I'm probably buying a prius. What are the best and worst parts of ownership?

Likes:
- Fuel efficiency
- Reliability
- Low maintenance parts (ie. 15" tires that doesn't cost too much to replace)
- Tardis like big interior in a small car
- Looks (yup, I like how the form of this car has aerodynamic function)
- Blue led light focused on the shifter - gives a nice soft interior light at night
- Blizzard White color, sunroof and solar panels (specific to my model)

Minor dislikes:
- Foggy windows
- Boring monochromatic dashboard
- Interior plastics that scratch easily
- Blind spots
- Too narrow angled backup camera
- Door sills that collect dirt too easily
- No heated seats
- No active shutter grills
* Buzzy engine on hard acceleration and highway speeds
* No back support seats

Major Dislikes:
* Squeaks and rattles, road noise
* Harsh Ride over road imperfections
* Rear seats that doesn't lean

-------------------

* Note:
These are the reasons why we've never taken the Prius for long road trips.
It is also why I keep dreaming for a better replacement car.

 

There have been so many complaints about the seats on PriusChat that I wonder if Toyota made any improvements to the Gen IV model. The seats are obviously quite thin, not much padding, no adjustable lumbar, etc.

 

I just test drove a Prime Advanced when I was in for the airbag recall Tuesday. Padding and form were better than the 2010. Seats felt like they conformed better to you, more like a Recaro style seat and multiway adjustments were present.

 

best part : reliability. I've put 120K total miles on 2 different prii. Not one issue.

worst part: seats. I'd figure that for a car that is some what designed for travel long distances the seats would be a dream to be in. I cannot stand the seats. they do the job but for my 50 minute commute each day....thats about the maximum amount of time i can stand to be in them.

 

My 2012 Prius 4 has heated Softex seats with power adjustable lumbar on drivers side

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

First time I backed ours out of the garage, I had a "wait a sec, this is a HATCHBACK" epiphany. In a positive way, very positive. I mean: I knew on some superfluous level already, but it sank in when I was backing out, I could transport serious stuff!

Negative: I agree-to-disagree, with the centre-of-dash, cathode ray pale-green "instruments" display. The omission of a coolant temp gauge bugs me too. That's about it.

Great car overall, smooth refined feel, linear response, love the seamless electric/gas symphony, and the mpg.

 

On the Trim 2 Gen 4, at least, the seats are uncomfortable on a long trip. Toyota supposedly worked to improve the seats. Perhaps the upper trims with the Softex seats are better.

 

My ownership experience ended just two weeks ago.

Best part: the hybrid synergy drive
Worst part: the hybrid synergy drive

If only new HV battery packs were $1000 I would have kept it. Alas, it was not to be.
I just couldn't bring myself to investing in a new pack for $2100 (DIY install) on a 12 year old car with 257K miles even though the odds of it making another 100K miles were quite good.

If you love something, let it go...............

 

Bummer. But plenty of cars don't go that far. Did you try a wrecking yard?

 

No, but I considered Copart as a way to buy a fresh wreck to get a newer pack but I would have needed a third party to buy one in Michigan so I decided against that option. And, auto recyclers found out a long time ago that newer packs are valuable.

 

Maybe move fast on this:
For Sale - 2015 Battery Module Pack $1250 Columbia, SC | PriusChat

 

Actually, I saw that one before I sold my Prius. It was too far away.

 

Oh-oh. Was looking for somewhere to plant my first post.
Let's talk snow!

Hoping I can find some sage advice on this forum.
I've been seriously considering a Prius v (need the cargo room for multiple pets & equipment on trips between cities) and happened upon a 2012 v at a local dealer, that has very low mileage on it (28,000 km - 17,000 miles) and is about half the price of a new one.

Was wondering whether anyone might have an opinion on getting a 5-yr old Prius v, rather than a 2017.
If I understand correctly, 2012 was the release year for the v. Were there any issues or problems specific to that first model? I've looked up the recalls and found 3, including a problem with the hybrid system, but I'm assuming (and plan to confirm) that because the car is being sold by a dealer, all recalls issues will have been corrected.

One of my concerns about the v is ground clearance. We live in the great white north and have had some bad experiences not being able to get our Honda Civic out of our driveway (or street) in big snowstorms. The clearance on the Civic is not dissimilar to that of the v.

I'm also concerned about a topic that seems to be laced throughout this forum - and that's road noise. I'm on the highway a lot. Should I be worried about this? I know there's a mixed bag of opinion on Prius noise. Is the "v" any better or worse on that front? And what about in snowy conditions? Would a new model possibly be better sound-insulated?

Any other issues to consider, regarding a used vs new Prius v, or specifically about a 2012? Sounds like it may have been driven by a little old lady in Pembroke (Ontario)

Many thanks from a newbie poster.

 

I agree-to-disagree about that center display of information---for me it is much easier for my tired old eyes to refocus quickly on that MFD when shifting my focus to or from the far-distance-ahead road focus I usually use while driving. DW likes the center display because she can carefully monitor my driving and immdeiately and vociferously complain when I start driving too fast!
Totally agree on curious omission of a coolest temp gauge, but I would recommend to OP that he install a Scangauge II or equivalent to monitor coolant temp, HV battery temp, Battery Fan Motor, and possibly ICE rpm. Knowing HV temp,and BFM status gives me warning about possible overheating of the battery early enough to try to prevent serious overheating . Monitoring ICE rpm is simply fun---I use the rpm to figure out whether the engine is totally disengaged (0 rpm), engaged but spinning at what I call "flight idle" mode with no power output (about 992 rpm), working moderately hard (1100-2200 rpm), or really pushing (over 2500 rpm)--at which point I have to consider how I am driving and change it.

 

Re: snow. My solution is a 1995 F150.... tows boats too

 

Mind took about 1.5 hours. And they decided the "check" the air and reduced it from 40 to 32 in all tires. Boy did the service manager hear about that. I expect my next service will be free.

 

Which dealer do you use in Nor Cal?

Toyota Vallejo did the recall and gets the services I do not DIY.

Tried 2 others and had some bad experiences.

Push them for free services as they did more than was asked and used their "professional judgement".

Good luck.

 

Best:
Low fuel consumption
Low maintenance cost
Worst:
Bad sound insulation, body get tired after an hour on long trip
Back pains

 

Worst...Folks trying to blow you off from a stop, or passing you at very high speed cause they think you can't go over 35 mph. Best...everything else.

 

What does that mean?