Is Toyota taking a step backwards? I think so.

Not sure who started the "highbrow" or "you guys are jerks" rant... but we all own or like the Prius, right? Can't we all get along? I do admit that some threads here are created to incite arguments or criticism of others, and not to educate or inform.

To think Toyota is taking a step backwards makes no sense to me, but that is what this thread is all about.

Although I do have to question the word of a person who has a Lexus as their avatar - jk SW03ES

:yield:

 

Ford is doing better, imo, than any of the domestics.
However, if they really want to move forward, an EV would be nice. I believe they have one they are working on. At one point they had the Th!nk City EVs but they sold that off/canceled that deal.
They actually tried to scrap the cars, but they technically were leasing the cars and the company they were leasing from said NO, we want those back in working condition.

Kudos to Ford for the new hybrid direction. But I don't see them 'kicking Toyota's nice person' anytime soon.

 

Well you can call it for what it is, Toyota hasn't moved much forward with the new Prius design, the best innovations they left out of the US market, add those in and the new Prius is a move forward. Ford on the other hand, has a very nice product, good sound system, innovative dash set up, better seats, and is moving forward.

I love my Prius, but Toyota is not going to create long term customers with their attitude. I will be thinking a lot about different brands when I consider again, their lack of attention to sound, dash set up, screen quality, no HUD, auto lights, power seats, forced purchase of accessories, the way they package things, and finally dealer lack of respect and truthfulness will be a big factor as to whether I purchase another Toyota, no matter how good is.

 

I guess I'm no longer a jerk, and I voted with my wallet, since I just got a G3V with Nav!

 

I've driven the new model and it IS an upgrade, just not the upgrade we were all hoping for.

No car's perfect. I still see the Prius as the best available right now. And I'm STILL waiting patiently for a sensible plug in and I don't care who makes it. I have zero brand loyalty. Whatever I can do to keep my money from flowing to the ME is what I'll do.

 

I see the new Prius as being targeted at a more mainstream buyer. Those of us that are really happy with the Gen II have a few issues with some of the "improvements" on the Gen III, but I generally understand the thinking behind the changes. If I could cherry pick the best of both, I would keep the "rolling video game" feel of the Gen II instrumentation while adding the new HSD with improved power, mileage, and better traction control.

Tom

 

I test drove the 2010 before buying a 2008 used. For me, the big 'step backwards' was removing the backup cam and making part of a 2K 'nav' option. C'mon, who pays 2k for a navigation option unless you like throwing money away. I live in the city and parallel park all the time, so backup cam for me was a deciding factor. Maybe not so much for many, but I love it!

 

Beg to disagree. That's not a "step backwards"...at least in terms of reliability, safety, mileage, technology or functionality. It's a marketing/sales change. That's like saying that it's a step backwards if Toyota no longer offered a certain color...or Toyota charged more (but the car was superior in almost every aspect).

I have buddies who won't buy a new BMW because they don't like the new body style...but i don't hear them saying it's a "step backwards".

 

You can buy an after market back-up camera for under $100 + install or you could park like people have been parking for the last 100 years, with mirrors and turning your head.

I'd have a Gen III if I could justify the expense in my circumstances, but I cant. As I no longer commute to and from work in my Prius, I have a company Land Cruiser I have to drive, I'm struggling to justify keeping the Prius actually. I have gone from driving my Prius 6 days a week to driving it 1 or 2 days a week and generally for much shorter distances than I have in the past.

 

I find my backup camera on my 08 to be superfluous. It's not like a giant SUV where you can't see behind you and you can't really backup using it as a guide. In the winter it's often foggy/dirty and hence useless anyways. And while I enjoy the energy monitor on our 05 and 08, it's purely novelty and expensive to replace if it fails. I would not miss it moving to an Gen III.

My dad's 2010 has my wife and I seriously considering an upgrade to the 05. It has an EV button which i really like, it handles better, and the exterior lines on the sides are improved.
What we really want is a plug in, but I'm not sure we can wait to upgrade the 05. My wife REALLY wants the smartkey and iPod hookup she lacks on the 05.

 

I think the "step backwards" idea is a bit short sighted.
The primary purpose of the car is to provide transportation. For the Prius it is to do it with high mpg and low emissions, etc. The 2010 clearly advances the state of the art in building a hybrid system at an economical price point. The hybrid drive components are smaller and lighter while providing more power and higher mpg.

Pretty much (for me) everything else is a bit cosmetic, like the placement and quantity of the cup holders. Sure, all these types of things can be important, but can also be a matter of taste.

3PriusMike

 

I think we all hoped for a big step forward, and found the 2010 to be only a baby step. I also think it has to do with the Nimh battery patent that is yet to expire. They can't really add any more battery power until it does without venturing into a complicated dual battery using Li as the 2nd battery.

 

The Gen II (2004) isn't really much different than the Gen I either in that regards. The vast majority of the changes are a different body design. The hybrid drive is very similar and given that the Japanese Gen I came out in 1997, here we are a dozen(+) years later and it isn't very different. Perhaps you can say, that each 6 years the hybrid drive is 10% better in mpg-power for a given vehicle weight. Maybe it is 12% or 15%.

But I expect no more than this. Burning fuel and moving motors with electrons to propel a large mass down the road is NOT like Moore's law in the computer chip business. We are not going to get a doubling of performance every couple of years. A percent or two better each year is a good acheivement.

3PriusMike