When the Prius was released in the US in 2000, I couldn't wait to get one. I test drove one when it came out, and was floored by the roomy interior, quietness of the engine, LCD display, mpg rating...this was the car of my dreams. The only negative I saw was the $20,000 price tag, which meant I had to wait several years before being able to buy one.

When the opportunity came in April of 2002, I took it. I bought the basic model, no sun roof, no 6-disk cd changer, for just a little over $20,000. I couldn't think of a better car to buy; it was green, used very little gas, and was made by Toyota, with a reputation for high quality, reliable products. The hybrid seemed perfect, all the benefits of new technology in electric engines, but none of the hassle of having a purely electric car. It seemed I could just get in, drive it like a normal vehicle, and reap the rewards of having a better then average car.

For the first 6 months or so that I owned the car, everything was perfect: I got 60 mpg on the way to work, had an ultra-quiet ride, and laughed at those caught wasting gas in bumper-to-bumper traffic (I live near Washington, D.C.). Unfortunately, this "honeymoon" period was not to last. Around the end of October,winter weather began to set in, and so did problems with my car. First, my fuel efficiency began to drop--from 60 to 50 mpg, then to 45 mpg, then to 40 mpg (where it has stayed). Turning the car on in the morning with the stereo on began to give me blasts of static instead of music. My fuel gage stopped functioning--told me I was out of fuel with 1/3 tank still left. Then, about November, the check engine light came on, officially proclaiming something was wrong with the car.

To make a long story short, 3 months, 4 (yes 4) trips to the dealer's service department, and much frustration later, I'm still not sure the car's been fully repaired. On each of my first 3 trips to get it serviced, the check engine light came back on within a few days of me getting the car back. My fuel gage was never repaired, and my questions about my fuel efficiency were shrugged off as "everyone's fuel economy drops during the winter." It was only with my FOURTH trip that I began to get some answers (of a sort): my fuel gage was recalibrated (we'll see if that works), they replaced my ENTIRE exhaust system (pipe to catalytic converter, plus the oxygen sensors), and tried to explain why my fuel efficiency had dropped so low. Apparently, the engine in the Prius is so delicate that the oxygenated gas we get in the winter causes it to run less efficiently, which can place a greater strain on the catalytic converter, which can reduce efficiency as it gets polluted, which can eventually cause the check engine soon light to come on. They also told me I can't let the tank get below 1/4 full, or that'll also mess up the engine and exhaust system. Finally, they told me to switch gas stations, as the one I was buying from was apparently letting water get into their gas, which showed up in my gas tank, causing my engine to misfire.

If it weren't so frustrating, I might find this amusing. Using just 3/4 of a tank, that means I should fuel up after using 9 gallons. At my current 40 mpg, that means I'll have gone 360 miles before needing to fuel up--20 MILES LESS than I used to go on my old Ford Escort before refueling (they have the same size gas tank). My wife also fuels at the same gas station I do, yet has had no problems with her 1998 Ford Explorer.

This has led me to one simple conclusion--most of those certified to work on the Prius really only know when to call Toyota for help. Even then, they probably won't know what's wrong, just make excuses and tell you to baby your car. My wife and I are currently looking to get out of our vehicle--if it's this much trouble now, what are we going to do when the warranty runs out?

I sincerely hope that my experience is singular, and that most Priuses are running fine after a year of use. However, I can only find very few reviews by those who have driven their Prius for a significant amount of time.

In short, if you live in a warm climate (California), you may never have any problems with your Prius. During the spring and summer here, neither did I. But if your weather turns cold during winter, think twice: are you willing to treat your car more delicately? Are you sure that you could have this car serviced for a reasonable price once the warranty runs out? Don't forget, it's Toyota's policy to NOT give you a rental car until they diagnose the problem--no drop off the broken car and drive off with a loaner. And finally, is it worth the price?
Amount Paid (US$): 20,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: CVT, ABS, Cd player, all power