wife doesn't like prius

Your wife is right about waiting and you'll be happier too. Wait until the PHEV Prius comes out.

 

I've given up on people and their irrational thinking about the Prius. Several folks at work were all 'hot to trot' about a Prius when gas hit $3/gallon. I was the only one to pull the trigger.

Since the purchase, I've heard all the excuses from my friends;

That bar in the back really bothers me...

My wife likes to 'sit up' so she can see...

I need the versatility of an SUV (lexus, highlander...)...

Most of my miles are on the highway and the hybrid isn't that good on the highway....


As you all well know - none of these excuses are really valid and when I show them data or take them for a test drive, they just shrug their shoulders... I really don't think folks will come around on this issue until gas hits $4/gallon - and that shouldn't be too far off...

 

Why? Are the prices too high? Do they serve top-shelf stuff?

~ dan ~

 

Congrats! You have made a wise decision my friend. I'm sure you'll love it.

 

I think she should let you keep any of the additional saved gas money for yourself, since it was your decision.

 

Congrats! I hope your wife likes the car with time. I'd put money on it.

 

enjoy... i have confidence that your wife will realize as you already have, that you made the right choice

 

John:

I'm glad you like it, and I'm sure you'll only find things that you REALLY Like about it.

Now, may I suggest the BT stiffening plate ASAP if you're concerned about the wind blowing you around? Today I confirmed FOR SURE that the BT plate DOES help with the asymmetric pushing caused by wind. Also, it might be in your best interest to put wider tires under the car; you'll sacrifice a bit in MPG but you'll feel much more planted to the road. I also say you should buy Coastal E Tech's EV mode button, which worked for me this morning just as well as an EBH, which I'd also suggest if you live somewhere particularly cold.

So, to rattle it off quickly:

(1) BT Technologies Chassis Stiffening Plate ($145 shipped last I checked)
(2) CONSIDER replacement tires (or wait 20,000 miles then do it)
(3) Coastal E Tech Electric-Vehicle Modification ($40 or so)

You'll be glad with any or all of these purchases for the car, and congrats on getting it. Now you owe us pictures.

~ dan ~

 

This thing about the split rear window is funny. If I covered the small lower window I would have similar rear vision to my work car with its high boot lid. My Prius has a mirror on each side in addition to the one inside.

 

i had a 73 mustang that had a smaller view out the back...

 

Hi Max2prius,

I had this gusty wind yaw problem here in Chicagoland. We get gusty winds in the spring usually, but looks like we will get them tormorrow and Monday if the huricane strength wind reports from CA and NV cary across the country.

The BT Tech plate did a good job making the car controlable in these situations. I had two identical gusty cross wind situations 2 weeks apart. On both occaisions I did an identical test. I carefully aligned the car to the lane, and held the steering wheel fixed. When a gust hit, I noticed roll and total displacement (as a result of the yaw over time). In the first test with the stock floor stiffening plate, the car shifted half a lane sideways. The second test after the plate was installed the car shifted about 3 inches side way. The vibrations in the car were very different too. With the stock plate, I felt the rear of the car wag back and forth with about a 1 second period for 4 or 5 cycles. With the BT Tech plate the period of the vibration was much lower, it actually like a buzz in the seat of my pants. The duration of the vibration was less than a second after modification (versus 5 seconds before). The car rolled the same amount both days. The Yaw however was greatly changed, and the displacement (integral of the yaw times speed over time) was markedly less.

One thing that is also reported to help is to get the toe-in adjusted to slightly positive, but still within specification. The specification on the Prius, unlike other cars, has the Toe-in specification spaning the zero point. Most cars spec Toe-in to be always a little positive over the range of the specification.

I am using Michelin Hydroedge at 185/65-15 size now, which are better than the stock tires. But the wind gust tests above were with the original GY Integrity tires, at the door sill tire pressures. Many of us on PC here run our tire pressures at 42 PSI for the fronts, and 40 for the rears. This seems to help even more. I do not think larger tires are needed for this issue.

 

Now that you are in the club, a quick tip that is a must.
Raise that Tire Pressure to at least 40 front 38 rear.
I ride at 44 front 42 rear. Should increase your mileage by about 3 - 5 MPG.

 

I also ride 44 front 42 rear, but I'm considering going up to 51 front and 47 rear.

~ dan ~

 

Many hybrid owners use www.greenhybrid.com for this purpose.

 

There's an old saying, "If momma ain't happy, nobodys happy".

Forget the Prius and take her out to dinner.

 

Just got around asking my sis. For the record, that mattress is the adult twins size. The width fits perfectly. Good to know!

 

Wow, all the way from hating the Prius to driving it, not bad.