Sorry for the various threads I'm posting at the moment! I'm nearly convinced on the Prius, just a few things I'm still unsure about and hoping you lovely people can help! Beeping in reverse - every review I read/watch complains about the beeping noise when you reverse. I test drove a Prius last week and it didn't do this. Had the dealer just turned it off or is this not a thing in UK models? How does the car handle in wind/gusts? How does the car handle in snow/ice? What are your annoyances with the car? Thanks in advance!
If 'tis a road test demonstrator, it possibly annoyed them so much they got it turned off. Just make sure you insist it's turned off on delivery - even write it in the contract!! The other thing I did was insist they activate the Global remote Window up/down - for some reason TOYOTA leaves it switched off, but they can flick that on at the same time; Good - she's better than my FIESTA, more or less on a par with my previous FOCUS 2litre TDCI; Hmmm - sorry, can't help, I only have ice in my freezer - I've never seen snow, and if it snows here, we better all hibernate long term. Only real annoyance is the radio - here it doesn't have buttons or knobs - my previous cars, within a couple of days, I had memorised the positions of the relevant buttons/knobs for the radio/CD, but you have to glance at this to get the right spot. TOYOTA also won't let you dial a number while you're driving or search from your phone directory (you have to stop) - will let you select from your recently dialled numbers though. I understand if you have Sat Nav it won't let you enter or change your route. Other than those relatively minor things, I think she's a great car.
I have not found the need to search my phonebook on the move as it would be too much of a distraction so can't comment if its locked in the UK, but if I want to call someone I use voice recognition and just say e.g. joe bloggs mobile and it does its thing.
It's not too bad in cross wind and gusts, although that does reduce mpg slightly. Steering is very positive and though reported by the media as being numb and lacking feedback, I find it very precise and enjoyable on all conditions. Sorry that in my 15 months experience ( SW Peninsula ) I've never encountered driving in icy or snowy conditions.
Can you turn the beep off in the UK or just change it to one beep? Many people here get it changed to a single beep. Remember options and features vary somewhat depending on the country. The US radio has 2 knobs, for instance. Some of @alanclarkeau 's experience with features may not be the same for the UK Prius.
You can turn off the reverse beep. The car handles terribly on windy days. Worse than most cars I've driven. The car handles as well as any FWD in the snow. That is, not good or bad. The worst thing about the car is the rattling interior. I hear it in every Prius I've sat in, Gen 2 & 3. I've only been in a Gen 4 once and it was new, so it didn't rattle. The worst rattle is when you have an empty cup in the cup holder or coins. Buzz buzz buzz.
@Roo. Is looking at getting a Gen 4 Prius, but I notice your profile is a 2012 Plug-in and wonder how that affects your review.
I had my 2017 reverse beep disabled at the time I took delivery. I also had my prior 2012 disabled, as well as our prior HS 250h. The dealership should do this free of charge.
Thank you for being pedantic. The dealer told me the same thing when I asked them to turn it off. Negatively. I dislike the Gen 4.
I luv the reverse beep, actually it's not enough: I've just caught myself a couple of times, maybe more. I would prefer a shifter that goes through some sorta gate, that you feel what gear you're in. The reserve beep was a bandage patch, for a dangerously mute return-to-centre "shifter". I just wish there was a way to "turn off" the porcelain bidet, the Darth Vader display, and on and on, lol.
The console on trim two (& others?) is matte black. Shifter & steering wheel still have white. I want to get rid of the gloss piano black.trim.
I'm sorry, but not impressed that you have made a prejudicial opinion based on one trip in a Gen 4. Was it longer than 24 hours, or somewhat shorter period?
Agree. Satin or matt surfaces with a bit of texture, medium to dark grey, I'm there. Our doesn't have any sort of "TV screen", I'm fine with that. I'm definitely NOT enamoured with Toyota's insistance on putting all the instrumentation in the centre of the dash though, seems absurd. 3rd Gen displays are oscilloscope pale green too, and near impossible to see in bright sun, especially with glare of wet roads.
You can adjust the reverse beep down to one, which is quickly ignored. The Gen 4 Prius is quiet, drives nicely and seems better in windy conditions than similarly sized cars, presumably due to its excellent aerodynamics. It is a great highway car. Acceleration and power are fine for me, though it worked noticeably harder when visiting the CO Rockies. I expect handling to improve further when the original low rolling resistance tires are replaced with all-season tires, with an acceptable mpg hit. The passenger and storage sizes are good and the hatch makes it more practical. I've averaged 54 mpg in 32,000 miles (the computer registers 56 mpg but seems 2 mpg optimistic) . Maintenance is minimal since oil changes are at 10K mile intervals, and belts have been eliminated. It seems to be a 300K+ mile lifespan car. I wish the visibility out the back was better, but one adapts by using the mirrors and back-up camera. It is unconscionable that the windshield visors do not slide on their track or have an extender since low sun from the side is inevitable. That's my only complaint.
I don't think they're moving in the right direction. Yeah, here 2010/2011 Touring models were completely screen free. 2012 onward, all levels have a screen, albeit nowhere near the proportions of the 4th gen Darth Vader persona. We have back up camera btw, a small image in corner of rear view mirror. Good idea, only thing, the image is so wide-angle, I really don't trust what I'm seeing: you can be inches from some obstacle, and it looks to be 20 feet away lol.
I've only owned a Gen 4, but driven both Gen 2 and 3. They are incomparable in driving characteristics, the Gen 4 much superior. No, you can't turn it off - but turn it to a single beep rather than an eternal beeping. In 18+ months, I've not had a rattle. I remember the Gen 2 and 3 TAXIs here rattled.
