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Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2009 8:31:31 PM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Today was my first experience riding in a Prius (friend has it as a loaner from the Toyota dealership while they finish the buy-back on his Tundra for the rust recall issue). - The drive system was excellent, it would be easy to get 50 mpg out of the vehicle. You could just barely feel when the engine kicked-on form the battery, just the right amount of feed-back. Acceleration is poor, but this is to be expected. - The exterior styling leaves a lot to be desired. Very vanilla, ugly hatch-back (reminds me of the Aztek)... - The interior styling is much of the same (vanilla), except that the dashboard is HUGE! Seems like a waste of space. The visual for the mpg/energy is nice, as well as the display that shows when the gas engine is running vs. the battery as well as when the battery is charging. I'm not sure why a car as small as a Prius would need a back-up camera. The 'chime' that continuously sounds (similar to when you leave your lights on) while in reverse is extremely annoying, please let me know if this is an option that can be disabled so I can inform my friend! - Handling is OK, could use some better tires as the grip doesn't seem to be adequate on wet roads. The tires are probably engineered for the least amount of rolling resistance in mind. Overall, not a bad car for commuting, but not something I would purchase for myself. MPG doesn't have to be boring!

Weaslespit

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Cincinnati

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Message Posted: May 9, 2009 8:31:31 PM

Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse

Today was my first experience riding in a Prius (friend has it as a loaner from the Toyota dealership while they finish the buy-back on his Tundra for the rust recall issue).

- The drive system was excellent, it would be easy to get 50 mpg out of the vehicle. You could just barely feel when the engine kicked-on form the battery, just the right amount of feed-back. Acceleration is poor, but this is to be expected.

- The exterior styling leaves a lot to be desired. Very vanilla, ugly hatch-back (reminds me of the Aztek)...

- The interior styling is much of the same (vanilla), except that the dashboard is HUGE! Seems like a waste of space. The visual for the mpg/energy is nice, as well as the display that shows when the gas engine is running vs. the battery as well as when the battery is charging. I'm not sure why a car as small as a Prius would need a back-up camera. The 'chime' that continuously sounds (similar to when you leave your lights on) while in reverse is extremely annoying, please let me know if this is an option that can be disabled so I can inform my friend!

- Handling is OK, could use some better tires as the grip doesn't seem to be adequate on wet roads. The tires are probably engineered for the least amount of rolling resistance in mind.

Overall, not a bad car for commuting, but not something I would purchase for myself. MPG doesn't have to be boring!

REPLIES (newest first)

Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 1, 2009 7:40:58 PM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse kettledrum - your links worked like a charm, Prius no longer beeps when in reverse! Outstanding!
impala1 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,366 Points:2,175,600 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 23, 2009 9:20:50 AM Ignore impala1 Report Abuse Somebody down the street has one sitting in his driveway
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 23, 2009 4:38:20 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Firepower - I couldn't agree more, you assessment mirrors my own experience.
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 23, 2009 4:36:56 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Thank-you kettle for your information regarding the reverse chime, I will let my friend know so he can try to disable it!
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 23, 2009 4:35:49 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse gemini - I really don't think that the majority of vehicles will take on the shape of the Prius/Insight. I would agree that each manufacturer will have their ultra-low drag-shaped vehicle, but too-many people are put-off by this design (and the marginal gain in mpg) for it to become mainstream.
LordElgin Champion Author Fresno Posts:1,012 Points:258,875 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 11:11:26 AM Ignore LordElgin Report Abuse In my opinion, all of Toyota's interiors are vanilla right now. Very boring.
debp53 Sophomore Author Albany Posts:214 Points:16,055 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 9:40:42 AM Ignore debp53 Report Abuse At least the Prius looks like you have a car around you and good MPG, how about a Smart car? I passed one on the highway and it looked like the guy was sitting in an enclosed golf cart. There wasn't anything between him and the windshield or him and the back bumper - looked as if he was sitting in the front seat frame (like in a commercial to show the interior). And it doesn't get the MPG (rated below 40MPG)
kettledrum Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:11,978 Points:2,002,435 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 9:09:46 AM Ignore kettledrum Report Abuse The reverse beep can be disabled. Any of these should do the trick. http://www.priusownersgroup.com/?cat=25 http://priuschat.com/forums/knowledge-base-articles-discussion/37380-disabling-reverse-beep.html http://www.wikihow.com/Disable-Reverse-Beep-in-a-Toyota-Prius
Somis1 Champion Author Ventura Posts:8,311 Points:1,658,425 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 8:13:38 AM Ignore Somis1 Report Abuse Check out the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid if you don't like the Prius' looks. Or even if you do. Ford could use the business.
firepower Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,470 Points:559,675 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 7:46:39 AM Ignore firepower Report Abuse Dagwood,xactly my point. It doesn't work for me and does for you. The market works. Yea! I am not looking for some messiah to make my Kar selection for me. I can do that all by myself.
dagwood55 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,387 Points:142,110 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 7:22:49 AM Ignore dagwood55 Report Abuse firepower, The tires you can fix and the buzzer, too, if you own it. However, if you can't stomach the way it looks, then the car is not for you. Nothing wrong with that. Tastes differ. I like the looks; in fact, I like the small changes in the new one better. But I'm not you. --- Geminijax, I have read that it's an updated IMA system (bigger engine than the Insight I). I like the physical packaging of IMA but it doesn't provide the mpg improvement you get with the Prius system. And I haven't tried one out but I have read that the interior is noticeably smaller. Most of our family members are tall, so we'd be less likely to be interested in the Insight for that reason.
firepower Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,470 Points:559,675 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 21, 2009 6:58:03 AM Ignore firepower Report Abuse I rented a Prius for a 1 week, 2000 mile trip and observed it did get great mileage, had acceptable acceleration for an encono box. But I found it an unpleasant Kar overall. The lack of styling (or just ugly styling; I don't know what they were shooting for. Cute ugly or just no style at all I don't know which.) is a definite turn off. I Wanted to rip the dash to shreds looking for that stupid reverse buzzer. I am not into noise pollution. I know it is in reverse; I am the one who did it. Reminded me of an old Datsun that did the same thing. Terrible. The tires roll over in defeat at the first squirmy section of road. But they are optimized for economy so that is no surprise. The seats were only passable. But there are many cars with sub par seats so the Prius is not singular in this respect. Batteries are always a question mark down the road. With a lease this wouldn't be as much a problem. It is a commuter appliance and seems good for that. But as an overall car it is highly unsatisfying for me. I commute to work on my bicycle, so I don't need an appliance. I need a car.
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 20, 2009 9:13:32 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse dagwood, you're on the money. Hybrids are the only available way to recapture some energy that is usually lost. Most cars are going to morph towards the Prius/Insight type shape. Based on what I've read, the 2010 Prius fractionally improves the Cd (0.25, I believe). I've looked at the Insight briefly. Haven't had a chance to test drive it yet. After looking around the interior and the instrumentation, my daughter commented that she liked the Prius' interior much better, as it was more practical and functional. Is the new Insight still a mild hybrid? Do you know?
