With ~3k driven, here is my list of gripes and dislikes. It isn't long. 1. The rear wiper doesn't reach down far enough on the glass, leaving an area that is hard to see through. 2. The little holder on the driver's door is just a little small. 3. The "dead pedal" - place for the left foot of the driver - is just a little off in both placement and angle. 4. Visibility to the front sides is a challenge. MUST be careful when people, bikes and cars are coming from the side because they can disappear at a crucial decision point as you drive. The little windows help but the problem is the visibility deteriorates just when you need to be the most watchful. 5. Sometimes the little beeps and whines that come from the various systems bother me a little. That's only because the car is otherwise quiet for a car this size and price.
I found if you adjust the mirrors away from the car a Little it helps with the blind spots. You are right though, you have to turn your head and look to be sure someone is not there. I had the rear beep turned off. That was the one thing that bugged me. The lower window area is just a bad design. There is really no way for that to work well the way it is now. I know the pocket on the door is for water bottles. I stick napkins in it. The left pedal doesn't bother me but I am 6'2" so maybe it effects people of different heights differently. You didn't say anything about the rattles. I've had cars many years older that don't rattle like this car, especially in winter. What about the washer fluid low warning? there is none. How about the lack of DRLs? What about the speedometer and computer being off? How about the leather seats showing wear within the first year? I think if the Toyota engineers had to drive the cars they design before they are released to the public, a lot of these issues would be repaired in the design phase.
I wish the smart-key would work on all 3 doors (driver, passenger, hatch) like my old G2 (and it was a pkg II). My G3 is III and only the driver's door has the unlock, though i did change the pattern to unlock all doors. Yeah I know the IV and V's have this option, but I'd think toyota would keep it standard...maybe we'll see that in 2011 or 2012.
I must say your dislikes are so different from mine. If they were my dislikes I wouldn't be selling my car for a Lexus.
I also agree that it sucks one has to go to model IV or V to get 3-door SKS. But, it WAS NOT standard on the 2nd gen. You could get 0-door (aka NO) SKS or 3-door SKS.
Really? 0 door SKS? Hmm... must be like a package I G2 thing... but SKS is a wonderful thing on 3 doors.
Exactly. Toyota decided to offer SKS as standard on all packages for the Gen III by introducing a single-door version. Unfortunately they moved the three-door version up to a higher package level. I think this was a mistake, since the SKS is one of the coolest features on the Prius. One-door SKS is better than no SKS, but stepping down to one-door from three-door is a bummer. I could see replacing the no SKS with the one-door version, but leaving the other levels with the three-door system. Tom
my base 08 (might be one up but lowest they offered in northeast) has 3 door sks standard. sticker was around 21,500.
I don't know what everyone is talking about. My FM radio reception is excellent regardless of which station from 89.3 to 105.9 in LA...
Well, many people say that the FM radio is not as good as in the gen2. I have both cars and I find that is true. (Both have JBL)
I had a 2005 II (non-JBL) and now have a 2010 III (JBL). Reception is the same, excellent. Sound is slightly better with the JBL...but I don't see how the JBL vs. non-JBL have something to do with reception? I thought the antenna was independent and the same in all models regardless of audio option.
1. Fortunately, I live in an area where I never have to use it, even when it's raining. 2. Don't have a use for it. 3. Agreed. The exposed strip of carpet to the right of the dead pedal is extremely susceptible to wear. I've learned to be more careful when entering the car. 4. Yeah, the A-pillar blind spots can be problematic at times. Just be more aware of your surroundings. 5. I notice the annoying high pitch whines/static noises only maybe 10-15% of the time. Something to live with for the hybrid system, I guess. But fortunately no real rattles in the car.
I agree on (1) and especially (4). You may find yourself tuning out #5 as you get used to it. I also, thanks to someone on this forum who pointed it out , notice that the left armrest and console are not at the same levels. I've always had stick-shift cars w/no console before this, thus never noticing it, but now that I do, it is annoying. C'mon Toyota, why can't they match in height?
Different regions had different options. On the West coast 2008 Package 2 had SKS, backup camera, Stability Control and upgraded radio. That was a $1175 option (then they knocked off $600 for an "extra value package discount". Total cost ($23,824) was more than I paid for my 2010 Prius II. Base sticker was $22,325 on the 2008 bought September 2007. note: I verified above amounts from the sticker.
What I wish I had with my car- 1) A quiet ride at 50 MPH+ 2) Auto headlights 3) A/C - Better air distribution (to mitigate drafts) and dual passenger thermostatic control. 4) The ability to keep in in the power mode (default). 5) A shock device in the seat that only works on vallet parking attendants if they fail to push the park button before exiting the car.
