Is there any difference in ride quality between touring vs. non-touring Prius?

Then there is the other approach, hit the emergency flashers while lifting off the accelerator. Once the nut case has passed, 'cleared while testing' and resume your original speed. <GRINS>

When I was doing my driving stunt in 2013, I chose 4 lane streets so people could pass me as I was doing 25 mph on cruise control. I'd monitor the rear view mirror and shift lanes so following traffic would not. But sometimes, following traffic was abreast both lanes. Then I'd get in the right lane and hit 'emergency flash.' The following traffic would smoothly pass me and everyone was happy they didn't get stuck behind that 'Prius in trouble.' <GRINS>

Bob Wilson

 

Thanks again, Bob.

Getting back to the noise and handling issue. Maybe I just happen to get a bad sample or something. My car had 40 miles on the odometer when I bought it. Could something have happened during those miles?

Did someone else buy it prior to me, and return it? Was it a "tester" that the salesman drove? Stupid me, I didn't even bother to ask because the price was very good. ($25,109 for the Three model, and that included the $850 Transportation Fee. Then he took another $250 off when I said that I might want to wait and see a Red one.) I gave my White Pearl a very thorough inspection and she looked perfect.

But for some odd reason, my Prius seems excessively loud inside. It might very well just be the crummy roads around here. But I don't know. I never drove a Prius before. (I just keep telling myself: Shut up, you're getting 60 mpg!)

 

I'm going to suggest and experiment:

• identify a route that has worst case noise and handling
• fully inflate tires to maximum sidewall pressure and feel the inner and outer treads of each tire to sense any scalloping or abnormal wear pattern
  
  • run the route
  • reduce pressure by 2-4 psi
  • repeat until at door jam pressure
• this eliminates any tire pressure issues (low tires can be noisier)

If you detect an abnormal tire pattern, back to the dealer and put in a warranty claim on the tires and/or alignment.

Bob Wilson

 

I don't get a lot of tailgaters although I was amused that I've noticed some people tend to make sure that they pass me because heaven forbid you are behind a Prius. I had a large diesel truck the other day speed up to at least 70, maybe 80 just so he could get to the stop light ahead of me and turn... it was on a fairly fast road but if I'm going 50 and the stop light is 1/4 mile away or less then really you don't need to do all that.

 

Ok Bob, I will do some experimenting with the tire pressure this weekend.

Right now, I have it set at 2 PSI above the factory recommendation.
The tires look good, and the alignment is excellent.

Zojja, your story sounds familiar. I don't even have license plates yet. A car full of kids tried to pass me on the right where there's no lane. I stayed right with them for a while, then decided I better back off and be more rational.

I finally saw two other new '16 PreEye driving by. Boy, they sure look small when they're going down the road! Especially from the rear. I was thinking to myself, "does MY car look like that?"

 

That is the weird thing here, they can transfer your license plates. So they took the license plates off my old car and put it on my new car. I'm used to plates transferring with the car but maybe because we have so many specialized license plates, that normally doesn't happen.

 

In the US, state law controls license plates, so each state is different. Transfer of Plates - AAA Digest of Motor Laws

 

Oh, and ever since I bought the white Prius, I now notice that there's 25 million other white cars on the road!

(make that 100 million!)

I should've held out for the red.

Regarding the license plates, I got my pink slip in the mail yesterday. It shows on there what the license plate number is. Now I'm just waiting for the actual plates to arrive. Could be as long as 8 weeks I was told.

 

Yeah I just meant MD has a ton of specialized license plates, vs say CA. In CA, the plates transfer with the car whereas in MD, the plates can transfer with the person.

 

<<< And don't ever spill your Starbucks Green Tea Latte' on the pretty white china! That cup lasted approximately 2 minutes before it partially dumped out.

Why'd she remove the lid!?!

She's now walking home, somewhere through the Santa Monica mountains....

 

I will toss my 2 cents into the ring, to mix metaphors.

I have the Four Touring. I love it. I didn't drive the Four. I have some experience driving a 2013 Persona.

I think the ride is great. I just drove over 400 miles the other day over some good and some very bad highways. Yes, road noise is bad on bad roads. But, it's fine on good roads. Maybe I'm not discerning enough, but the road noise hasn't bothered me. I was driving a Pilot before this so I was ready for it be different.

