Prius Disappoinment - Road/Wind noise

Am I the only one here is beginning to think the op is a troll?

 

After reading my post I wanted to clarify how much I do love my Prius. I have found the car to be just super on the commute every day. Also, the Navigation works sufficient for me although I have not taken it across the country. The only item I would really enjoy having done is a new signal stick that includes auto on/off lights. I respect and envy the member that installed his rain sensor and new stick for his lights. My mechanical abilities skills lack in many ares.

I placed my little Mac sticker on the back....she's great. As a family we use it a lot while the larger car sits.

Thank you for allowing me to express things!
Michael

 

I pretty much agree with all this. Really noisy on concrete highways.

 

I've not had any complaints with wind noise (now, rattles, that's another matter entirely, interior and hatch, and is an embarrassment to Toyota when new passengers hear it and are initially impressed by the car, then wonder why their 8-yr-old Honda or whatever is tighter). AFA road noise, yeah, on concrete (as jburns just mentioned) it's unpleasant, but to me only mildly so.

I do think the OP should do a CARFAX or similar on it and see what may have happened. The thing has the lowest coefficient of drag on the road (tied w/ the sonata I guess) and to me I hear next to no wind noise, as should be the case. Even road noise isn't bad except on crappy roads--but I've come from driving an old Golf, Integra and RSX--all with road noise as one of their trademarks.

My guess is there's something wrong with the OP's individual car, or perhaps less likely, with expectations. If it's been crashed and ill-repaired, it is entirely possible the panels/doors/whatever don't line up and may indeed make wind noise. But needing to shout to be heard at 60+? C'mon, that's an exaggeration in anything but a convertible with the top down. Are the windows up? The hatch and/or hood?

I suppose if the original owner never rotated the tires, then did right before sale (or maybe the dealership did), that could account for some of this. Assuming the tires are original.

Have we heard back from the op? Maybe (s)he needs to shout to be heard . Joking aside, I wish the best--it shouldn't be that noisy. Good luck on it. Take it back to the dealer, demand (nicely) satisfaction, and be persistent, As others have advised, compare it to new cars--and better yet, used, if there are any on the lot--demonstrate to the tech that this is indeed unusual and unacceptable. (Or, if you find out it's been rolled hood-over-hatch and is now a salvage title, well, my condolences---consider it an expensive learning experience, 'cause you're screwed).

Again, good luck.
~T

 

My last three cars have been a 2008 e90 BMW 320D, a 2009 2.0TDI Golf (Rabbit) and the 2009 Prius Gen 3. Without a doubt the BMW has been the quietest car I ever owned, particularly in regard to road noise. Even with the inherent NVH problems of its RWD layout and the dreaded Run-Flat tyres, BMW engineers have done a superb job in isolating road noise from the cockpit. In Oz the top line Prius i-Tech retails for around $55,000 (our $ is about on parity with the $US right now). The base BMW 320i is about $58,000 so the comparison is valid.
On the other extreme is the Golf. The tyre roar from the Golf on anything but billiard smooth tarmac is appalling. It is brilliant in just about every other way but it's not quiet on the road. The Prius sits in the middle. It's a lot quieter than the VW, but noisier than the Beemer.
There are quieter cars than the Prius, but I'll take it over the Beemer any day for a whole heap of reasons.
Cheers from Oz.

 

Yep - I think so. No matter how much of a design disaster the interior of the 2010 Prius is, there is one thing that it is good. And that is how quiet it is. And how little wind noise there is - which it has in common with the 2nd Gen Prius, due to the aerodynamics.

 

That is really wierd that your prius would be loud. My 2010 is quiet when going above 60 mph on pavement, except for when the pavement is really old, maybe 40 years old. Then it can be loud and i sometimes have earplugs for that. When I drive on new pavement, it is so quiet! However, I recall that it is quieter than other cars I have ridden in. Diesel engines are too loud for me, so I wear earplugs whenever I am in a car with a Diesel engine. What volume level do you have to turn the music up to? I usually have mine below 10 and my volume goes all the way up to 30 or 40.

 

Granted, my 2010 is brand new and I've only had it for 10 days or so, but it's been quiet on the roads and highways and freeways I've been on. I'm coming from driving a Saab 900 Turbo the last 13 years. This car is quieter than that! The Saab hasn't had a rattle in all the time I've owned it, so it is solid. I hope my Prius will avoid the dreaded rattles, but I know the odds are against me on that.

 

The facts that OP didn't come back or answered questions or provided feedback made me think the OP was troll too, but after looking up OP's posts it's pretty clear that OP bought defective used Prius.

 

Gosh my last car must've been a real hunk of junk to those of you w/ a discerning eye because I'm quite happy w/ everything about the car so far. Yah, the rattles, but I can't afford a car that doesn't. And this one is so far much better than my last one.

 

Hi S1njin,

Well, the 2nd Gen with its uniform cross-section dash , a shape that is easy to make solidly, had no rattles at all when new. Over time (3 years for me), the little vents up front by the windowlettes would develop a rattle. But this was easily fixed. The simplicity of the shape had benefits. Thicker more sound-deading plastics could be used for the same plastic volume budget. The use of the video display as a multi-function control, compacted the surface area needed for the complete suite of controls.

The rattles that occur on rough roads with the 2010, are due to having a Tee shapped dash, with the large console sticking out away from the main dash. Of course allot of people like how this looks. I can take it or leave it myself, and consequently, am more interested in the leg space I am loosing. This Tee shape is difficult to make without squeeks and rattles as it requires a plastic clam-shell. Its where the upper and lower sections of the shells come together that make squeeks and rattles. And then there is the the lighter weight plastics in the glove box doors, and the latching mechanism rattle too. One can conjecture, they needed more plastic for the console, so they had less in the budget for the glove box doors.

 

It's been a long time since I posted anything. but anyways I think my 2010 Prius has the same or a little quieter than our 2008 Yaris. The noise seems typical of any small car. I think good tires might help. I will use tirerack to do my tire research when I need them.

 

dschwalm,
The loundless of sound is a very subjective matter. Teenagers going to a rock concert don't think the music is loud even thought over 80 decibel is medically proven damaging to the ear. If you have an iPhone, download a free Decibel Meter and get an actual number to compare between your Prius and your Bimmer.
I, as most of us here, think there is something wrong with your used Prius. The only way to find out for sure is to compare it with other Prius owners.
May be you can post the decibel reading in your Prius stating the position of the iphone while taking the test, the vehicle speed, road surface type, etc.

 

I drove my Prius about 200 miles on the highway over weekend. Did not find the noise to be any worse than driving my 2004 acura mdx or another compact car. If you are used to a Camry or a Lexus, you might notice the noise. For me, it was just fine.

 

Definitely agree. Drove a 1999 323i before getting the Prius V back in Nov 2009. Road noise is definitely more in the Prius. Seems to come from the battery vent in the back. But it's not severe and certainly beats the 2-3k repair bills everytime the bimmer is in the shop. Very satisfied with the V so far. Some minor rattling noise starts to develop since the last maintenance visit. Will have them check it out. Hope they can get that fixed.

 

I can have a conversation at speeds over 100mph in my car. You not being truthfull.

 

You might be conversing whilst your passenger is screaming out of fear for their life! ;-)

 

Just an extreme case of pulse and glide.

 

Actually the Prius V (not sure about the v) rides quite smoothly and quietly at 100 mph.

 

Yes I would say it is abnormal. I enjoy my 2010! Something is wrong.