Alcoman Champion Author Albany Posts:1,124 Points:52,525 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: May 17, 2009 11:40:04 AM Ignore Alcoman Report Abuse I don't commute so why would I want a POS like that anyway? There is no such thing as a "perfect car" and that "THING" is so far away from perfect, I would rather drive a Dodge Ram!
dagwood55 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,387 Points:142,110 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: May 17, 2009 10:20:07 AM Ignore dagwood55 Report Abuse geminijax, Too true. But, in the long run, I think most cars will have an electric or fuel-electric drivetrain. The physics of energy recapture are just too appealing. The Prius, or something very much like it, including the wind-cheating shape, is the future of mainstream automobiles. The question is, will GM come out with a competitor vehicle with similar characteristics, at a reasonable price, or will they be road kill?
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 17, 2009 7:24:16 AM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse dagwood, Toyota/Prius bashers are never going to be positive about the Prius.
dagwood55 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,387 Points:142,110 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: May 15, 2009 7:17:46 AM Ignore dagwood55 Report Abuse radstoy writes, "They are yougly" Well, somebody likes 'em: 75K Prius Preorders !
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:3,942 Points:45,045 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 15, 2009 7:16:49 AM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse Not a vehicle I would want to drive or own.
radstoy Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:13,051 Points:2,548,225 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: May 15, 2009 3:29:19 AM Ignore radstoy Report Abuse They are yougly
Boyrr Champion Author Allentown Posts:10,269 Points:2,190,425 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 15, 2009 3:12:34 AM Ignore Boyrr Report Abuse have been in one, not to impressed
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2009 9:48:01 PM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Just saw a commercial for the new Prius, I have to say it does look better (inside and out). Too-bad the Fusion doesn't have a fold-down rear seat, that could have been a real asset!
RAD3 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,541 Points:1,257,840 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2009 9:20:22 AM Ignore RAD3 Report Abuse "OTOH, Weaselspit has had only one test drive. So, his basis for that comment is strictly limited. " While Weaslespit experience may be limited to one test drive, I certainly wouldn't dismiss the validity of his comments.
RAD3 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,541 Points:1,257,840 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 14, 2009 9:16:07 AM Ignore RAD3 Report Abuse "I also should note that the size of the Prius also deters me, since I require more cargo space. I am really looking forward to seeing the hybrid 2010 Fusion and hopefully a hybrid 2010 Taurus. " The 2010 Fusion hybrid doesn't have fold-down rear seats. That may limit your cargo capacity.
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 14, 2009 8:54:26 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Exactly Sticky - the Prius is the perfect car for that application. I also should note that the size of the Prius also deters me, since I require more cargo space. I am really looking forward to seeing the hybrid 2010 Fusion and hopefully a hybrid 2010 Taurus.
StickySam Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,787 Points:583,605 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: May 14, 2009 6:25:34 AM Ignore StickySam Report Abuse I have a freind who has one, she loves it. However she is the type that has no interest in cars ( nothing wrong with that ) and wouldn`t know a good set of tyres if she fell over them. She drives slow so handling does not matter, just the daily 60 mile commute.
biododge1 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:74 Points:15,380 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 9:27:08 PM Ignore biododge1 Report Abuse The main thing people need to remember with ANY hybrid is it's real intended purpose to save gas. [Edited by: biododge1 at 5/14/2009 12:27:39 AM EST]
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 8:54:14 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse Baron62nd: "My first experience in a Prius was "How can a human ride in this?" My second was "How can a human get out of this thing!". " Why do you consider those to be such difficult tasks? Over a million satisfied consumers, of varying sizes and shapes, have been able to do without any problem. What seems to be your difficulty?
luxuryrules Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:5,731 Points:123,200 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 7:44:01 PM Ignore luxuryrules Report Abuse Good MPG doesn't have to be boring, Lotus is a prime example of that. Or my friend's SR20DET-powered 240SX averages 31mpg, which is nothing to sneeze at for a car making close to 400hp. Of course, practicality then goes out the window. Seems the choice is, Practical, Fun, Fuel Economy: pick two. Know what else they could bring back for fuel economy and fun? The AE86 Corolla. If they can keep the silly thing under 2500lbs and just stick a Corolla motor in it with variable valve timing and a more aggressive tune, they'd only be big brakes and a tweaked suspension away from a winner.
