What I hate about my Prius

Why are people moving their rear view mirrors upside down to get them higher? For a taller person the mirror post must also be adjusted up. The mirror assembly has three pieces: mirror, post, windshield mount. The post can be swiveled inside the mount just like the mirror can be swiveled on the other end of the post. To do this, return the upside down mirror to its regular position. Grasp the mirror on the right and left with both hands. Pull the mirror slightly toward you while pushing straight up toward the car roof to move the post up. Then adjust the mirror to the desired position.

 

I have to comment on my dislikes. Notice I said dislikes as nothing makes me not happy with my Prius. Funny, isn't it no matter who you ask if they like their Prius you get the same answer. "I love it!"

That being said here is my list of changes I hope to see in latter models:
1. seat cloth material - too easily stained and worn
2. arm rest and console cover should have thicker and more durable material
3. poor visibilty going backwards.
4. Back up view is not woth anything beyond a quick look to see if anyone is directly behind your car....and only during the second you took a look.
5. Back up beeper should be heard in the ouside as well as the inside. For God's aske I know I'm backing up. The person not hearing my motor may not.
6. Trunk release in interior would be nice.
7. Given choice to have both front and back doors unlocked when opening drivers door.
I hate trying the back only to be reminded AGAIN that I have to open the drivers door and unlo0ck it manually. Then again it would be nice if someone was following me.
8. Having the car come with the heavier chassis bar and saving us all $180. Stupid on Toyotas part.
9. Offer the GPS system package for less. $3K vs $300 makes our decision now too easy.

As stated previous, nonetheless i do love it.

 

I hate having to remember how to fill the gas tank since I do it so infrequently.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Aug 21 2006, 06:39 PM) [snapback]307067[/snapback]</div>

I believe you can program the SKS to unlock all doors by setting it using the Panic Button and the Lock button on the drivers door using a series of button presses. Take a look under the SKS part in the manual (I don't have it inside with me right now to give you verbatim what is says).

Steve

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brasche @ Jul 11 2006, 12:49 AM) [snapback]284304[/snapback]</div>

Man i really can agree with you any more, the handling of the car is horrible.

i don't like the transmission stalk its easy to bump, and i don't like the pushbutton park... if you press it when the car hasn't completely stoped, the car doesn't car, you pressed P for park. but i don't like the idea of all pushbutton driving modes :mellow: .

and that start button, yea, that has to go i feel its really annoying, and i hate the wait aftet you press the button before you can start drivng.

i wish you could from outside the car to in reverse in 2 seconds if you had the key on you.

and the MFD having more functions on it would be awesome. a real perk.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(huskers @ Aug 21 2006, 06:49 PM) [snapback]307080[/snapback]</div>

i thought that was just me, does that happen to alot of people?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Aug 21 2006, 06:39 PM) [snapback]307067[/snapback]</div>

1... i bought seat covers just because of that and i have a pillow case for the center console.
2... yes
3... not as bad as some other cars.
4... i wish you could drive using the camera, its a weird fish eye view but i think its useful.
5... i have the back up beep disabled. there is a reason.
6... trunk release on key foob would be nice.
7... I DO THAT ALL THE TIME, stupid unlock trunk.... grrr....
8... already said.
9... there is a reason i have a package 4... i didn't want to spend the money on that stuff so i agree

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(steviet @ Aug 21 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]307100[/snapback]</div>

Yes, you can reprogram it to open all the doors, which I've done. It's so much more convenient.

The programming is a little tricky -- you have to press and hold the various buttons and listen for the beeps. The sequence is in the manual.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 21 2006, 09:34 PM) [snapback]307265[/snapback]</div>

Thanks I'll check it out in the manual. Watch though, with my luck I'll be car jacked cause the guy was able to jump in the back seat. Hummm, maybe thats what toyota had in mind.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Aug 21 2006, 09:21 PM) [snapback]307334[/snapback]</div>

do not know about Toyota, but it's sure in MY mind...I find it much more cognitively peaceful to just use the button on the driver's armrest to unlock other doors if I am not right there to do it myself...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rufaro @ Aug 22 2006, 01:09 AM) [snapback]307343[/snapback]</div>

I often want to put stuff in the back seat and I find it inconvenient to have to open my own door then press the lock on the armrest. I guess it's because I was used to double-clicking my remote key fob on my old car to unlock all the doors. I thought about he bad guy jumping into the passenger seat scenario, but ... I guess I'll just have to press the panic button. Whoops, that's right, my key will be in my bag so I won't be able to get to it quick enough. Hmm....

As for people who want all their doors to lock automatically when you're driving. I personally feel safer with the doors unlocked unless I'm in a bad area of town. I always think -- what if I'm in an accident and can't move or am unconscious...I want somebody to be able to open the door and pull me out!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(huskers @ Aug 21 2006, 03:49 PM) [snapback]307080[/snapback]</div>

At least they put an arrow next to the pump symbol so you know where the door to the gas tank is. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rufaro @ Aug 19 2006, 04:50 PM) [snapback]305980[/snapback]</div>

Well, I did it. I picked up my Shock White (or whatever they call it) #7 on Monday. With the exception of the new car smell (never did like that smell) I love the car. It has exceeded my expectations on a number of fronts:

1. Gas Mileage -- 55 mpg on my typical roundtrip between Colorado Springs and Denver, with lots of steep grades, 75 mph
2. Quiet - quiter than my Mercedes
3. Powerful -- no embarassment on those steep uphill grades
4. Roomy
5. Techno wizardry -- I've read the manual cover to cover twice and will still be exploring this car for quite a while
6. Size -- I can now park two cars in my 2-car garage without bizarre manuevers and every door is accessible.

