2001 Toyota Prius from North America - Comments

Apart from the TSB issued from Toyota for the P3191 error code, this car has performed tremendously. It took the dealer two visits to properly correct the repair because they didn't have anyone on staff that was familiar with the technologically modernized Prius. That is why I rated Dealer Service at a 7. There's just not a lot of specialists with the Hybrid market. Although of course that will change in the next year or so with the Prius starting to sell more popularly.

I rated comfort as a 7 because the seats aren't the greatest human-friendly accessory in the car, that's for sure. It's a widely common issue of owners, but don't let that take away from the overall value of the vehicle. Also in the 01-03 Prius, the gear shift isn't in the greatest of locations. Radio operation sometimes is affected when you have to reach around it somewhat. Other than that, the interior is great. The MFD keeps you involved with driving the vehicle and it makes you take the car into your control in order to reap the benefits the HSD can give you.

When I first got in the car and took it to highway speeds I was very surprised how it handled when I easily passed another vehicle with barely no strain or drag. Also from a stop it accelerates nicely up to cruising speed. There are a lot of people that still have false notions about the idea of Hybrid vehicles. I try to give everyone a little bit of info when I'm asked about it. It is still definitely a head-turner, even though it's newer body style does that job just fine by itself.

I've not had to put any money into it other than regular oil changes and regular upkeep. Over the last year I have averaged about 49 MPG from March to November and about 42 MPG from December to March. That is mostly 70% Hwy and 30% City driving.

Once you learn how to get the most out of this vehicle you'll never again want to own a car that idles at a stoplight.

A 10/10 in performance?

Come on...

I understand what is meant by TSB and MPG, but I'm puzzled by MFD and HSD. Please Explain. ASAP.

Also, how do purchase price and resale value compare to a conventional car? We need to know this if we are to compare overall economy to a conventional car.

Also, modern cars are so quiet at idling that noise and vibration when stationary are not really an issue.

And how do maintenance costs compare to a conventional car?

This is an interesting review, but you have left out a lot of important stuff, such as I have described.

There is another review of the Prius on this site where a transmission repair cost the owner $8,400 which is absurd in an economy car.

And how often does the battery pack need to be replaced and at what cost?

MPG gives only part of the total running costs.

TTFN.

The author was not talking about how quiet the car is at idle, but what he or she meant is that it burns no fuel during idling because that's when the electric engine takes over. As for the other issues, I don't know, but looking at the fact that they are backed up with orders for this car, and the legendary Toyota resale value, I wouldn't be surprised if it was also high. Check out Consumer Reports for that.

Mfd = muti function display

HSD = hybrid sysenergy drive (toyota's hybrid system)

Here in California the Prius has rock solid resale value. A friend of mine took her 2002 to a dealer and the dealer told her demand was so strong he could sell it for $20K! She ended up selling it privately and bought a 2006.

Anyway, I would recommend that anyone who is thinking about a Prius to consider leasing. There are rumors that the battery pack alone will cost $5,000 to replace and may "die out" right after the warranty expires based on its estimated life. And that's on top of all the other high-tech stuff jammed in the car. And with the coming proliferation of hybrids coming down the pike, the Prius will no longer be unique in a few years.

I have a question about the Prius. My dad drives one for work occasionally, and it has a Continuously Variable Transmission, and on the shift indicator, is says P, R,N, D,B. What does the "B" mean?

I heard somewhere that a cab driver used a Prius to drive around, and the car had 180,000 miles from a lot of use, and didn't have to replace the battery pack. I like hybrids - they're saving the environment. Drive on.

I own a 2001 Prius. I have 201K miles on it. The battery pack is still going strong. I was getting 42 mpg as the batteries were not as strong at 201K miles. I have only replace the water pump, O2 sensor, and catalytic converter. I replaced the shocks at 80K and again at 180K (free the second time free due to Toyota parts policy). Original brakes.

