Advise before I buy my first Hybrid

I will see if I can remove them - sorry for that. Probably somebody from Toyota saw them and removed them from Youtube - pity.

Why?

To the OP: I will never own a different vehicle in the future that is not a hybrid, or an EV. I look myself around and see loud inefficient dinosaurs. With people fretting with gear shifting (wasting time and fuel) or using automatic transmissions that are either inefficient (regular hydraulic old style ones) or automated versions of 10 gear double clutch systems that pale in complexity and failure rate compared to the simple beauty of the HSD Toyota came up with 15 years ago designing a new drivetrain from scratch and against any custom in the automotive industry.
The ride is always smooth, the ICE can spin always at efficient RPMs, the failure rate is next to zero because there is no stress on the parts, on the engine, there are no clutches or complicated gears.
Each time I take my Gen3, and it will be even more so I hope and think with the Gen4 I ordered, it is a pleasure.
I could not say that of my VW Polo, or any other car I receive at work as a rental for work reasons every now and then.
And the Prius achieves excellent MPG in city traffic and suburban with little effort. If you spend a lot of time on the highway and live in EU, then *maybe* a diesel would be better, but I see traffic jams everywhere and full highways: it is more city traffic at times than anything else really... And that is when fuel consumption goes down down down

If you are a "jerky" driver, that cannot understand what smooth driving is and like to accelerate and brake hard, the Prius is not the car for you. And if you look to reduce fuel consumption, any car will not do for you - you need to change the way you drive first....

 

Spot on. Times have changed regardless how cheap gas is. The genie is out of the bag. Competition.

the near future is every roof covered with collectors and Telsa batteries for storage.

No power plants needed as the grid feeds itself.

 

Fuel has been creeping up in price here in Australia over the 2 months or so - not sure if it's a local blip or will be an on-going increase.

My northern roof (I'm in Southern Hemisphere) is full of solar panels - I recently enquired about batteries, and the advisor suggested wait 2-3, maybe 4 years and the price of batteries will likely be heaps cheaper than today. He also suggested that at that stage, my panels will be 10 yrs old, and could be replaced with far more efficient ones - crystal ball, I suspect.

But that will probably coincide with my next car, which could well be a Plug-In hybrid. Fully autonomous, maybe by then too?

 

My 'customer expectation' was (is) that the Level 3, LiON, with TSS-P should get similar MPG to the Level 2 ECO, LiON. Even as I was doing the 'practice loop' that normalizes the car, I told the sales man that I am expecting at least 110-120 MPG. That remains my expectation for a Level 2 ECO on that loop on a standard day. But the Level 3 has an unwanted, extra weight, moon roof window.

Someone in Toyota believed I would accept lower MPG and moon roof to get TSS-P. But they forgot it is May 2016 and the market has changed. I can get better and equal for the same price with some significant advantages ... at least in the USA.

So I can fully endorse getting a 2016 Prius in just about any trim level. However, some 2016 Prius are better than others. Just I abhor Toyota Corporate, Country, and Region limiting what is on this car buyer's options and have forgotten there are others offering what I want.

Bob Wilson

 

I find it crazy that people are really getting into self driving vehicles. I really enjoy driving my Prius. I rarely even listen to the radio. (Hot rods don't need radios, lol). I have a straight pipe open exhaust (with a cat) on my Gen 2, and found it exactly as I imagined a CVT vehicle would be when I started following hybrid, EV, and cvt development in the 80's.
It gave the car a bit more power. Torque and fuel efficiency didn't change much either. I drive the hell out of all my Toyotas, the Prius is no different. With 180,000 miles the battery is just starting to show it's age, but no problems yet.
Tony

 

My "why" was a bit too short. I meant, where do you get the 120MPG "benchmark" and at what speed on (I suppose) level road? What does the Gen3 and /or Gen2 manage on the same type of "loop". I mean 120MPG is like 2L/100km, and that is *WAY* less than even the most accommodating EU and JP test cycles...

I would enjoy driving too, but at least here in EU/Germany, Munich to be precise, I am not too fond of double guessing what the Facebook driver is going to do out of the blue when he realizes he is driving a car, and lifts his/her nose from the phone screen...

