My 06 Prius 5 biggest surprises... what are yours?

Spare audio port? Where the heck is that? Do they have one on a 2004 model? I'm brand new to my Prius (today), so I could use some help with the Easter Eggs.

Thanks!

 

SKS is the greatest feature! You WILL get used it, and you will see how you LOVE it! I have gotten in the habit of getting out of the car, and when I bring my hand around to push the door closed, I push the lil black button, and then the door shuts, and "beep", she's locked!

My mom thought that she locked her key in her car, but she also has SKS. For some reason, as she was getting out of the car, she pushed the interior lock switch to lock the car...well, little did she realize that when the door shut, the Prius sensed the key and unlocked the door- HA! She was thrilled!

The window tinting does help with the rear window view, I don't even notice the difference now... I also usually keep the cargo cover flap UP- so it helps block out the lil window- and I see just fine-

ENJOY your new love!

PS- That drawer was an amazing discovery! I was thrilled!

 

1.) How easy it has been to have mpg success. After 1 week, 194 miles. My mpg avg. is 49.6, in So. Cal. traffic for the most part. 2.) That the Prius is actually a relaxation Guru. I simply follow it's MFD truths, and drive calmly, arriving at the next red light with all the folks who flew by at the last green light. 3.) Visibility - It is not a problem for me. 4.) The back- up camera - I find it extremely helpful, and fun! 5.) Comfort - I have never had a more comfortable car.
**** I had an opportunity to buy a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid at MSRP,which is very rare! However, my wife didn't like how small it felt inside. So, we got on the list at Longo, and I can not tell you how happy I am with my Prius! I can tell you that, in the L.A./O.C. area, Longo is the place to buy your Prius!!! They are very customer oriented. NOT ONE NEGATIVE in the 25 min. -start to finish- transaction.

Finally, I am not one to name my car, but, I can't help myself! My 2006 Prius is what he is---
The Silver Guru.

 

The nav screen and backup camera resolution is a huge improvement from our 2004 RX330.

The SKS is weird, but I like it (geek appeal). (If you don't like it, turn it off - the key button is under the steering wheel, where your knee is).

I hate not having seat heaters, a sunroof and separate driver/passenger climate controls, but I guess I'm just spoiled.

 

*The BlueTooth! Sooo automatic.

*The SKS! One thing I love getting used to. And, how well it works.

*Phone Speed Dials! Automatically goes to that screen once you're rolling a few MPH / so easy to touch a number and call!

*Digit and voice dialing works fantastic!

*Doesn't go in electric as long as I thought (ICE kicks in at about 10-15MPH and it's warmed up for sure): hmmm...practice I guess? Not complaining as my MPG is great anyway.

*How well everything is just in such great harmony with each other (Bluetooth, stereo, MFD screens, drop down menus for the little things in life, SKS with me, Hybrid system, steering wheel controls (it knows what to control and when/how, ie. phone volume vs. stereo and more), incoming/outgoing call and the stereo mutes and many others.

*And......just how much fun the whole Prius driving and all around experience is...... just surprising to me!

Aaron

 

You are a graphic artist.

 

It's recommended that you turn off the SKS if the car is going to be parked for an extended period of time (more than 2-3 weeks). However, if you don't like the SKS system, don't turn it off, just use the fob like people used to do in the 20th century. If you push the unlock button, the driver's door unlocks, and if you push the unlock button twice, all doors unlock. When you get into the car, just put the fob into the slot in the dash and turn on the car.

The biggest advantage in leaving the SKS on: you can't accidently lock the fob in the car!

 

The audio input is new on 2006 toyotas. It isn't on the 2004 prius. It's located inside the armrest along with and extra power port.

 

What's the difference between the 04 RX330 MFD and the 06 Prius MFD?

 

MFD?

Also, it rained last night. When I opened the back hatch and passenger door this morning, more water than I would have liked dripped into the car. Kind of annoying.

My (road) bike fits in the back, seats down, without having to take the front tire off. Awesome.

 

MFD = Multi Function Display

We also have a 04 RX330 with NAV and Backup Camera. I was wondering what the difference were between the RX330's MFD and the 06 Prius MFD.

 

Disabling Reverse Beep
• Power on the car, Cycle ODO/TRIP, stopping on ODO, Power off the car.
• Power on, within 6 seconds, hold ODO for at least 10 seconds.
• While still holding ODO shift into Reverse and back into Park.
• b-on shows on speedometer display, press ODO to cycle to "b-off".

• This also works for the seatbelt beep, replace shifting with buckling/un-buckling.

 

I want my house front door to beep at me when I get close to it and unlock the door. I have become very spoiled by not having to use a key for my car for almost two years.

 

I said the same thing yesterday, and we've only had our Prius for 3 days.

 

Thank you Thank you Thank you! It works (or doesn't as this case may be.) Felt a little like Nixon's secretary erasing tapes (he was a president for those younger), but it worked great.
Gordon

 

I guess my biggest surprise was just how weak the electric motor is.
I expected/hoped that, when puttering around town at under 40mph I'd be able to remain in pure electric with little effort.
If I'm at a traffic light with cars behind me, the electric motor cannot provide even close to sufficient acceleration by itself and the ICE must kick in.
(Perhaps the electric motor has sufficient torque but, without an EV switch, the computer kicks in the ICE?)

On my wishlist:
1) An EV button.
2) A "Coast" button on the steering wheel to avoid the necessity of mastering the arcane skill of "feathering". This button would blank out all the arrows (prevent power from flowing to or from wheels or battery) while held and restore "D" drive when released.
3) Repeating the consumption meter on the energy flow screen.
4) Factory integrated USB interface (for IPOD, 3rd party GPS, etc.) with dash and armrest ports.

 

Your parenthetical comment/question. This is probably the only, or primary situation where I would use an EV button.

The electric motor has strong torque, but is able to show it off only in quick-acceleration situations (e.g., merging onto freeway) most of which are above 42 MPH.

Feathering is a bit arcane for died-in-the-wool leadfoots (leadfeet?), but for the average driver who pays attention to the MFD and is open to learning---well, I have a suspicion that when many Priusites say "the car teaches you", this may be the #1 thing they mean. A certain amount of feathering, especially in "suburban" driving situations, will probably gradually become second nature to you, and many. That's what's happened with me, anyway.