is like me asking: "If trucks are so useful to haul things, then how come I never see a bunch of stuff in the beds of most of them?"

Q: What are the safety feature in Toyota Prius?
I would like to buy electric cars soon and I have heard about Toyota Prius will launch electric Hybrid car in india. So I want to know about Toyota Prius safety features. any one tell me please ?

A: Toyota ready to hit electric-cum-petrol car soon in India, I want to tell you about safety features. Some feature are available in these new launch car Toyota Prius. These features are like ABS (Antilock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution), 6-airbags (which includes dual front and side curtain airbag), BAS (Brake Assist System), Seat Belt Alarm, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC). These features should be given a great advantage in Emergency. If you have made a mind to purchase a Toyota Prius so that you should wait for it. This year most probably gone but two months are left so I can expected to Toyota auto can launch Toyota Prius in this year 2009. It may display in Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. http://www.cardekho.com/carmodels/Toyota/Toyota_Prius http://latestautonews.blogspot.com/2009/10/toyota-prius-to-come-in-india.html http://www.cardekho.com/cars/Toyota http://www.cardekho.com/upcomingcars http://www.cardekho.com/india-car-news/Auto-Expo-news.htm

Q: I really dislike seeing a Toyota Prius drive in front of me. WHy do they drive so slow?
I really dislike seeing a Toyota Prius drive in front of me. I have places to go. Why do they drive so slow and brake 600ft early? I know, because they remind me of those people who force religion on others! .."Save Gas or You're All Goin Ta BuuRRnn N Hell!!!" When I see a Prius, I pass a Prius!

A: Because they are Eco-Nazis. They drive by the little gage in the center of the dash that tells them how much mileage they think they are getting. By ignoring everyone else on the road, they are making a statement while creating traffic chaos. I traded my Prius for a Mercedes SLK and never have looked back.

Q: Does the Toyota Prius navigation system speak street names?
Does the Toyota Prius navigation system speak street names?

A: Hi, no, the voice does not speak the actual street names in standard guidance. But it does speak basic guidance and directions such as "a half mile ahead, turn right", "temperature set to 72 degrees" when you speak the temp you want, and repeating the point of interest search items you've spoken to it, such as "ATM" or "Italian food".

Q: Can I change my 2002 toyota prius stock stereo system?
I went to mothers window tint in austin and i was trying to get another stereo for my 2002 toyota prius and they told me that "theres nothing we can do for you". i dont know too much about what they meant i just wanna know if it is possible to change my stereo or not. im looking to change the stereo and speakers and maybe get an amp.

A: Of course you can change the speakers -- but changing the stock radio/cassette player is impossible. (Unless you're willing to completely re-do the dashboard, and give-up the touchscreen capability of the stock unit.) With some effort, it is possible to interface an aftermarket unit to the Prius, but it's definitely not trivial. One enthusiast that has done so, and marketed his results, is listed in the "source" section below. He's been out-of-stock on his products for awhile, and it could be that he isn't planning on producing more -- after all, how much demand is there for add-on audio equipment for the Prius, model years 2001-2003 only?

Q: I heard that toyota sells completely electric Prius's in the states, is it really true?
cause my science teacher was telling us how his friend in the states has a completely electric toyota prius. i knew that technology exists to make practical electric cars, but are they already in mass production?

A: No it's not true. Some companies do make modifications where you can turn your Prius into a plug-in hybrid, but even then it's not 100% electric, and Toyota hasn't made a plug-in version yet. See here: http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/hymotion-l5-battery-pack The first affordable highway speed EV is about to come out in the US in June '08 - the Green Vehicles Traic. http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/green-vehicles-triac It will be able to go 80 mph, 100 miles per charge, and cost $20k.

