Help me compare a 2002 and 2006 Prius - both low mileage
July 28, 2015 10:16 PM Subscribe
Similar to this question, but I am looking at a 2002 and a 2006 Prius. Both have similarly low mileage, but the 2006 is listed at ~$5000 more than the 2002. I would prefer the larger interior space and the newer car, but am not sure it's worth it. What else should I consider?
Additionally, the dealership with the 2006 says it gets 15mpg better than the 2002's ~41. Is that for real?
Additionally, additionally, this is only my second car purchase ever, and the first was a VW Bug older than I am. I've been reading up, but any tips/comments are welcome!
Additionally, the dealership with the 2006 says it gets 15mpg better than the 2002's ~41. Is that for real?
Additionally, additionally, this is only my second car purchase ever, and the first was a VW Bug older than I am. I've been reading up, but any tips/comments are welcome!
I liked my Gen 1 2001 Prius, but the back seats don't fold down. If that matters at all to you, get the 2006. I have a different car now, but if I was buying a Prius again I'd pick the newer one for that reason alone.
posted by MsMolly at 12:04 AM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MsMolly at 12:04 AM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
The newer one costs that much more for a reason. The 2nd gen prius is just so much nicer of a car. Pretty much everything on it was revamped.
The 1st gen also took a completely different battery(which is also a good question, how old is the battery in the older one?). The 2nd gen batteries are hugely a commodity item now, the 1st gen? Not so much.
I would pick the 2nd gen one not just for the improvements, but also because it's such an ubiquitous car now and widely used as a taxi. Used battery packs and parts are relatively cheap, and it'll be a cheap car to own for years to come. The 1st gen is actually a relatively unusual car, from what i've seen and heard. Any issues the 2nd gen has are well known and checked for or have solid fixes(either officially or aftermarket) now.
The 1st gen is also horribly tiny inside. Like, little economy car tiny. I barely fit. I almost got one as a replacement car for my partner a year or so ago and was pretty turned off by that among other issues. The 2nd gen prius was one of the first newer smaller-but-big-inside cars like the honda fit and many others now. I borrowed my bosses for a long trip with my mom, and it was incredibly comfortable to drive around in for me(6'2 lanky person). There's also better visibility, and a non horrific back seat.
posted by emptythought at 1:07 AM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
The 1st gen also took a completely different battery(which is also a good question, how old is the battery in the older one?). The 2nd gen batteries are hugely a commodity item now, the 1st gen? Not so much.
I would pick the 2nd gen one not just for the improvements, but also because it's such an ubiquitous car now and widely used as a taxi. Used battery packs and parts are relatively cheap, and it'll be a cheap car to own for years to come. The 1st gen is actually a relatively unusual car, from what i've seen and heard. Any issues the 2nd gen has are well known and checked for or have solid fixes(either officially or aftermarket) now.
The 1st gen is also horribly tiny inside. Like, little economy car tiny. I barely fit. I almost got one as a replacement car for my partner a year or so ago and was pretty turned off by that among other issues. The 2nd gen prius was one of the first newer smaller-but-big-inside cars like the honda fit and many others now. I borrowed my bosses for a long trip with my mom, and it was incredibly comfortable to drive around in for me(6'2 lanky person). There's also better visibility, and a non horrific back seat.
posted by emptythought at 1:07 AM on July 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have a 2001 Prius which I love. The battery went out and needed replacement in 2009 and was not in warranty. It was a $3000 repair. Definitely take the battery into consideration.
I am getting about 43 - 47 mpg so 41 does not surprise me at all. It seems low.
I agree with empty thought about the small interior space. It is fine for my needs, but it is not spacious.
posted by SLC Mom at 7:11 AM on July 29, 2015
I am getting about 43 - 47 mpg so 41 does not surprise me at all. It seems low.
I agree with empty thought about the small interior space. It is fine for my needs, but it is not spacious.
posted by SLC Mom at 7:11 AM on July 29, 2015
Response by poster: Info points:
- We're in Seattle
- with a 16 month old, with all the cargo that implies.
posted by SirNovember at 9:11 AM on July 29, 2015
- We're in Seattle
- with a 16 month old, with all the cargo that implies.
posted by SirNovember at 9:11 AM on July 29, 2015
As others have said, the 2002 and 2006 Prius are basically two completely different cars.
