which is better a gen 2 or gen 3

See if the Gen3 has a backup camera-now you have to buy an expensive addon package (including built in nav, which many knock) to get the backup camera, which I feel is extremely useful in a Prius.

BTW I'm 60 y.o. and drive my Gen 2 extensively (500-900 miles a week) and never felt the seats were particularly bad or good.

One thing I don't like about the Gen2 is the hard(ish) center console, but I'm sure that's easy to re-cover if I ever got around to it.

 

I am with you on the hard center console. Needs just a little bit of padding.

 

you can install a cheap backup camera on gen3 model without nav.
I did by my self. total cost is $30 including camera/tools/tapes with 3 hours to remove/reinstall panel,cables, and testing.

there is a thread on gen3 sub-forum to install back-up camera.

 

congrats, all the best! how the heck did you wade through 4 pages of bad advice?

 

Congrats on the purchase, hope you have many care free miles. Best of luck to you.

 

Congrats, think you made a great choice.

FWIW I've been driving a gen 2 for about 6 yrs and have gotten pretty good at it, but I still have to work at it to keep my mpg average up in the 52-53 mpg range. My good friend just traded his V6 Accord for a Gen 3, and without any real effort or changes in habits he's averaging 54-56mpg. That alone has sold me on the virtues of the new Gen. The rest is just details IMHO.

 

Best choice ... Ie winter driving ,,,

 

gen III does the dirty work for you.

 

Eco mode is for tree-hugging commies.

 

It does, though once you get experienced/confident on how to do it yourself, you don't really need it. I found it handy to use when in slow city traffic, but then switched it off on the open road.

I find the heating too slow in Eco mode in winter and the a/c not quite upto the job either. But Eco does help eek out those extra mpg's, which let's face it, is why we bought the car in the first place.

 

I was mostly kidding. My Gen2 doesn't have an eco mode. I once considered installing the EV mod, then I came to realize that A) the Prius really doesn't need to be told when to use the ICE and when not and B) you can achieve the same control over EV mode by understanding the 4 phases of the hybrid engine and driving accordingly (with much more respect to your battery).

 

I own both, and like the looks of the 3gen, but don't like the tinny sounding doors, the backup alarm, and that safety whining sound driving slow.

 

agreed, and the loss of storage nooks and crannies.

 

Coolride17 mentioned the "whining sound" (for safety) that Toyota added to the Gen III. Can you hear the sound if you have the windows up and no radio? I haven't driven a Gen III, but have heard the sound on demo videos online.

Sounds like a good idea for the blind, but if it is a distraction or annoyance for the driver, then it could go either way.

Anyway, just wanted to know if the sound can be heard "inside" the Prius.

FWIW, I too like the style of the Gen III, but dislike the center console. It looks like a waste of space and something that would be in the way. Maybe Gen IV won't include the center console or at least redesign it.