Q: How do you drive a TOYOTA PRIUS? (10 points for STEP By Step Instructions)?
I don't personally own one, but my cousin does and he said the salesman took a month to learn how to drive one. It takes a while for a person to learn. So I was wondering for 10 points, can anyone give me details step by step instructions on how to drive a Toyota Prius. Thank you

A: http://priuschat.com/forums/attachments/prius-main-forum/422d1142949905-2006-prius-valet-cards-valet_card.pdf or http://www.eaa-phev.org/wiki/Image:Prius-valet-card-small.jpg The above is the Valet card that (should) come with the current NHW20 generation Toyota Prius. 3 simple steps to start the car, 3 simple steps to shift, 3 simple steps to park. If you have never driven a car before, then yes, I could see how it would take a month to learn how to drive one. If you have driven a traditional automatic car before, there is nothing really all that strange to learn. Keyfob goes in the slot, press brake and Power button to turn on. Move shift joystick into D or R, drive as normal. Press P to Park, then Power off. If you have an older NHW11 Prius, it is just like a traditional automatic car. The shift lever is on the steering column, nothing all that wierd there. Traditional key, too. However, if you want to drive for maximum fuel efficiency, it may take a while for you to change your existing bad driving habits (such as speeding or jackrabbit starts/stops)... Read up on some hypermiling techniques (which can be applied to any car) to start practicing. If you need more information, I'd suggest the user-generated Prius User Guide (more condensed and an easier read than the Owner's Manual): http://john1701a.com/prius/prius-userguide.htm

Q: Toyota Prius owners... How much cargo room do you have in the hatch?
The local Toyota dealer can not keep a Prius in stock to test drive. I want to know if I could fit a lot of stuff in the back. Do the rear seats fold forward? I would be hauling a small Public Address system and a few guitars.

A: Try more than one dealer, preferrably one with a TRAC program. Also try some of the rental car outlets, they may have one. You could also post your location - there may be some friendly Prius owners nearby that may give you a test drive. With the back seat folded, you should have no problems. I've heard of a 8' windboard carried inside a Prius with the front passenger and rear seats down. I've carried a 7' closet pole home in my 2004 with just the back seats down (pole in between the two front seats). I've also heard of a cello in a hardback case carried, too. You may want to ask other actual owners what they've carried, and if anyone can suggest a dealer near you with a TRAC or demo Prius available (or if they'd let you try out their own car). http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/ http://www.priusonline.com/ http://www.priuschat.com/

Q: What grade Toyota Prius should I get?
So I have convinced myself that I'm going to get a Toyota Prius. I have a friend that has one and he absolutely loves it. But, I had a question from those who may own a 2010 version. What grade Prius should I get (meaning the Prius II, III, IV or V)? I don't need the options that are on the IV and V, so really I'm looking between the Prius II and III, but I don't know which one gives you more for your dollar?

A: Considering the ongoing rash of defects, recalls and safety issues with so many Toyota vehicles including the Prius, perhaps you should hold off on until the dust settles, and you can be sure it is a wise and safe investment. In the meantime, check out comparable models of other manufacturers.

Q: what are the microenvironmental factors that affected toyota prius when it was introduced in USA?
i want other poeple to help me find out thre microenvironmental factors that affected the introduction of toyota prius in the year 2000.

