San Francisco Auto Show Nov 2015 (Pics)

will my driver fit sideways?

 

gen III is a tad wider than gen II. i haven't measured it, but the clubs did fit better. narrower would be a bummer.

 

I sat in this guy, too at the auto show. The white plastic is very nice. I'm glad toyota didn't go with that terrible grey goo that infects everything from lexuses to their pickup trucks. That tan plastic on the top of the dash is horrible. It's got some weird texture on it that will trap dust and it feels cheap and looks cheap up close. The seats are comfortable. The seat material is offensive. The LCD screen is smaller than what you find on mid-size GM pickup trucks.

I got a look at other toyota wares at the show. It's kinda unfortunate what is happening to toyota. Dumbed down and cheapened down cars lately. The new Taco's interior was terrible and overwrought and there isn't really anything new or exciting about it. The corolla was bad compared to older corollas. The newer camries look and drive like crap - a far cry from the great camries of the 90s. Nothing they make is any better or more advanced than what they made 10 years ago. This is definitely a car maker on the decline. Maybe they can start to turn around like Honda did (though honda still has some turds...). Mazda seems to be on a roll with great cars with interiors as nice as Audi. Subaru is on a roll, too. I think Subaru will become the new Toyota. They just need to start making a pickup truck for the US.

 

The independent rear suspension is a MAJOR change that I don't think has really been talked about or gotten the buzz it deserves.
Even though it might tweak or change the rear storage configuration, I'd be curious and excited about how much it would potentially improve the drive feel.

That's pretty big evolution for The Prius.

My question would be, would this suspension change make rear wheel alignments possible/easier than currently?
Now you supposedly aren't suppose to do them or it takes shims.
And/Or are they going to be more necessary?

 

@UsedToLoveCars:

Hey no fair! of course Toyota looks to be in decline to you. You're driving a Tesla! so far out ahead it's not funny. congrats! ALL modes of transport look dated after Tesla. Just saying.

 

toyota on decline.

 

it has been talked a lot everywhere... and again, why Toyota feels like they should display bottom models at the auto shows is beyond me... other manufacturers load their cars completely and plus put some nice big wheels on them for show.

 

I'm so glad the Gen4 are sooo ugly. It will keep me from buying another one. They just depreciate too fast to justify owning one! Wish I'd kept my 2005 Tacoma still hasn't lost it's value. But I had to listen to all the nah sayers that gas will never come down again. What an idiot I am for buying a Prius thinking I'd fair well in the long run!

 

I hate it when I buy a new car and it depreciates!

 

Sell the 2010 Prius to cut the loss and don't look back...

 

I'ts too late I can't go back. I bought my 2010 Prius used for 18k and traded in my 2005 Tacoma for it for 18k for an even trade in 2012. My 2010 Prius is only worth around 10k or less now and the 2005 Tacoma is still holding it's value at 18k. Does that make any sense to anybody? How do you justify owning a new Prius that depreciates so fast, making payments and still think your coming out ahead in the long run knowing your going to be forced to buy a new or used HIB battery around 2k at sometime in it's life span.

 

Bad time to sell a gen 3 and get much for it: Toyota Sunnyvale inventory 350 (three hundred and fifty) brand new 2015 Prius liftbacks in stock. (some weird reason they are all Twos, whatever). .... Fremont Toyota .... 221 Prius liftbacks in stock, 2015

Anyhow, Toyota Sunnyvales's up front price? About $19,500. Other day newpaper ad "Prius Two, $17,888, two VINs at this price"

The above plus low gas prices - bad time to get a fair shake selling used Prius.
Wait until all gen 3's , new ones are sold out next year and go after those who just don't like the gen4 / styling or whatever. That plus little higher gas prices and resale will be a better deal.

 

Why are you still making payments if you did an even trade?

The last 6 or 7 2005 Tacomas Average Selling Price on eBay was about 6500.00. Not sure why you would think yours would still be worth nearly 3 times that amount.
.

 

They supposedly replacing it with black (at least that what rags say they hear from Toyota).

 

On balance I don't think it's been discussed much. Many more threads and posts about cosmetic issues or the color of the dash trim. I think I've even heard more about the steering wheel being round as opposed to elliptical MORE than I've heard about the suspension change.

Either way the suspension change is fundamental to the vehicle and I think a significant evolution from Gen 3-Gen 4, I look forward to impressions from new owners.

 

A. Your former Tacoma isn't worth $18,000. KBB suggests a maximum private-party value of $16,755 for a fully-loaded 2005 SR5/TRD package in perfect condition with add-ons like running boards and a winch.
B. Resale value means nothing unless you are selling a car. I bought my Prius to drive, not sell, and its value to me is based on its reliability and economy as a means of transportation, not what imagined monetary value I could get out of it in a hypothetical sale.

 

2005 Toyota Tacoma for sale - Carsforsale.com


not even close!

 

I expressed my dose of skepticism on this in the past (I am sure netcub will jump in) and will reserve a final judgement until I test-drive Gen4.

Gen3 problems were not with the rear but with front suspension tuning: too much negative scrub, SAE/caster, camber, etc, so how improving rear can fix this? Even when you throw all possible mods at it, it still understeers.