loss of braking while going over bumps???

I agree, why take the chance...
Toyota monitors this forum...
Call and complain about this or that all you want but until people actually describe the problem and avoid spending MONEY because of poor performance/danger/unreliability, it'll be same,same...

 

The only offense is when you try and blame engineering problems of the car on why you dislike versus just general dislike and "feel". The telescoping steering wheel is a bummer to some people. I wish it had the Lexus telescoping automatic wheel that retracts when it is off. But that's what the CT200H is for.

There are many other cars out there, but a jetta really isn't a "good" one.

 

Before you go into a newer VW TDI, do a little searching on HPFP (high pressure fuel pump) failures.

 

I'll be finding out about my butt next week, I'm taking the Prius on a trip to my brother's place. Maybe I'll bring a pillow, just in case.

 

I smell a rat, p123456789. Your supposed issue was with the braking system. When that was debunked, you suddenly state that now the car doesn't handle or accelerate well enough for you.

When that is debunked, where will you go next?

-Brad

 

I've ridden on multiple multi-thousand mile journeys as the driver in the Prius. No problem.

 

I've noticed that tires make a big difference with the ABS fake-out on bumps with the '07. It used to happen pretty often to me with the Integrities, and it did scare me a little bit but always stopped just fine.

It has Hankook Optimo H727's on it now and it's very rarely happened since the swap. They are just really nice, quiet, grippy tires (and excellent in the snow).

I really like the cornering--it makes a great Colorado canyon carver, and it's just a stock, base (non-touring). I'd say it corners almost as well as my previous Integra.

I've found the seats plenty comfy. I get a little numb on long drives, but that happens in any car I've been in.

 

I have mentioned this in other threads about the seeming loss of braking when hitting a little bump. This is not limited to only the Prius. Before I bought my Prius in 07, I owned a Honda Civic Hybrid for almost 5 years. (Bought one when they first came out in 02. They were called 03's.) It did exactly the same thing. I figured it out after about the second time it happened. Wasn't a big deal then and still isn't now with the Prius.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I had back pain once w/my 06 Prius after driving ~1000 miles in 3 days. I ended up buying a mesh back lumbar support (http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/97684-help-bad-backs-in-prius.html#post1384043) and had no problems w/back pain doing a ~860 mile road trip back in the other direction.

 

Yep, I can respect your decision that it's not the right car for you. I have to admit that I also found the braking issue a little bit disconcerting on the few times that it's happened to me.

However given what "okiebutnot..." said about the civic hybrid, I think that if this is the compromise that we need to make in order to have regenerative braking, then that is a compromise that I am prepared to make. (Because I really really really like having regenerative braking).

Interestingly my neighbor brought home a little Mitsubishi IMev a few weeks ago and took me for a drive. One of the first things I noticed is that it did not have regenerative braking! And this really surprised me (at first I actually couldn't believe it). In hindsight however I'm pretty sure that this was a decision that Mitsubishi made merely to simplify the braking design.

 

The Prius was primarily designed to be a ultra-low emissions vehicle.
We all tend to forget that. As a secondary effect the car uses minimum
fuel and gets very good fuel efficiency, MPGs. The whole car and all it's
systems have been designed and tightly integrated to achieve these
purposes.

Most folks buy the car for the MPGs and their decision to buy the car is
reinforced every time they drive. That said, to make the most of the
fuel sipping nature of the car, you have to relearn how to drive, and
you have to modify your expectations of what it can do based on your
previous non-hybrid experience.

In the course of this thread you have said:

"… while I was braking I lost braking power for maybe .5 of a second …

"… there are steep hills bumpy roads and tight corners I've soon figured
out that the prius is not suited well for these roads…

"… It has so much body roll around corners and has trouble climbing
the steep hills here. The traffic is also bad and it would be nice to have
something with some more power for merging...

"… I dont like how the steering wheel doesn't telescope...

"… how terrible the seats are …"

There are threads here where members who value the low pollution
and fuel savings benefits have found ways to overcome each of these
perceived issues for relatively small cash outlays or expectation
adjustments -- xcept the telescoping steering column.
"The search function is your friend."

Although I've driven my Prius for a month less than 4 years, never in
that time have I recommended to any of my family, coworkers, or
neighbors that they buy one. I don't want them to jump too quickly
without fully considering the many changes they'll have to make for the
Prius experience to be rewarding and positive overall. Most of my
discussions about my car end with my saying something like,

"I really love the car, its low emissions, and especially the fuel savings.
But it's a weird little car, and there are lots of little things about it that
are very different than what you're used to and take for granted. You
should do a lot of research before you make a decision to buy one.
PRIUSchat.com is a good place to start."

Given that you seem to have neither the time or inclination to do more
inquiring into how to overcome your issues with the Prius, I think you
have identified your best course of action at this point:

"… The prius is simply the wrong vehicle for me the braking thing just
put it over the edge its not the cars fault its my fault for buying the wrong
car.."

Whatever course you take, be careful out there and Happy Motoring to
you.

 

Rokeby, Great post. Toyota decided to make sacrifices in some areas to keep the price of a vehicle with a very technically advanced powertrain down to a level that a majority of new car buyers could afford. From my viewpoint they made a reasonable set of sacrifices, even if they weren't the identical sacrifices I would have made.

 

A solid wood desk chair is comfortable to nobody and is a bad uncomfortable seat. The seats in the Prius can be comfortable to some people such as myself. And it is a not a matter of me not having been in something better, the RX's we have with leather heated and cooled seats are awesome. Better than the Prius. But the seats aren't bad in the Prius, they are good. Much more comfortable than many other makes/models. Comfortable enough to drive 30 hours straight with no breaks.

The only thing I can think of right now that I dislike about the Prius is the lack of a traction control button to disable it. Not a big deal because you can disable it with a chicken dance. It is not a super car or a luxury car, and it doesn't pretend to be.