A: Hi, not a problem,but what factors are you looking for, exactly? The cost of production of the Prius? The length of time a Prius is expected to remain on the road compared to a typical vehicle? The cost of repairs and maintenance compared to a typical vehicle? I'm not certain what information you need, but here is my usual breakdown for each 100,000 miles of operation for a Prius, information on the nickel metal hydride hybrid battery, and other general info. BTW, it's a shame about any poor responses to your question. I usually take a look at the best answer percentage of any person posting and keep that, and any nasty comments they put up, in mind when I read their responses. Moving on... I'llstart by breaking down the cost of operation for a Prius. Please compare that to what is honestly spent on any other vehicle. The cost of operation of a Prius is about .08 cents per mile for each 100,000 miles of operation. I don't add in insurance, bank interest, or the cost of the vehicle itself, because all of those can vary based on each owner's situation. Add them to the .08 cents per mile amount. A Prius will maintain 51-53 average if driven properly, meaning easing off the accelerator when coming to a stop and accelerating like there is a egg under the accelerator and trying to roll the egg out, not crush it. In other words, driving defensively and learning to get the most out of the hybrid drivetrain. As far as the cost to operate a Prius over 100,000 miles: - There is no steering belt or steering pump, the system is electronic and uses electric motors. There is no belt to wear and no pump to lose fluid out of (ever hear a car squeal when it goes around a corner? that's the belt or pump going bad) No cost there. And before anyone says anything, check with a knowledgable electrician on how long an electric motor will last considering it has essentially one moving part. Compare that to the wear and tear of an internal combustion engine or standard mechanical pump. - There is no accelerator cable or cable linkage, once again, it is electronic. So there is no loss of acceleration over time from cable stretch and wear like on a standard vehicle. No cost there. - The brake pads should never need to be replaced, they are hardly used due to the regenerative braking system. Look up pictures on the net of Prius with no appreciable wear on the brake pads. One great example is an owner who thought to take pictures of his Prius' brake pads at 8,000 miles and then again at 105,000 miles. The pads were measured with calipers and there was no appreciable wear after 97,000 miles. No cost there. - You never touch the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery or the hybrid system, it is self regulating. No cost there. - The gas engine is not tuned up for 100,000 miles. At even 15,000 miles per year, that's about seven years. And then... - four spark plugs run $12.00 each, four is $48.00 (the wires aren't replaced and there are no distributors because each cylinder has a direct injection module and they are not replaced) - coolant is $15.50 a gallon and you need two gallons, or $31.00 (if you live in an extremely hot or cold climate, you might need to change the coolant 2X in 100,000 miles so figure $62.00 there) - air filters are $18.00 for the engine and $25.00 for the cabin and are replaced every 15,000 miles. So over 100,000 miles, we'll go high and say 7 sets of air filters at $301.00. - inspect the wiring, change the oil (might as well, since you're there) lube, inspect and flush the brake lines, flush the coolant if necessary. It runs about $225.00, which includes parts. - the sealed, continuously variable transmission fluid is not changed until 90,000 miles, about $140.00 - The OEM (Original Equipment from the Manufacturer) Goodyear Integrity's are about $113.00 each, installed. The originals are low-rolling resistance, specialty tires, just like a truck or sports car. They will last about 35,000 or so. Three sets of OEM tires- over 105,000 miles- will run $339.00 installed. - Oil and filter changes every 3000 miles and tire rotations every 6000 miles, just like any other vehicle. Oil changes are about $26.00 and tire rotations are about $18.00, or about $884.00 for oil changes and $306.00 for rotations over 100,000 miles So, over 100,000 miles, for regular service, a Prius should run about $2231.00, rounded to $2300.00, or about .023 cents per mile. All of my service and parts amounts come from a local Toyota dealership, and do not figure in any kind of promotions, coupons, or discounts. I called on 6/12/07. We'll go high and say gas in a Prius will run about $6,000 over 100,000 miles, or about .06 cents per mile (100,000 miles / 50 mpg (I get 51.7 mpg currently as an average, city and highway, auto temp w/air and stereo on) = 2000 gallons of gas X $3.00 a gallon = $6,000). So a Prius will run about $8000, or .08 cents per mile, to operate over 100,000 miles. I used 100,000 miles because it is a easy, round number, and most people don't keep their vehicles more than 6 or 7 years. The Prius will last much, much longer than 100,000, and it will perform better at that amount than most vehicles on the road with 100,000 or 150,000 miles. Any vehicle you are considering should be put to this kind of scrutiny. A vehicle is a major investment and it will cost you money to run properly. Please print this info out and use it to compare any vehicles by calling your local dealership and asking the parts and service departments what is involved in maintenance over 100,000 miles. As far as the energy and materials for the NiMH batteries go: Our federal government has tested NiMH batteries from the Prius and discovered they still maintain 90% of their capacity after 100,000 miles. They do not lose 10% capacity/storage/efficiency per year, as others have stated. Look up the testing at the DOE website. Toyota has never had a customer pay to replace a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery