Called two Alabama dealers about 2016

That won't last long.

Bob Wilson

 

Close to lunch time, I called Bill Penny and they had just gotten in the 2016 Prius and drove directly over. This was a static inspection, no interest in driving:

• I really noticed the 2" lower height - this means my wife will have to try getting in and out. She has arthritic knees so seat height is very important.
• I like the mileage charts: 5 min, 1 mile, and 5 mile. The mileage charts in particular will be much more useful than the 1 min chart.
• Even though the flying buttress is gone, it felt a little smaller.
• Steering wheel range is OK.
• The smaller rear spoiler bar is Ok even though the big one is easier to block tailgaters headlights.

It did not take long for the saleskid to call over his manager and we discussed my requirements:

1. Level 2 ECO
2. With TSS-P which is not available today

He wanted to show me the 3 and 4 tourings but I pointed out have two requirements. Otherwise a nice conversation and he and the saleskid were impressed by my driving stunt.

All in all, a useful 20 minutes. The new car fits for me but it has to please 'she who must be obeyed.' I would probably take out the rear folding seat behind the passenger seat to gain the extra internal volume . . . something I've been thinking about for 2010.

Nice ride but we're patient and both of our Prius are working just fine.

Bob Wilson

 

If we can find enough from "New Car Features" to give a 3 or 4 equivalent mileage to the 2-ECO, I might be persuaded . . . NOT!

I am concerned that my wife will see the center piece and say something like,"That bidet is too small and poorly located. Can we get one built into the seat?"

Bob Wilson

 

I could not tell the difference but we did not drive it.

Bob Wilson

 

Interesting as this actually dates back to October-December 2005 and the old GreenHybrid.com days:

The Janus faces back then were:

• How you drive it - car doesn't matter if you 'train' the driver.
• How you tune it - making the car efficient by default.

I am, as you guessed, in the 'making the car efficient.' The reason is I am very married and I want my wife to get good mileage. In contrast, training the driver means hiring out to any car maker, like VW, to run publicity stunts that are not replicated by ordinary drivers.

Realistically, efficient car owners (including EVs) are less than 2% of the total new car sales. Even within the PriusChat community, we are probably less than 0.01% of all Prius owners and drivers. Yet I remain amazed at how loud are the voices advocating driving style instead of car tuning.

So yes, I'm interested in the Gen-4, level 2 - ECO, only to see how many of the tuning tricks have been incorporated into the car:

• increased tire pressure (?) - did they also put softer shocks to moderate the ride?
• weight management (?) - is this real?
• warm-up management (?) - unique to ECO?
• other 'low hanging fruit' - automatic free-wheel? greater speed range on cruise control? e.t.c.

I'm just curious as to how far they went with the Gen-4, level 2 - ECO and the possibility of enhancements.

Bob Wilson

 

The funny thing is legal, reverse engineering of software is not that hard:

• Assign a systems engineer to write a set of requirements based upon through testing of the target software.
• Pass the written requirements to the software writing team and isolate the systems engineer from them.

I'm currently using a recording OBD scanner that has the option of including analog-to-digital metrics along with GPS and accelerator metrics. This is the type of tool that would be used to 'crack the code' of what other manufacturers have done. But often the manufacturer's own engineers discover the 'sales-critters' have blabbed about what they did already. There is (was) one recent exception, VW and their TDI engine control software.

One late thought about the Gen-4 Prius I sat in the other day . . . I later remembered how in size it reminded me of the Honda Civic:

• 176" L x 69" W x 59" H - 2015 Prius
• 179" L x 69" W x 58" H - 2016 Prius
• 182" L x 71" W x 56" H - 2016 Civic

The Civic still wins the 'squat down to sit' prize. I like a little taller car to help see around traffic ahead.

Bob Wilson