May 2005 Prius - The New Revision Models

[poslcda]

I drove both pre and post revision Prius back to back last year and there is an easily discernable if not huge difference, especially on the sharpness of the handling (turn-in and body roll control).

But is there any visual difference between the two? Some of the more recent photos I've seen give the impression that the radiator grill might have more prominent vertical slats, but it could have been an illusion. Alternatively, some way of telling from the VIN?

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This is exactly the question I was going to ask! ToyotaPR, you drove the new revisions last year? Was that a different revision to the May one ,as I thought they were only revised in May (although I realise that they would be actually produced prior to that)? - by your scren name and insider access, are you an internal Toyota employee?

Did you notice much in terms of the noise reduction aspects of the revision (acoustic windscreen and extra body padding) - my Prius has more roadnoise at high speeds than I expected...

I noticed in a recent ad for the Avensis that they now feature acoustic windscreens as well...

thanks for any info you can provide :-)

[Toyota PR]

I'm the head of PR for Toyota GB hence very honest screen name.

I drove the car last year with some VIP press (Car of the Year jurors) who also got an early steer of the RX400h we've only just launched and the rather oddball so-called Prius GT. It is not unusual for off-line early prototypes of these sorts of things to be driven by selected media months ahead of production proper.

As well as being stripped out the normal Prius 1.5 petrol engine is replaced by a 1.5 from the Yaris T Sport. It is quicker, but no plans for production however.

The road car mods were stiffening of certain chassis/body parts to increase the overall stiffness of the Shell and so improve handling. I have to say I do not recall any particular change in the noise levels - it was months ago and I was slinging it round a nice twisty country road - but Prius is pretty quiet anyway (nearly as good as my new GS in most cases).

I'm trying to get an answer to the VIN number question, but I am pretty sure there is no external visual difference on the cars.

[poslcda]

I'm the head of PR for Toyota GB hence very honest screen name.

(snipped text)

I'm trying to get an answer to the VIN number question, but I am pretty sure there is no external visual difference on the cars.

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That's great - I'm really pleased and reassured by the fact that my investment in Toyota is in a company where you're taking time to hang out in the forums...good to see a company and it's team on the cluetrain :-)

Thanks for looking into the VIN number/revision issue - I will be much more comfortable when I can confirm that I got the May '05 revision as I intended...I couldn't find any info on the Toyota website on the revisions.

cheers,

guy.

[Toyota PR]

Not forgotten - just not got the VIN number info yet. Key people away in Japan for conference. Got the part numbers for the power steering and windscreen (both different to last year's model) but not much use to anyone without access to a Toyota Parts system!

Hopefully next week.

[RobertH]

Not forgotten - just not got the VIN number info yet. Key people away in Japan for conference. Got the part numbers for the power steering and windscreen (both different to last year's model) but not much use to anyone without access to a Toyota Parts system!

Hopefully next week.

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Will this apply outside of the UK?? I bought my Prius in May but don't think that it was one of the newer ones. I

[Toyota PR]

VIN number info should apply internationally.

[poslcda]

VIN number info should apply internationally.

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Brilliant - thanks for the update - how are you planning to disseminate the info? Would it be helpful (or really unhelpful :-) to privately message you with our VINs? I got as far as figuring out my car was made in Japan and then gave up...

cheers,

guy.

[Toyota PR]

You can PM me if you like. I can't claim to be on TOC every day - or even every week - but I check regularly.

[Tawse57]

2006 Prius?

http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=5029

[diverdave]

VIN number info should apply internationally.

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Hi, I have tried tracing the meaning of the vin numbers but can only find the American versions which seems to be different fron the european ones.There is one American website that you can go onto where you just put in your vin number and it will tell you what each set of figures and numbers mean, put mine in and it only told me where it was made not the year etc. Can't seem to find a similar site for european vin numbers, have you had any luck finding out how to get the year of manufacture from the vin number ?

[Toyota PR]

Here's the info.

Prius manufactured since March 2005 feature a series of modifications,

such as:

Extension to the front suspension tower brace

I/P reinforcement

Rear spats size increase

EPS (electric power steering) has been retuned

All the above modifications aim to improve the steering feel.

Furthermore, the front windscreen has been upgraded to acoustic glass in

order to improve NVH.

Cut off VIN

NHW20-3052970 - (Tsutsumi Plant)

NHW20-7019534 - (Toyota Auto Body Plant)

date : 2005 March 15

[LesP2005]

Here's the info

Cut off VIN

NHW20-3052970 - (Tsutsumi Plant)

NHW20-7019534 - (Toyota Auto Body Plant)

date : 2005 March 15

Now I'm more than a little miffed at that VIN information since I bought my T4 Prius on 29 April 2005 from my local dealer (Pinkstones)having being assured twice that the vehicle supplied would have the mods. But my VIN JTDKB20U307014371 would seem to indicate otherwise if I'm interpreting it correctly. I thought all the previous versions had been removed from the supply chain in early April.

Regards

Les

[diverdave]

Here's the info

Cut off VIN

NHW20-3052970 - (Tsutsumi Plant)

NHW20-7019534 - (Toyota Auto Body Plant)

date : 2005 March 15

Now I'm more than a little miffed at that VIN information since I bought my T4 Prius on 29 April 2005 from my local dealer (Pinkstones)having being assured twice that the vehicle supplied would have the mods. But my VIN JTDKB20U307014371 would seem to indicate otherwise if I'm interpreting it correctly. I thought all the previous versions had been removed from the supply chain in early April.

Regards

Les

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I'm miffed too ! I was also assured that mine had the latest mods when I bought mine in the first week of May !

[clicker]

2006 Prius?

http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=5029

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Hi,

Just wondering if anybody knows whether the 2006 Prius changes apply to Europe, specifically Ireland or do they just apply to North America? It's just that I ordered a Prius last week and was told that there are no changes/upgrades due and I'll be pretty upset if that's not the case!

Thanks

Just found out! There will be minor changes to the '06 model, but the spec of the standard model won't change. They will be taking orders for the new model in December and the car will be available in February.