Bumpy ride?

I bought my Prius just a month ago and I have taken it into the dealership twice since. I feel little vibrations in the steering wheel and in the car. I had the wheels balanced the first time, and balanced the second time. The guy told me that the Prius 2 is a slightly bumpy ride. Is this normal? I just want to make sure my car is okay and I don't damage it by driving it with something going on. I don't know a whole lot about the mechanics of cars, especially Hybrids. He was telling me the Prius has harder more compact tires for fuel economy, is this true? Is the bumpiness normal? I won't mind, but I just want to make sure it isn't a problem or damage they aren't telling me about! Thanks

 

On the contrary! Haha i just switched from a 2012 Honda Fit. So I know what "bumpy" feels like. I will test the car one more time tomorrow on the highway. If there is "bumpiness" or vibrations I will be driving back and demanding something other than rebalancing. They keep rebalancing the tires. They drove it 15 miles today to "see the problems" I told them about. They supposedly saw the problem. I swear to God if I have to go back in one more time I'll be so mad. I really love this car already but want to treat it right. I guess if I really have to I would use the Lemon Law.

 

No that isn't unrelated. One of my friends I was talking to said the same thing, so I can try that. They are rated 35psi front, 33 psi back. And I check them every few days for best fuel economy, but might as well try everything.

 

I was actually thinking that. Each day I have thought to myself, "was this car THAT bumpy on the test drive?" Because I did test drive the car before I purchased it. So I don't recall it being super bumpy.

 

This is yet another thing I have contemplated because the car comes with 2 year Toyota care, no matter where you live. So I figured maybe if they don't solve the issue, I can take it somewhere else. However, if I continue to have issues I will keep returning to the same dealer in the event I have to claim a Lemon.

 

I'm not sure if it would be alignment because the car drives straight naturally and what not, but then again I am not the expert.

 

Interesting you say that. The service tech I dealt with yesterday told me "the Prius has a harder compact tire than most for fuel economy and can have a flat spot for a bit until it rounds out." I'm not sure what that means, but I was told that. I've had the car 1 month, and I don't know how long the dealership had it on the lot. The car is a 2012, so could be a few weeks, months?

 

Thank you for this! I'm going to read through this. Thanks much!

 

I like your analogy! And yeah, it does suck having to take it back like that. Today was an okay ride so I will continue to see how it is for the next week. So far it seems better, but then again, as a new Prius owner, I don't even know what "normal" is yet. I test drove the Prius 2 before I had bought it, but test drives are only worth so much. There is nothing like owning and driving the car day after day and learning it through muscle memory and instinct. After a while you don't even think about all the quirks because you almost integrate with the car! So yeah, aside from my rant, I think that I will wait a couple days and see what happens. I'm tired of seeing the dealer, and I'm just hoping they fixed it. I really love this car. Don't know why I didn't get a Hybrid sooner.