I'm about to commit on a 2004 Prius with the total package. With tax and License here, it's a shade of $29k and a 7 month wait., Any comments pro or con would be appreciated. Thanks, Don A.

you won't be sorry and you won't lose value at the rate other cars do... good luck......ted

I've had an 04 for 4 months now. I love it. I've always driven sports cars and hot rods, so this is a complete 180 for me. Plenty of power, great mileage, awesome NAV system, and people everywhere want to look and ask questions. Go for it, dude! good luck Duane K. On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 15:41:07 -0700 (PDT) Don Alldredge <

I'm so bummed. I just got my fully loaded 04 Prius six days ago, after a 5 month wait and the check engine light came on last night. The mannuel says to bring it to Toyota immeadiately. I hope this Motor Trend car of the year doesn't turn out to be a lemonChris

Don A. I paid $28,949 for everything possible including $1300 to more than double the bumper to bumper warranty, it raised it to 7 years or 75000 miles. I don't usually extend warranties but I know it costs $3800. to replace the gps unit. I'd buy it again, the cash investment I made has a better return on gas money saved than if I would have left in savings or invested it in stocks. It is fun to drive, especially if you are into trying to practice driving techniques that result in outstanding gas milage. Most of my driving is freeway which isn't the optimum but if I use poor driving driving techniques I can get <40mpg or with good techniques >60mpg. Cold weather has a big effect because the engine runs more. In heavy rains, a lot of water on the road has a declining effect on milage, as does a stiff head wind. Conversely a good tailwind on a sunny sixty degree day has a positive effect. I ordered my Prius last July and got it in February. A large number of people ridiculed that decision to buy a hybrid, but I've studied everything about hybrids and the different methods of doing it and came to the conclusion that it is the car of the future for the next ten years. The next major change will be hydrogen powered hybrids. So far I've not regretted the decision and I don't anticipate that to happen because even if I do run into problems I know from past expierience that the dealer I bought it from is committed to taking care of its sales and that Toyota has a strong intrest in promoting the reliability of the technique. Good luck with your decision. Sincerely, Ray Liptak

Thank you all for your comments. We ordered a 2004 with all the Bells and whistles. Delivery is expected to be 7 months, but we feel it's worth the wait! Come to thinks of it, we will be getting a 2005 ! Best, Don ray liptak

ss dd: Happened to me, too. I took it back to the dealer (called them first and they said bring it in, just in case). It was as Deb said -- burning off some oil or something that they put on in shipping. I got the recall notice, too, and that also was a quick fix by dealer. No problems, absolutely none, otherwise, except enthusiastic adolescent passengers who want me to stop the car so they can play with the GPS, and lots of questions from guys at the car wash, in parking lots, next to me on the boulevards, ... oh wait, that isn't a problem. Also, any time I take it to dealer for service, the settings on the panel are switched over to the GPS screen when I get it back. (7200 miles on it and counting) ef ss dd

I would not worry about the check engine light coming on. The customer service manager who delivered my 04 to me told me to expect that to happen in the first few months. Mine did it one day when I had stopped by the dealership to pick up some touch-up paint (because of the low/sloping nose shape, it picks up a lot of small gravel etc). I bought my touch up stick, got in my car and every warning light in the d%$% thing came on and stayed on. I immediately drove into the service drive where I was told that the Prius technician was off that afternoon. I told the service advisor that I would return the next day after work and that I was not going to worry about it because the car was in warranty. I drove it home, turned off the power, turned it back on and the problem had ceased. Famous word of advice, my friend: REBOOT!!!!!! Several times if necessary. Duane K. On Sat, 1 May 2004 07:58:22 -0400 (EDT) "ss dd" <iamdorb@...> writes: I'm so bummed. I just got my fully loaded 04 Prius six days ago, after a 5 month wait and the check engine light came on last night. The mannuel says to bring it to Toyota immeadiately. I hope this Motor Trend car of the year doesn't turn out to be a lemonChris