Consumer Reports Drives Touring Edition

here's the original reference for making you actually crawl under the car and take pictures of your rear struts

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/32947-touring-owners-check-your-rear-struts.html

now thats settled maybe we can get the guy to post pics of a side view of his rear spoiler , haha

 

Who? Me? I posted some pics of my new ride here: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/42188-newbies-lets-see-some-pics-23.html#post628802

Thanks for the link! The picture shows pink and white but I looked with my eyes and saw pink and red! So I guess I have the touring struts at least.... Now to measure the sway bars...

 

Re: Canadian Suspension = Touring?

Michael,

Your Prius looks great.

Here's BerkshirePrius' thread on his Touring suspension parts research:

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/41925-touring-suspension-parts-research.html

 

Rear Strut Stripes: Touring Pink & Red /Standard Blue & Red

Michael,

Probably your flash made the pics of your Canadian Prius rear strut stripes appear white and pink instead of Touring Prius pink and red. But I can still see from your pics that the stripes are indeed the Touring Prius pink and red.

For comparison purposes, here's a photo of my United States Standard Prius rear strut. I took it without a flash, so you can more clearly see the colors of the strut stripes. The stripes are the Standard Prius [light] blue and red:

[IMGLINK]http://priuschat.com/forums/attachments/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/9570d1212274702-consumer-reports-drives-touring-edition-084.jpg[/IMGLINK]

 

So basically, the major difference between the Touring score and base score is the OEM tires. No huge surprise. I wish CR would slap a decent set of tires on a base and come up with a score. Then it would be nice if Toyota would provide some decent tires as standard OEM. Imagine, an overall score of 68 vs 80 primarily because of the cheap tires!

A couple of years ago, my wife's cousin wasn't too happy with his new Prius. I asked why, he mentioned the TC. Slipping, especially getting into traffic quickly from a parking lot (he lives where it is more congested than here). I told him to put some real tires on it. He did and has been a very happy pup ever since.

This would be an incorrect statement. Both the AX and BG had VSC, which is why they were the only 2 packages I listed as acceptable with the dealers I contacted.

Of course this wouldn't be the first time CR had misinformation. They continually reported in the April car issue that the original Honda Odyssey (1995 to 1999??) mid row captain's chairs were not removable. Either they were wrong or I am super-human because I took mine out all the time. The fact that there were latches on the back of the seats and the owner's manual showed how to remove them plus the fact that they were listed as 40 pounds each (a big plus compared to pulling the 3rd row seats out of other minivans) suggests I am just a normal human being

 

I think the wider Touring tires is the major reason for the Touring's better braking.

But as to the Touring's better handling, I think it's a combination of the Touring's tires and suspension.

That misinformation was my fault, not CR's. Thanks for the catch. I've since corrected my post by deleting the incorrect parenthetical.

 

I doubt it that is correct. If Toyota could have obtained 95% of the Touring's improved handling and braking performance by merely swapping tires, they would have done so. I suspect there is a bit of touring-envy from the base owners in this thread.

 

Actually, suspension almost always effects braking distance substantially more than tires. In the Prius's case, the touring models front suspension does not compress as far or as quickly as the base models due to it's stiffness. A vehicle braking cannot actually begin stopping until the front suspension finishes compressing. It would only take a few milliseconds difference in compression speed to make a 10 foot difference in stopping distance.

 

Interesting. But in the Prius' case, the Standard Prius and the Touring Prius have the same front struts and springs. The Touring has a different front stabilizer bar though. Under your thinking, could the Touring's different front stabilizer bar account for that 10 - 12 feet shorter braking distances?

 

i wonder if us prius owners are going to have troubles getting the shocks replaced
when they wear out. i mean if you go to sears you will ruin the whole tuned suspension thing

 

You Touring owners might. Right now, I think that no one but Toyota makes the Touring's rear shocks. But KYB makes the Standard's front struts and rear shocks.

 

Neato, I wondered exactly what the differences were. Now that I read this, I understand. I was wondering about the possibility of upgrading a base prius, but I am not sure it would be worth it. People way underestimate the power of suspension. That includes the springs, but of course making the entire car stiffer. By stiffening it up, the brakes are well applied and distributed throughout the car. The weight doesn't lurch forward, and of course, a little bit more surface adhesion helps too. Very neat. If the VOLT isn't everything it is cracked up to be, then I will get a touring Prius.

 

FYI my 2008 Prius (Special Edition Premium) has Bridgestone Turenza all-season tires on 16" rims.

 

mine doesn't anymore because they were shaved down to practically nothing in less then 2 years, ive never seen tires wear down that fast

 

Full Road Test Report of Touring + Comparison Chart of Base v Touring

If anyone is interested, attached is a Word file with Consumer Reports - online edition's full road test report of the Touring, together with its handy comparison chart of the ratings and specifications of the Base (Standard) Prius vs. the Touring Prius.

On the comparison chart, I've highlighted the differences in bold red:

 

"You Touring owners might. Right now, I think that no one but Toyota makes the Touring's rear shocks. But KYB makes the Standard's front struts and rear shocks."

Do you guys know if anyone besides Toyota will make the shocks for the Touring? If not, do you think the Touring is still worth getting if that is the case?

 

Keep in mind that this is a comparison to the base model without stability control, not to the #2 package and up (standard.) This probably doesn't effect much more than the avoidance maneuver though.

Seems that to isolate the differences between Touring and non- suspension one would need to have the same package (stability control) and the same model of tire. I would recommend leaving the wheel size's different however--since the tires are a wear item.

I'll bet most of the difference is coming from the different tires. The Integrities are low rolling resistance which is favorable for mileage, & acceleration times, unfavorable for braking. It would also effect slalom which favors the Turanza.

The larger wheels and suspension differences will still have an impact, but I suspect the tire is accounts for at least half the difference.

 

It also mentioned that the standard model the comparison is made to is the 2004.

I think that the newer standard models are a little better. I don't actually believe the stopping distance thing, as my Prius has incredible brakes that would fling me through the windshield (if I weren't wearing my seatbelt) if I need to stomp them (I did it once).

 

i noticed a large difference in in the rpm at 60mph, not sure if this is a typo, or a change in transmission gearing between touring and regular or a change in the gearing between 04 and 08. too large to be explained by tire diameter difference. anybody?

 

Thanks for the info, it is nice to know I paid extra for something. I like the way my touring handles, but it still could take corners better.