Driving has become in Europe quite stressful, and a lot of traffic jams are actually caused by drivers not sure of what they need to do or what other drivers will do, hence braking, and simply too many cars around. The German Autobahn system is cluttered with traffic jams every day of the year, km and km of it. Any big city in EU, is lit up like a Xmas tree of traffic (just check out Tomtom's website for this - it is actually fun in a way: The smartest route planner - TomTom MyDrive ).

So self driving cars will solve and reduce drastically all the above, and it will revolutionize what a car will mean and how people live their lives.
Most commutes will become way shorter, because human caused traffic jams will disappear. Cars will know where to go and what the other cars will want to do and act swiftly and in safety. And fast. The sooner, the better. It will reduce global fuel consumption, stress levels, and pollution.

And when it all becomes electric or hydrogen, you can essentially start living literally where you want, because commuting (still necessary for most office jobs?) will not be so long and such a burden (stress and cost wise).

Is it fun to drive a car? to drive a Prius? sure! I like that too, but sometimes I really think it would be safer and more satisfying to do something else than deal with Facebook drivers all day.

 

Don't hold your breath for H2. It is the biggest scam story ever told. The H2 fuel cell companies are dying off around here at an alarming rate because there is not merit to the technology which has lead to funding drying up. I have driven 3 H2 cars and it seemed amazing, just water out of the tailpipe. The methods for getting hydrogen are so wasteful it is a very negative energy ratio. 16:1 by cracking crude (which is where the US gets about 99% of their H2, most of which goes to the food industry for things like chocolate.....-yes, that. Also the carbon from all that 16 for 1 still gets puked into the air at the fracturing tower. So you end up with 320 lbs of carbon for every one lb. of H2.
For steam reformation with natural gas CH4 methane). You loose 300,000 BTUs and produce lots of CO, and some CO2. You get 100,000 BTUs (less than a Kg) of H2. It cannot be transported efficiently by any means. Period. For H2 to be useful, it has to be made on or near the fueling site, made by renewables. The propaganda for H2 will show windmills and solar panels making H2 through electrolysis. But that is pixie dust and unicorns. Not to mention the severe issue with fracking for CH4. (Or the wars over crude) H2 cars are only about 21% efficient excluding the negative energy ratio of H2 production.

-Tony

 

I love driving - but don't appreciate driving among people who don't enjoy it, can't drive well, who aren't engaged in the task at hand, don't close up vacant spaces on Motorways, merge and exit inconsiderately, don't move off from the lights promptly etc etc - and generally don't consider the free flowing of the transport networks. Personally, I'd still like to drive, but put those who can't into autonomous vehicles - but I don't think that it will quite happen that way.

 

That is a good idea. Put people who have a poor driving record into auto-autos (lol).

XT1585 ?

 

I recently woke up out of a dream - where I was driving something like a Porsche/Ferrari - the story went sort-of like this: "Seeing we will be in self-driving cars within a decade, lash out and spend up big $$$$ on your last car you can drive yourself ... till I tried to put the grandchildren in ... wooops!!" Back to Prius plans.

On-topic - I see tonight on the website of a TOYOTA dealer about 1½ hrs from here, the first "Emotional Red" Prius I've seen advertised in my part of Australia. Not sure whether I'll head up there (past 14 other dealers who don't have one (2 have white ones) or wait till more arrive closer. But the end is in sight.

 

I miss the trains of my youth. My kindergarten class took the train from St Pete to Sarasota to see Ringling Brothers Circus. Trains are fun and leave the driving to someone else. Tore the track up and built a freeway and bridge.


Something is wrong. I dream every night I am young again and getting married. Always a different girl and circumstances.

 

I love trains, especially high speed ones. Too bad Deutsche Bahn makes you regret each time you get them. My last trip back from Berlin (6 hrs) was 5 hrs late... So 11 hrs long...
So, if I can avoid trains (in Germany) I will. No wonder highways are clogged to the brink...

 

Dealers have routes? Every car I've test driven was basically me driving wherever I wanted. When I test drove the Prius, I went through a construction zone and on a variety of roads including the freeway. Then when I chose the car I wanted, I did another test drive with what became my car.

