Are 2007 Toyota Prius's good cars?
(2011-11-19 15:15:09) 1. Says: Are there any known issues with this year of the Prius?What is your personal opinion of them?
I might be buying one, and would like to know how other people like them.
thankyou!2. Says: It is a very reliable and economical car to own. We have two of the much less reliable first generation (2002) Prius in the family and neither has required any repair except replacing broken windshields, tires, and wiper blades. The original brakes are still less than 50% worn, mine at 150K miles and my wife's at 120K miles. Forget about hybrid battery horror stories; in the 2007 they so rarely fail I have not heard a reliable account of one going bad without being crushed or drilled into. However, the 12 volt auxiliary battery is a weak point and replacements from Toyota are just more of the same. Many people go with an Optima battery when their original aux battery gets flaky. The source is a popular retrofit.
The big question is how well it suits your needs and how you like driving it. Those are personal questions only you can answer. Some people complain about rearward visibility, a few complain about the seats. If those are okay the 2007 Prius is a real winner. Don't worry about Sean's answer - he is 100% wrong. My wife's best friend has a 2008 Prius and gets 50 mpg or better all the time, including at 75 mph - they don't respond well to being babied.3. Says: First known issue. It pollutes the environment worse than any 10mpg truck ever will.
Second known issue. When the battery fails, which usually happens around the 6-7 year old mark, you're looking at $4000 to replace it. That's like buying a new engine every 6-7 years for a gas engine.
Third known issue. Toyota was sued in the early 2000s because they don't get anywhere near the advertised mileage when driving like a normal person. If you drive it a specific way, which is to say, in an unsafe, slow way that will incite incidents of road rage as 90 year old grandmothers flip you off for driving too slow in the slow lane, you can get the advertised mileage.
Fourth known issue. Upon owning one, you get a "better than thou" attitude towards anyone driving anything that's not a Prius, and could try harassing people for driving cars that aren't a Prius.
Case in point:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=prius+owner&oq=prius+owner&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1806670l1808469l0l1809046l11l10l0l2l2l1l282l1635l1.3.4l8l0
Stereotypical Prius owner.4. Says: There are few issues with the Prius of any year. It's been a remarkably reliable vehicle. My own 2004 has cost 12 cents per mile for dealer maintenance, tires, and fuel combined over the 125,000 trouble-free miles I've driven it so far according to the logbook that I keep. The 2001 that my wife drives has also been very good but no logbook so I don't know the exact numbers. The very high owner satisfaction rating and the number of people who have bought more than one Prius indicate that my good experiences are not unique.
2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):
2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles
2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles
2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16174 miles
2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18384 miles
2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21755 miles
2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16177 miles
2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12134 miles
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110125/bc_olsen_prius_reliability_110125/20110125?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
That said, you will need to check it out for mechanical condition, prior accidents, and clear title just like any used car.
You might also consider joining one or more of the Yahoo Prius groups to get more information.5. Says: They're great cars! My parents and I each have 2007's. They've been incredibly easy to own. We change our own oil and filters at home so maintenance costs about $50/year.
They are getting close to needing replacement key fob batteries, but they are only a few dollars and can be replaced yourself. The 12-volt booting battery is also nearing end-of-life for the 2007. It costs about $150-200 from Toyota but a lot of people are replacing them with Optima Yellow Top deep cycle batteries instead that should last 10-15 years instead of 3-6. They cost $199 from Optima or $170 from http://www.elearnaid.com/12vo1topraub.html.
The hybrid battery is not an issue, as Jerry and Michael mentioned. They don't need to be replaced.
Fuel economy is nice. This one averages low 60's mpg in the summer and mid 50's in the winter.
The car is just really nice to drive and has great features...the smart-key system and back-up camera really spoil you.
The lift-back configuration is very practical. It fits large cargo much better than a sedan. With the back seats folded down, it fits 3 bikes, a wheelbarrow, a medium-sized book shelf, 3 dog crates, landscaping supplies, a drum set & bass amp...
It's been excellent--I plan to keep it at least 25 more years.6. Says: Prius Is A Mad Good For Gas Mileage. Bu tDon't Expect To Be Getting Much Attention.7. Says: Yes, it is a nice car. It is an Hybrid Electric Vehicle that can save your money. Tag: Are 2007 Toyota Prius's good cars?