A 5k gap is a big one based on the prices I'm seeing. Knowing the actual numbers would help us figure out is there is either a) something really wrong with the 2002 or b) the 2006 is super overpriced.
That said, I have a 2007 and I love it. It has basically been completely trouble free and the space for hauling stuff when you fold the seats down is surprisingly large. Oh, and real world I don't get anywhere near 56mpg, somewhere in the 40s is more like it. But I'm guessing the 2002's numbers are optimistic too.
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 9:42 AM on July 29, 2015
A 5k gap is a big one based on the prices I'm seeing. Knowing the actual numbers would help us figure out is there is either a) something really wrong with the 2002 or b) the 2006 is super overpriced.
That said, I have a 2007 and I love it. It has basically been completely trouble free and the space for hauling stuff when you fold the seats down is surprisingly large. Oh, and real world I don't get anywhere near 56mpg, somewhere in the 40s is more like it. But I'm guessing the 2002's numbers are optimistic too.
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 9:42 AM on July 29, 2015
Mrs. Sourcequench and I are a two-car household. Believe it or not, the two cars in question are... a 2002 Prius and a 2006 Prius.
Both have been good, reliable cars. (Caveat: We have been meticulous about scheduled maintenance -- the previous owners of your cars may or may not have been. If they had dealer service, any Toyota dealer should be able to get hold of the records.)
The 2002 Prius needed its battery replaced a few years ago (fortunately, under warranty -- it would have been expensive else).
The 2006 has more interior space and is more comfortable on long trips. The instruments are laid out in a way that makes more sense.
The 2002 is a sedan, with a small trunk and somewhat cramped rear seat. The 2006 is a hatchback, and the rear seats fold forward flat, creating a big cargo area with a flat floor.
The 2006 has an electric AC pump, which means you can run the AC full blast and the gas engine doesn't have to run (e.g., if you're stopped at a light). This can save you some gas in a hot climate. I don't believe the "14 MPG better" figure though. Our results have been more like 5-10 MPG better.
The 2006 had more options in terms of safety equipment: side-curtain airbags, traction control, stability control and a backup camera. See which of that stuff your particular 2006 model has equipped. (The 2002 has anti-lock brakes and front airbags, but I don't recall there being a whole lot of other options.)
It's possible that the 2006 is really worth $5K more, but that would depend on the 2002 being really beat and the 2006 being cherry (or the 2002 being underpriced and/or the 2006 being overpriced).
posted by sourcequench at 12:14 PM on July 29, 2015
Both have been good, reliable cars. (Caveat: We have been meticulous about scheduled maintenance -- the previous owners of your cars may or may not have been. If they had dealer service, any Toyota dealer should be able to get hold of the records.)
The 2002 Prius needed its battery replaced a few years ago (fortunately, under warranty -- it would have been expensive else).
The 2006 has more interior space and is more comfortable on long trips. The instruments are laid out in a way that makes more sense.
The 2002 is a sedan, with a small trunk and somewhat cramped rear seat. The 2006 is a hatchback, and the rear seats fold forward flat, creating a big cargo area with a flat floor.
The 2006 has an electric AC pump, which means you can run the AC full blast and the gas engine doesn't have to run (e.g., if you're stopped at a light). This can save you some gas in a hot climate. I don't believe the "14 MPG better" figure though. Our results have been more like 5-10 MPG better.
The 2006 had more options in terms of safety equipment: side-curtain airbags, traction control, stability control and a backup camera. See which of that stuff your particular 2006 model has equipped. (The 2002 has anti-lock brakes and front airbags, but I don't recall there being a whole lot of other options.)
It's possible that the 2006 is really worth $5K more, but that would depend on the 2002 being really beat and the 2006 being cherry (or the 2002 being underpriced and/or the 2006 being overpriced).
posted by sourcequench at 12:14 PM on July 29, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also, the battery pack in prius is good for 50-100k miles and a non trivial replacement expense which again argues for the newer model.
posted by Fupped Duck at 11:24 PM on July 28, 2015 [1 favorite]