Prius & Camry 2003 which one to choose?

[sanlen]

Hi,

Could you please advice which one to choose between Camry 2003 XLE and Toyota Prius Hybrid 2004/05?

I own the camry 1998 now and i am thinking to swap with another one and i found Camry 03 XLE & Prius 04/05 as the option.

Your comments will be bery much appreciated.

Thanks,

sanlen

[Glenn8963]

unless you are doing "in town driving" the camry is a better choice. given the prius has a battery and the life expectancy is what, 8 years, you will need to replace that very EXPENSIVE battery in short time, costing more than the car will ever be worth, and you will lose money on any trade or sale from that point.

the camry is the better deal.

[Joe B]

I'd stay away from a 5-6 year old Prius.
The new ones are much better.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Originally Posted by Glenn8963

unless you are doing "in town driving" the camry is a better choice. given the prius has a battery and the life expectancy is what, 8 years, you will need to replace that very EXPENSIVE battery in short time, costing more than the car will ever be worth, and you will lose money on any trade or sale from that point.

the camry is the better deal.

False on the battery they say 10 years, but Toyota recently did tests on the very first gen Prius and their batteries were as good as the brand new ones coming out of factory...

Holding their charge, keeping the same performance etc etc.

I do agree unless you are strickly city driving, get the Camry...a

[1956kiteboarder]

I would keep the 1998 camry, keep er running.

I had a new 1998 camry v6 le, put 283,000 miles on it!

Now I have a 2008 camry v6 se with 44,000 miles.

I think the 1998 vintage camrys were a better car in my opinion.

I ever found a little old lady 1998 camry with low miles I would scoop it up fast.

[arabianobsession]

Originally Posted by Punks_Not_Dead5

False on the battery they say 10 years, but Toyota recently did tests on the very first gen Prius and their batteries were as good as the brand new ones coming out of factory...

Holding their charge, keeping the same performance etc etc.

I do agree unless you are strickly city driving, get the Camry...a

+1
We have numerous Gen 1 Priuses come into the dealership with high mileage....aka 150,000+ miles, on their original battery, and are still getting 45+ mpg. Also, we don't replace batteries on a regular basis at all. Maybe 1 or 2 a month, and we are the largest hybrid dealer in the Midwest!

[AlmightyCamry777]

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

+1
We have numerous Gen 1 Priuses come into the dealership with high mileage....aka 150,000+ miles, on their original battery, and are still getting 45+ mpg. Also, we don't replace batteries on a regular basis at all. Maybe 1 or 2 a month, and we are the largest hybrid dealer in the Midwest!

Maybe so BUT;

WHAT IF you do have to change them. How much?

WHAT IF you get into a crash and the batteries are damaged and need replacement. HOW MUCH? And who pays - my insurance company?their insurance company (if they even have one)? or is it not covered and paid for by owner out-of-pocket?

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by AlmightyCamry777

Maybe so BUT;

WHAT IF you do have to change them. How much?

WHAT IF you get into a crash and the batteries are damaged and need replacement. HOW MUCH? And who pays - my insurance company?their insurance company (if they even have one)? or is it not covered and paid for by owner out-of-pocket?

If you have collision on your policy,the insurance company will pay.Depending on if the damage doesn't exceed 75% of the car;s value...then it's totaled and you get the Prius value.
If not and the accident is your fault...you pay.

[arabianobsession]

New, they run about $2500 plus labor.
Used, they are about $700-$800.

Labor....somewhere around the same price as a used battery pack.

Think of it this way....even with the price of a new battery pack, it's still cheaper than replacing or rebuilding an engine at a shop, same with a transmission.

Some techs will even replace certain portions of the battery pack for a few hundred bucks.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

You can crash any car and it's gonna cost you... so those are big WhatIf's no?

I get the concern but it has been proven the batteries don't instantly die out at 10 years... just like any car if you maintain it, it will last forever...

And just like any car, it will have problems and issues that will cost you money. No car is perfect

[BlackG5]

^^ mine has almost been

170k only replaced a front o2 sensor ~$175, and a gas cap...

04 camry I4, japan built w/ 5-speed manual..

[Asteroid]

Are the US market Prius Japanese made? Over here the Prius were/ are sold as a "premium" Japanese car, and hence vastly better screwed together than the Camry - this is even more evident when looking at an older model. An older Camry will inevitably feel loose/ sloppy and the older US 2.4s were notorious for head bolts.

Here in Aus it'd be a no-contest (nor a comparison, an 05 Prius is worth double what an 03 Camry is!), but I know the US cars are pretty different.

[84Cressida]

All the Prii (better start using the official term sometime!) in the US are from Japan.

I would get the Camry, but only because it's a bigger more comfortable car. As for the Prius' battery life, time and time again it has been documented that the battery packs are VERY robust and can last the life of the vehicle. There are many older Prii's running around as taxi's and DDs that have hundreds of thousands of miles on them, and show no sign of quitting or any performance loss.

[arabianobsession]

^They'll always be "Priuses" to me

[workerant]

Camry for more power and space, highway and drop off the gran at airport with their full size suitcase.

Prius for city, excellent in traffic jam.

Bugatti Veyron for joy rides and race.