dagwood55 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,387 Points:142,110 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 3:20:01 PM Ignore dagwood55 Report Abuse Baron62nd writes, "My first experience in a Prius was "How can a human ride in this?" My second was "How can a human get out of this thing!". There will be no more experiences with a Prius." Why? Are you incredibly fat or something? I'm well over 6' tall and Wii Fit says I really need to work on my weight but I find the Prius has plenty of room and is easy to enter and exit.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:14,456 Points:1,862,920 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 11:17:31 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse "The huge dashboard is the direct result of the aggressive windshield slope." Has anyone sat in a Venza? I'm wondering how you clean the inside of the windshield.
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 13, 2009 6:09:01 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse As you have noted gemini, no other hybrids have been around for 10 years, kudos to Toyota for that. The Prius is not a bad vehicle for commuting, it certainly has great reliability and an excellent drive system. The subjective items reveiwed though would deter me from purchasing it.
Palm 1434 All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:599 Points:269,015 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 10:38:17 PM Ignore Palm 1434 Report Abuse Test drove a current generation when they came out, found the acceleration to be too poor, so I purchased a Corolla S, very happy with it, would like the 50's as mpg, so I have made a appt. to test drive the new one when my dealer gets one, looking foward as car mags say the acceleration is now much better.
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 9:07:28 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse RAD3, you are indeed correct that the Prius isn't a sports car, nor was it meant to be. However, the Prius is no slouch when it comes to moving in traffic, including highway driving. I know that from first hand experience. OTOH, Weaselspit has had only one test drive. So, his basis for that comment is strictly limited.
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 9:01:02 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse Weaslespit, don't worry, you didn't step on my toes. I've owned a Prius for almost four years now. I've posted about it on several threads. It has proven to be an excellent and highly reliable vehicle. My evaluation of the Prius spanned several months and detailed research, including multiple test drives, with my family and the salesman sitting in it. At the time I bought the Prius, I didn't really need another car. It was a business/financial decision, which has definitely proven to be accurate. "If I did need a new vehicle now, I would consider another hybrid over the Insight and the Prius." Sure! It's a free country. Which other hybrids have the track record of the Prius?
RAD3 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,541 Points:1,257,840 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 7:56:06 AM Ignore RAD3 Report Abuse ""Acceleration is poor, but this is to be expected" The Prius does 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. That's isn't exactly shabby and is downright excellent considering the economy the car delivers." When most cars can out accelerate the Prius, Weaslespit assessment is spot on. Let's not fool ourselves. It's not a sports car nor was it meant to be. ""except that the dashboard is HUGE! Seems like a waste of space" That's because the dashboard is designed to display quite a few indicators, depending upon the situation. Take a look at the manual for details." The huge dashboard is the direct result of the aggressive windshield slope. ""MPG doesn't have to be boring!" How many cars provide the economy, the reliability and the rest of the features that make the Prius an excellent family vehicle AND still provide "excitement"?" Most fuel sippers purchasers aren't looking for excitement. With excitement, meaning more aggressive driving, would only lead to poorer fuel efficiency. Interesting to note that the new Insight is regarded as a more "exciting & better handling" vehicle than the new Prius.
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 6:07:47 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse Sorry to step on your toes, gemini, but the Prius didn't make an overall positive impression on me. You like yours (I'm assuming you own one based on your comments), and that is great. I would hope you wouldn't buy something you didn't like. As you pointed out, there aren't many vehicles that get the Prius' and the Insight's mpg ratings, which is why I would personally wait for the plug-in technology (i.e. Volt) to mature since I don't have a need for a new vehicle at the moment so as to have more options to choose from. If I did need a new vehicle now, I would consider another hybrid over the Insight and the Prius. Everything I mentioned is subjective, which is why I called the post an 'Experience'. The chime in reverse is a deal-breaker on its own for me, that was so annoying I would rather coast backwards out of my driveway than hear it...
Baron62nd Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,537 Points:754,945 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: May 12, 2009 5:03:37 AM Ignore Baron62nd Report Abuse My first experience in a Prius was "How can a human ride in this?" My second was "How can a human get out of this thing!". There will be no more experiences with a Prius.