One question for all of you -- is it normal for the battery charge to be 50% or less most of the time? in 500 miles I have only seen the battery bars turn green once and it was pretty brief. I've seen a lot of purple, due no doubt to going 75 mph (yes that's the real speed limit) on steep grades. Typically I start and end the day at 50%.

And OK, in defference to the name of the forum, here are the "opportunities for improvement" I have noticed so far:

1. Telescoping steering column sure would be nice. I am still comfortable, but could be even more so.
2. Autolocking doors -- every other car I have owned for the last 10 years has had them. I feel exposed without them.
3. Backup beeper -- that thing is going down tonight as soon as I re-find the instructions.
4. Someone else mentioned this -- push buttons for P-R-N-D-B. My Dad's 1962 Rambler Rebel had them (not "B"), this car should too.
5. A way to plug it in, just for fun.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(holytechie @ Aug 25 2006, 02:48 PM) [snapback]309449[/snapback]</div>

As they say on Jolly Olde England, yes, it's bog normal. With nearly 3000 miles on mine, I've never even seen a green bar, much less a purple one - the Hill Country here in central Texas is rolling hills (I lived in Denver and Parker for ten years, and Albuquerque and El Paso for ten more), so we don't do much long-distance climbing or regenerating. (In case you're wondering where my source for Jolly Olde-itude is from, my wife is English, and her dad comes and visits every year from Great Haywood (which is much smaller than Small Haywood, go figure). I know all about flannels and stone and all that rot. And they say Aggies aren't teachable.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 07:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

Being a Prius rookie, I don't have as many gripes. Like stated above, the shift seems counter-intuitive. That doesn't mean the physical layout is different from other previous shifters but in the age of the computer mouse, keyboard the up and down arrow keys, game joysticks (and the Prius shifter is much nearer a joystick than a car shift lever) the reverse selection would be better at the bottom.

I shift into drive almost 9 times out of 10 when I mean to shift into reverse. I've driven cars for over 40 years and I never shifted the wrong way until now. Of course practice makes perfect and I hope I can reprogram my brain at this late stage in my life.

A small price to pay for what I consider the best car I've ever purchased. I only wish I had 2 so I didn't have to share with my wife.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(holytechie @ Aug 25 2006, 03:48 PM) [snapback]309449[/snapback]</div>

Glad you are enjoying your new car!

Yes, it's normal for the battery not to be full. I did see green once. I was coming down a mountain and doing 100 mpg for 20 minutes! It actually is a little scary because the battery indicator is bright green and completely full, but arrows are still going to it. I thought it looked like the battery was going to blow up! :lol:

 

Its the cruise control. When you stop, or drive below about 25 MPH, you must RESET your speed. It really drives me NUTS. Most other brands I have owned retain the set speed even if you stop for a stop sign or traffic signal or any other reason, just as long as you do not turn the engine off. Otherwise, it works great!!! I believe that all vehicles made by Toyota, including Lexus, operate the same way, so it is not just the Prius. It has been this way for years and years and years. When will they ever change it? Paul H.

 

re: seat cloth that easily stains and wears...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheParadox @ Aug 21 2006, 06:46 PM) [snapback]307117[/snapback]</div>

Package 4 includes side airbags. You were very careful about the seat cover you picked, correct? You may have been aware of this, but others may overlook that . . .

The side airbags are in the seats!

Installing seat covers can keep the side air bags from being effective - or could cause them deploy in a way that mighy cause added injury or worse.

Just something to remember.

 

I've only had mine for one week, so I'd have to say that I've got a minor problem with the leg room (still has a nice driving position, even though I'm 6'2") and I find that the lack of interior lights (center console, glovebox at night) is dissappointing. Guess I bought too many luxury cars and got a little spoiled.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarge @ Jul 11 2006, 06:59 PM) [snapback]284729[/snapback]</div>

Do it! Makes a world of difference!
http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_seat_heat.htm
Aw, jeez, I just realized I never finished the lumbar portion of that page. Sigh.

Exactly right. Amazing how few people know how to adjust the side mirrors. Of coures everybody else thinks I'm crazy and immediately moves the mirrors back to where they can safely see the side of the car!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark M. @ Jul 11 2006, 08:29 PM) [snapback]284770[/snapback]</div>

Yes! I second (or third) that. I have that in all my other cars, and really miss it in the Prius!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(airpolgas @ Jul 14 2006, 10:29 PM) [snapback]286600[/snapback]</div>

You aren't missing anything... except the way to defeat this silly bit of Toyota engineering:
http://www.darelldd.com/ev/prius_wiper_lift.htm
Have fun!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(avion @ Jul 15 2006, 09:33 AM) [snapback]286756[/snapback]</div>

Anybody want to collect all these suggestions into an organized list? I'd love to post them on my web site for easier reference later. Some good stuff here... and lots of repeats. If anybody cares to do it, please drop me a line (don't just put it here, or I'll likely miss it!)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pendetim @ Aug 12 2006, 05:01 PM) [snapback]302325[/snapback]</div>

Seriously... it is well worth adding adjustable lumbar. I just returned from a 1500 mile trip, and the "new" seat was awesome with the adjustable support. I'd just change the firmness every half hour or so for variety, and it worked GREAT!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 22 2006, 03:25 PM) [snapback]307832[/snapback]</div>

I hated that one too, but as others mentioned you can reprogram the drivers door handle to unlock all the doors. Check your manual for the instructions.