April 2005 Consumer Reports Rating

I don't run obstacle courses with my car and look down the road to avoid crashes myself and drive defensively. How does it score for reliability and crash impact?

 

Don't read "average" as a negative. An average rating is good enough for me. If you browse through the ratings you will find only cars like Corvettes, Mini Cooper S, and the like, get high ratings. What you don't want to see are any bad tendencies (roll-over, etc) The Prius has pretty small brakes for a car weighing 3000 lbs so any early assist in strong maneuvers really helps.

As above, you have to take responsibilty, as you are still the Nut behind the wheel.

My vote is to get the VSC, it's like anti-lock brakes, it will help save your bacon and it really can't hurt you.

 

Crash avoidability helps those who drive defensively too. Better is always good.

/Jim

 

Crash avoidance is another way to say for handling. I would describe the handling of the current Prius as adequate. Certainly not up to par with Audi, BMW, or other sports oriented cars, but not bad.

 

The Prius was average in skid pad tests and it seems to me that it was mentioned that a tire upgrade from the LRR tires (known for lack of grip) was all that was needed to get the rating bumped up a few notches.

obviously emergency manuvers cannot be prepared for but i think most of these types of situations are more the driver's fault than other vehicles.

YES i am saying that we create our emergency situational requirements. i have only had one even remotely tense action required in 20,000 miles in an area that is ridulous for traffic density (we rank in the top ten for average time lost due to congestion in the US) and i attribute my lack of emergency response required to my efforts to increase my mileage.

i am more alert to what i am doing and i have probably at least tripled my following distance(yea... i was one of those that followed at 1-2 car lengths at ANY speed) in an effort to have more coast and glide time before having to lower my speed mechanically. (regen is cool but still results in HUGE energy losses...only not quite so huge as regular ICE's)

i read about many people who say its impossible to drive the speed limit, but i do it. sure a lot of people go flying by me, but on a multi-lane highway, that is ok. also our state is much tougher on tractor-trailers. they have much less leeway on the speed at which they can travel and get away with. we have simply had too many of them involved in accidents. new laws have been written and are on the focus list concerning following distances around these trucks. no longer can a vehicle cut in front of a truck unless they have the proper clearance, etc. so there is a lane or two doing the speed limit. i have also noticed that our brief flirtation with $3 gas (which is scheduled to return this summer btw) also helped to slow the pace.

 

Yes, VSC is a great technology, EVEN on high performance cars. Most high dollar, high performance cars also have some sort of stability control software.hardware. The main difference is that they usually have some easy method of disabling it in order to get "pure" performance. They used to use it in Formula 1 racing, but it was considered too much of a driver's aid and they banned the technology. Now they must drive on their own abilities. VSC type technology is not limited only to sedate sedans and such. It helps on just baout every car. I've driven quite a few high power cars, and it's sure nice to have some sort of traction control when you take a corner a bit too fast in a $100k+ car. The car helps keep you form doing some really stupid things. Of course on the track, jsut hit the switch and it's tail out happiness all day long!

Moral of the story is that I wouldn't buy a car without this type of technology if it's available.