biododge1 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:74 Points:15,380 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 10:48:36 PM Ignore biododge1 Report Abuse Also, keep in mind the exterior styling is more function then form. the well hated rear of the prius(and insight) is for less drag(komm theory iirc). A different shape would yield less mpg. I too could not get used to the dash. But, I do like the options availible. The tires I presume are LLR type(similar to hondas re92 tire),a tradeoff was made-more mpg, less performance(but not bad). Fwiw. What year prius was it? the new ones are loaded to the gills with stuff. Also, if a prius is not for you check out a "new" insight. They are cheaper, but are decently equip. I don't recommend a first gen insight(in your case) as it is smaller, a 2 seater, and is maximized for mpg-ie very few options. [Edited by: biododge1 at 5/12/2009 1:50:08 AM EST]
littleyellowman Champion Author Hamilton Posts:2,520 Points:473,690 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 9:56:48 PM Ignore littleyellowman Report Abuse Thanks for talking about ur experience in the Prius! I have always been interested in the Prius and haven't yet had the chance to drive one! Toyota is the best using this technology!
geminijax Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:11,517 Points:1,757,320 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 8:24:01 PM Ignore geminijax Report Abuse Weaslespit: "Acceleration is poor, but this is to be expected" The Prius does 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. That's isn't exactly shabby and is downright excellent considering the economy the car delivers. "The exterior styling leaves a lot to be desired. Very vanilla, ugly hatch-back (reminds me of the Aztek)" That's a subjective issue. IMHO, the Prius doesn't bear any resemblance to the Aztek. On an older thread, I recall a poster stating that the Prius resembled the Aztek. I also recall another poster wanting to know when the first poster had his/her eyesight checked. For me, reliability takes a higher precedence over styling. "except that the dashboard is HUGE! Seems like a waste of space" That's because the dashboard is designed to display quite a few indicators, depending upon the situation. Take a look at the manual for details. "I'm not sure why a car as small as a Prius would need a back-up camera." First of all, that's an option. Secondly, those with small children, pets, etc. find the rear view camera an excellent option. " The 'chime' that continuously sounds (similar to when you leave your lights on) while in reverse is extremely annoying" Personally, the chime doesn't bother me at all. Don't know if it can be disabled, since I've never bothered to find out. To me, that's a non-issue. "Handling is OK, could use some better tires as the grip doesn't seem to be adequate on wet roads." Mine has the VSC. From personal experience, I know that those tires are more than adequate on wet roads, as well as icy, mountainous roads. "MPG doesn't have to be boring!" How many cars provide the economy, the reliability and the rest of the features that make the Prius an excellent family vehicle AND still provide "excitement"?
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:14,456 Points:1,862,920 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 9:40:25 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse I love the Prius mpg, reliability and the vehicle price. However, I don't care for the size or the styling so I won't be buying one unless gas gets to $10 a gallon.
bluenvoy Champion Author Nashville Posts:7,791 Points:1,088,540 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 7:42:33 AM Ignore bluenvoy Report Abuse Just stay in the right lane so all the more powerful cars and trucks can pass.
Weaslespit Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,998 Points:91,695 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 7:19:38 AM Ignore Weaslespit Report Abuse That depends on your definition of poor acceleration, Mertie. I don't consider the 4-cylinder Stratus as having good acceleration either...just the nature of a 4-banger. The electric acceleration is better than the gas engine acceleration, I'll give you that. [Edited by: Weaslespit at 5/11/2009 10:20:08 AM EST]
WhiteRaven48 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,250 Points:37,470 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 5:07:25 AM Ignore WhiteRaven48 Report Abuse My dad has the '09 Escape hybrid. I drove it and really like it!
matman01 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,154 Points:1,009,420 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 11, 2009 4:58:17 AM Ignore matman01 Report Abuse Anyone looking for a great Hybrid should look to Ford. I have an 09 Escape Hybrid and I LOVE it!
Benzilla Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,160 Points:1,545,095 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 10, 2009 8:57:56 AM Ignore Benzilla Report Abuse Put me in a cheap Japanese car when I die.
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:6,948 Points:1,249,505 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: May 10, 2009 5:19:55 AM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse I have no desire to get aquainted with a Prius.
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:11,450 Points:2,394,585 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: May 10, 2009 4:54:29 AM Ignore jes Report Abuse Interesting comments. I've yet to experience one.