in any of their hybrids ever. That is for Prius, Camry Hybrids or Highlander Hybrids. The Prius have been in the US since 2000, eight years, and in Japan for the last ten years. There have been NiMH batteries replaced because of accidents or owner damage or neglect (wiring in a big stereo, for example), but no one has ever had to pay otherwise. BTW, the price for a new NiMH battery for either generation of the Prius is $2985.13, not the $5-10,000.00 that people like to throw around the internet. Call your local Toyota dealer and ask for the parts department. And the current record is over 360,000 miles on a Prius using the original NiMH battery and hybrid system. Many Prius are used as taxis and also by the State of New York and Colorado as state municipal vehicles racking up 100,000-200,000 miles without issue on a regular basis. Those are not typos, anything else you may have seen is an urban myth. Speaking for Toyota, there is an 800 number on each nickel metal hydride battery (the one that provides the energy to move the Prius, Camry, or Highlander Hybrids) and that number allows a person to turn in that battery for a $200.00 bounty. The entire battery, just like almost every bit of those vehicles, is completely recyclable. The alkaline batteries that people use and throw out are a different type of battery than what is in vehicles like the Prius. The Hybrid Synergy Drive unit that Toyota developed is designed to keep the NiMH battery in a mid-peak charge range, trying not to top-charge it or, of course, completely discharge it. That enables a NiMH to last fairly indefinitely. Obviously, there will be some breakdown eventually, but one of the great things about the Prius system, for example, is the NiMH battery is composed of 36 individual cells. If one cell goes bad, it can be replaced and the remainder stay. That is what's happened when Toyota has torture tested the Prius in Alaska and Death Valley. Working with Toyota, I know about their commitments to recycling and the environment (Toyota's web site lists environmental reports dating back many years). As far as the supposed "environmental impact" of the nickel metal hydride batteries in the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid... The plant in Sudbury where Toyota buys approximately 1.5% of the plant's annual nickel output can be seen using this Google maps address: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&la... Sudbury, Ontario is called the mining capital of the world for good reason. The Sudbury plant has been in continuous operation since the rock was blasted to make way for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1883. That means that nickel has been mined there for the last 124 years. The Prius has been on the road since 1998. What about all the environmental damage done for the 116 years before the Prius ever came along? There used to be a great deal of pollution at the Sudbury plant, just like there was at a lot of factory facilities. However, new pollution controls are in place and Sudbury residents themselves will talk about how things are improving dramatically in the area around the plant. Young trees are growing there, even now. Another thing noted about the area around the plant is the Apollo astronauts trained there. It has been said that the area around the plant was as lifeless a wasteland as the moon. Actually, the astronauts trained there because the rock formations were similar to those on the moon. This area of Ontario was hit by a meteorite which created a basin and caused much of the look of the area. The moonscape feeling is also from the slag heaps from smelter output. Anyone who has ever seen any factory facility knows there is always a large amount of material left over from the original raw materials, be that a nickel plant, a steel smelter, or a dog food producer. Also the environmental damage is not all due to the nickel plant - there is other industry, and a lot of the trees disappeared due to extensive logging. Here's a breakdown: The Sudbury nickel plant produces around 60,000 tons of nickel per year. If Toyota buys 1000 tons/year, that's around 6% of the total output. I personally present Prius NiMH batteries to local safety responders and fire department personnel. The entire pack weighs 117.47 pounds, which is the components as well as the actual nickel itself. The nickel weighs about 50 pounds. So that's 50lb per Prius, with 2000 pounds per ton, that's 40 Prius per ton of nickel. Considering the plant puts out 120,000,000 pounds of nickel each year, each Prius uses about 0.000024 of the annual production of the Sudbury plant. And that's about it. No surprises and the maintenance is pretty simple. Please let me know if my math is off anywhere, and I'll be glad to make corrections.

Q: Can a Toyota Prius last a road trip?
I have a 2005 Toyota Prius with 47,000 miles and want to drive from Texas to California then back. Does anyone know if a hybrid can handle that?

A: Easily. Any hybrid can.

Q: If I buy an Toyota Prius, will most people think I am poor?
I want to buy a Toyota Prius, but I am afraid people will think I am poor. I am used to driving luxury vehicles that let the world know I am successful. Will people think I can't afford a luxury vehicle if they see me driving a Toyota Prius? I am also concerned about getting dates. I am afraid if a woman finds out I drive a Prius, then she won't want to go out with me.

A: OMG, you have it all wrong. Most people would think you are rich! Unless you live in Texas or some hick place. What do you think half of Hollywood drives? Leo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, and a myriad of others, lawyers, doctors, businessmen... I personally sold my H1 military hummer ($162,000) two years ago and bought a Prius. And I love it! Most girls were turned off by my polluting Hummer and they love it that I'm environmentally conscious and care about the environment. That thing is a chick magnet!