I lived in Colorado when I bought my last car and every one of them I went up the mountains some. A few of the dealers just handed me the keys and said come back within a couple hours

 

I think it really boils down to whether you enjoy driving or not.
If for whatever reason you don't enjoy driving, then the concept of self driving vehicles is really going to appeal to you.

I personally hope I don't out live a reality where we are allowed to drive our own vehicles. Because I enjoy driving.

Perfected self driving vehicles in perfect theory negate many of the risks that come with individually operated and driven vehicles, but who cares?

A vision of the future where we aren't driving? Well, that's a vision of the future I'd rather NOT see.

 

I've had some dealers occasionally just give me the keys, but I remember one who was taking me on a "set route" - he said "OK, left here". I said, lets go back, forget the whole thing. I didn't buy his car.

 

no, each system is independent. but they are all covered by warranty, and you shouldn't have to live without the systems operating properly.

 

I'll try to respond to your questions IN BOLD:

I never considered a Hybrid before and have only owned non-hybrids. Went to the dealership to test drive a Rav 4, and noticed this cute little Hypersonic Red Prius in the corner. Test drove the Rav 4 (which was just like driving my hubby's Tundra). Then just for grins, I test drove the cute little thing in the corner. OMG!! It rode so smooth and quiet, was sooo comfy, and even had the pep I so enjoy. I also fell head-over-heels in love with the cockpit/dashboard!!! Not knowing anything about Prii or hybrid, I have been doing everything I can, to learn all I can, before I buy. I didn't know about "Prius trims" (2, 2 eco, 3, 3 touring, 4, 4 touring), the one I drove was a 2. Since then I have learned a few of the differences. I currently own a 2011 Camry and feel a lot intimidated by the technology of the Prius. I didn't even know how to start the car until the dealer told me. I am leaning towards the Prius 3. . .

1.) Any recommendations otherwise, and if so why? If you want a top of the line Prius with all the options like I have, then go for the Four NON-TOURING with Advanced Tech Package. You get a lot of car and features for your money. I own my cars for a while until they die, so I wanted a nicer car. THE FOUR WITH ADVANCED TECH PACKAGE COMES WITH THE HUD. I don't think you should get the 2 because for $500 more, you can get a 2 eco with better MPG. You'll pay off that money quickly.

2.) How difficult is it to learn to operate the cockpit/dashboard with NO EXPERIENCE? I learned it in a day or two. Toyota has one of the easiest systems to use.

3.) I really love the HUD for the GPS. Is it standard in the 3? (I think it is but not sure) Yes, it comes on the three with ATP.

4.) Will I need a different phone in order to connect with the Qi? (I think I have an Android) No, most Androids work I think. They have a compatibility list on toyota.com

5.) Are voice commands available if the phone is not an I phone? I know you can use voice commands in the infotainment system. I don't know if you can control your phone through the infotainment system.

It's a great car with whatever trim you pick!

 

In regards to the android, I have a galaxy note 3 and it syncs up perfectly. I also have google play and I can navigate (change from song to song) using the steering wheel buttons!!

 

• Those who are in traffic jams created by drivers who don't know how to drive, are distracted and brake for no reason creating a traffic jam with a cascade of unnecessary breaking of following cars
• Those who have to outsmart Facebook drivers with their nose in the phone screen (or any other gadget that cars today offer, BTW)
• Those who care about the pollution created by said traffic jams and drivers who care about the environment (self driving cars are expected to reduce overall fuel consumption and pollution by 20-30% alone while traffic will be more fluid and trip times will be shorter)
• Those who have their loved ones injured or dead because the driver was either a Facebook driver or didn't react in time, or was driving recklessly because he was overconfident, or his driver's license, even if still valid, didn't reflect his health status (or was under the influence of alcohol or drugs) --> a computer has reaction times that are several fractions of times faster than any human being and is not influenced by drugs, alcohol, sleepiness and drowsiness.

Should I continue?

I want a self-driving car, possibly that I can drive when I want in the middle of nowhere for the fun of it.
Driving is not fun anymore most of the time and it is plain risky, if not downright dangerous.