Finally test drove a 2010 - questions and thoughts

I don't have a GenII to compare, but have complained about this across the entire automotive market.

My GenIII replaced a 1986 Accord. When new, that Accord let me see the road ahead through the windows of about 90% of the 'cars' on the road, everything except the pickups and delivery vans.

That fraction shrank drastically through the years, first as tall SUVs became dominant, then more so as even compact cars had beltlines raised all around, so high I couldn't see over their butts despite me being tall enough to barely clear the roof liner. Now even my late-90s Subaru is too short to see over the butt of a modern Civic.

This GenIII is actually taller than my Subaru, but its improved forward visibility was short lived. The rapidly proliferating habit of 'tinted' windows that are nearly blacked out is eliminating even more forward visibility.

 

I wonder if the higher side windows maybe related to safety issues. More metal to protect your body?? The head is protected by the side curtain airbags.

For me, visibility is fine. My wife's Acura is no better, no worst. I guess that i am used to it.

Beyond the seat heaters, the IV gets you:

Prius IV - Model III equipment plus three-door Smart Key System; leather-trimmed interior; heated front seats with driver lumbar support; step lamp;; driver and front passenger water repellant windows; upgraded front and center pillar trim; plasma cluster; auto dimming mirror and HomeLink®


I highlighted the stuff that i think makes the difference. Is it worth the $3000? I think so.

 

What are "water repellent windows"? Aren't all windows designed to "repel" water? When they're closed water stays out (repelled), when they're open water comes in... What am I missing? Sorry I have a PIII...

 

the front side windows have a permanent coating like Rain-X so that the water just beads up and rolls off. This helps in the rain because it keeps the side window clear of rain.

 

Hi Ron,

I have the IV and loved it, like you, I was on the fence with the side windows and the DASH taking so much room cut visibility down, I thought I was the "ONLY" one to think so... However, if you raise the seat up, this totally negates the "visibility" issue... Try it again with the seat raised up. Homelink mirror can be purchased seperately without the Package IV, so you don't need the IV to get the mirror.

However, there is no buyer's remorse on my end, I love it... I will never go back to fabric seats. The NAV is an "upgrade" (GEN 8) from my Lexus GX470 SUV (GEN 5) so I've no issues with using it and resolution. However, I understand the (Gen 6 & 7?) on 2004~2009 had higher resolution, and that would have rubbed me a bit, if I had owned an earlier Prius model.

Bottom line the mirror can be added on aftermarket without the IV package, sorry for going off on a tangent! I hope you can try out the IV again and try to raise the seat up, you'll get a much better perspective...

 

Thanks for the explanation! Permenent Rain-X, who'd a thunk?

 

Absolutely, my 2010 ES350 has a much higher base to the greenhouse and a much higher rear deck than the ES300 it replaced and visibility takes some getting used to for sure...I thought the Gen III Prius was the same situation compared to the Gen II

 

Rain X is a Pain to apply

Get "No Touch Rain Shield"

When it sprinkles on your window you spray it hit the window washers and that's it.

Above 35MPH you don't need your windshield wipers on at all...
It is really nice at night on the highway and the rain...

 

I find Rain X is good for about a month with some residual traces. You are right as it has to be applied to dry glass. How about "No Touch Rain Shield?"

Bob Wilson

 

Bob

They are both the same lasting etc, However Rain Shield is 1000X easier to apply

I love the stuff on the highway at night, Never have to turn on my Widshield wipers at all.. And your Kids /wife Sleep better in the car without the flop flop flop of the wipers and thus make you more relaxed LOL

Russ

 

Are you short guys jacking up the seat? (Pull UP repeatedly on the handle.)

I can get my seat up to where my arm can rest on the top of the door frame, like when I used to drive with my window open and ruined my hearing.

BUT I'm 6' and if I have the seat that high, the rear-view mirror blocks my view of the road, so I don't jack it up. My wife does, though, because she's shorter.

I figure the higher door is a good safety feature in the event I ever get T-boned.

 

I got the III with after market leather seats, but I regret that I didn't get the IV. I can live without home link and repellent windows and lumbar support, though all these things are nice to have.

What I really REALLY miss is SKS on the passenger side and the back!!!

 

I'm guessing higher beltlines in recent years are due to two converging factors:
- Efforts to improve side crashworthiness.
- Higher trunk lids to allow more cargo space in smaller cars. If the trunk lid is higher, the belt line needs to be higher to "look right". Even though the Prius is a hatchback and doesn't have this issue, they're probably styling it this way to make it look contemporary with other (mostly trunk-based) cars on the road.

 

I wondered about the low door armrest. It seems like a common theme among new Toyotas. The Corolla is low too. I wonder if this has to do with side crash protection. Maybe the higher armrest will break too many ribs (chest injury) in a side crash?? Or maybe it will decrease the effectiveness of the side seat-mounted airbag? My guess that the location of the door armrest is a safety "feature."

 

I am very happy with my 2010 Prius IV, never really considered any other package. I can say this for a fact if the Tech Package had the MOON ROOF I would have bought that instead of the Prius IV

 

Thanks to both lonewolf69 and dtuite for the suggestion about raising the seat. I'm definitely going to play around with that a little more, as visibility has been somewhat of an issue for me too.