My favorite car, until I bought this one, was a little 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI. It had a very stiff ride, but it was quick and handled well. Loved driving that car. If the transmission hadn't shredded itself, I would have kept driving it. This car reminds me of that.

Nearly everyone who rides in it mentions how smooth the ride is. It has road feel, though, which I like. I want to know what I'm traveling over. In a car with fly by wire everything, it's kind of nice to have something feel analog. I'm not a Luddite, at all, but I like the feel of the road.

Everyone will have a different feeling, I guess. As I was driving a Pilot, the gas mileage is amazing, even when I get 45 mpg.

On being tailgated, I used to get it even in my Pilot. I *do* think people have "Prius-hate" and I think they sometimes feel like they have to zoom around me. I also think that I am driving a bit more consciously and conservatively. Even though my car has good acceleration, I feel like I drive carefully to get better gas mileage. All those gauges and meters telling my mpg probably has something to do with it.

I don't know if any of that helps. Someone mentioned the suspension. The Touring is supposed to have a tighter suspension. I think it makes it more responsive, too. I do feel like my car is very agile.

 

I find that my driving lights help see wider to the left and right than the headlights. I wish they were brighter though.

 

Yes, this is a known complaint. They're trying to see your display screen to determine how good your mileage is.

 

Yeah, I like road feel as well, maybe that is why I like the touring.

 

Very good report, glenn. Do you have Bridgestone tires on that Four Touring model?

I like "road feel" and good handling, as well. I don't mind a little wind noise (no vehicle is perfect) and I don't mind a few "clunks" when going over a bump or a dip. And having a somewhat stiff suspension really doesn't bother me...

BUT, my Toyo tire noise is driving me absolutely insane! I just took a little 40 mile trip, over various kinds of road surfaces and streets and freeways. I just got home, and my ears are ringing! The first thing I did was take an Excedrin! You guys must think I'm nuts, but I'm not kidding. Those Toyo tires are pretty bad. And I wonder if they forgot to put the sound insulation in my car!? This Prius has worse tire/road noise than any other car I've owned. Absolutely terrible on bad roads, and on "good" roads it was only somewhat better... the tires just made a different tone of noise.

I give two thumbs down to my low-roiling resistance Toyo tires! Baloney! Other Two, Two Eco, and Three models on the lot had Dunlop, Yokohama, Bridgestone, (and my Toyos.) The reports I've read on those other tires are not exactly glowing. I guess it's something you just have to live with; the noise comes along with the "low rolling resistance."

I broke a cardinal rule of mine... Before purchasing any new vehicle, go out and rent one from Hertz for a week. Give it a thorough test. Well, no rental agencies had any yet and I got a little too impatient. Not good.
(I've read the same bad reports about tire/road noise with regards to the new Corolla S plus. Apparently those 17 inch Firestone tires are horrible, and the Corolla has very little sound insulation.) I should've bought that Avalon hybrid I saw sitting there...

 

I have two other cars, and yes, I get way more tailgaters when driving my Two Eco. I suspect that this is a new car and people are figuring out what it is and are following closely to read the badges, and maybe getting a better look. On two lane interstates I make a point of keeping right except to pass. The occasional driver does something that I never experience when driving my 2000 Corolla. They catch up, pull alongside and match my speed, even with drivers behind them who want to go around. I will cancel the cruise and gently slow down. About two thirds of these left laners will slow down with me until I am down about 10 mph. That is when they get a clue and pull away. Makes me and the drivers behind them crazy.
Here is my thought; I have yet to see another 2016 Prius on the road, and the styling is eye catching and different, and it just attracts attention, so gapers are to be expected. I am thinking that within a year the '16 Prius will be a dime a dozen and goes unnoticed. This makes me think that driving some rare and exotic car like a Ferrari must be a pain in the nice person due to gaping drivers.

 

Come tire replacement time, consult the user survey results on Tire Rack's website. Pick the quietest of the quiet if you will, and maybe take a hit on MPG's. I plan on looking for the quietest of the LRR category, which at this time is the Michelin energy saver A/S. I had those as the second set on my traded in Prius C and they were noticeably a bit quieter than the Ecopia 422's that they replaced.

 

Thanks tzx4. I like that Tire Rack website.

 

The road makes tons of road noise where I live, too. There's no way to get around the horrible road noise and ride.

The Tourings have a slightly sportier tuned suspension.

 

'Lectro, your (non-touring) Four Model has 15" wheels, correct? What brand of tires?
Thanks.