However…. This last mother’s day it stopped running due to a failed “inverter”. The dealer wanted $750.00 to diagnose the cause and rule out a short in the transmission that may have caused the inverter to go out. The inverter is the main voltage and electric controller. If the inverter only needed to be replaced the charge would have been $5,500.00.. if the transmission also needed replacing (due to a short) then the repair bill was loosely estimated at 10 to 12K.

I have placed the vehicle on eBay; to hopefully find a brave mechanic in search of a hybrid project. I will be ordering a 2006 Prius this afternoon at the same dealer from which I bought the car. There is no way I will ever go back to low mileage polluting straight gas engine vehicles.

Richard.

Re: Performance.

I posted this with a 10/10 because it has given me everything I could have asked for.

At 60 MPH on the highway I can accelerate around a vehicle quickly and slide right back in land with no problems. Then as I slow down from the pass back to 60 MPH, the gas engine shuts off and runs off the battery to give MPG a big boost.

It is peppy around town and from a stop.

It gets up to highway speeds quick enough.

Of course the MPG is astounding.

It handles on curves and turns enough to not have to brake when going into them.

It costs nothing to maintain. The only service between new and the 100,000 mile mark is air filter every 20,000 mile and oil filter and oil change every 7,500 miles.

It doesn't get a 6.2 in the quarter mile, but I don't want a car that does that. The only thing performance wise it doesn't do for me.

Also, to answer another question... "B" is for engine braking, similar to what a semi truck can do to help slow a car down. If you are in a very long descent down a hill or steep grade, if you kick it into "B", the engine helps slow the vehicle down, takes the energy and kinetically recharges the battery, and also allows better control of the vehicle, and does not wear brake pads out by having to "ride" them off and on as you descend the hill.

The only reason not to buy this car is if you want either A) A convertible. B) A pickup truck. or C) A faux race car.

...all that and I never even got into emissions, saving gas money, reducing the dependence on oil, total recyclability of the vehicle and battery system, using the new technology.

I mean, we have dogs and in the summer it gets hot, right? We turn the car on, turn the A/C on, roll up the windows, and the dogs hang out in there as we are in the store... and the engine doesn't even run only to recharge the batter that operates the A/C and even that doesn't kick on unless the battery was low before you parked.

Congrats on buying a Prius. Help the environment. Ride on!

ON the Gearshift, B stands for Braked Drive, meaning when you are running downhill the engine assists with slowing the car, whereas usually the regenerative braking (or battery charging from the driven wheels) brakes the car... its not a good idea to use this unless it's a steep hill because you will get more power back into the battery with standard drive and a little braking on the pedal.

By the way I have a 2005 Prius at work and a 2002 Prius at home and we love them. The trim in the 2002 is great and once you have got used to the method of driving and the wierd gearstick its great... I fight my wife to drive it"

I have a 2001 Prius which rides great, and I have been very happy with the mileage.

But the repair costs are excessive. I have been quoted $1340 for a catalytic converter and ~$300 for a new 12 volt ignition battery. The old battery (GS Nippon Denchi S34B20L) was replaced from Toyota with a new $150 battery which needs a $50 kit to make it work in the 2001 Prius and another $98 for the installation. Fortunately I found one at http://www.elearnaid.com/12vobaforpr2.html that fits my old car without any kit required for $98.

Hopefully I can find something similar for the converter.

Regarding 2001 Prius and catalytic converters, I have found that just by switching gasoline providers that I have been able to mitigate a code I was getting from the Catalytic converter. Apparently Chevron gasoline has additives that seem to improve Prius catalytic converter life, and while we all have our gas preferences, I prefer to have a car that runs and doesn't code, at the expense of buying a single brand of gasoline. So, before you spend $$ on a new catalytic converter, try running a few tank loads of Chevron regular gasoline through your car. It may make all the difference you need!

I'm considering purchasing a 2001 Prius. The dealer said that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. I just read a comment here about using Chevron gasoline to extent the life of the catalytic converter.

Does anyone know how long this might enable me to put off replacing it? It has a new battery but 238K miles. It has been very well maintained and I've seen all the service records.