BT Tech plate straightens out my Prius.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gusmur @ Sep 28 2006, 11:43 PM) [snapback]325423[/snapback]</div>

I find it very interesting that there appear to be two solutions to the same problem - that wandering syndrome you describe, necessitating constant steering corrections. It was making me crazy, but I read stuff here about an alignment, with a slight toe-in, and had that done. I also switched off the Integrity tires for a set of Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S.
Now, my car feels great - as you say, I feel much more in control, and it feels more responsive and safer.

I noticed the biggest improvement just after having the alignment done - but these tires sure do feel better on slick highways, and they corner better, too.

 

I also recently installed the BT plate. I haven't really had a chance to wring it out on a section of curvy road, but on the freeway the car tracks straight even if I let go of the wheel. On the few freeway ramps I've taken it seems that there is less body roll. However, the Prius would clearly need a lot of suspension upgrades to equal a BMW - too many to bother with. I'll ask for a lower front end brace for my birthday this year, and the upper brace next year, and so on ... It's good enough for me at this point and I don't regret getting the BT plate. The stock plate was really flimsy.

As for the tires - everyone seems to say it's a good idea to upgrade. I don't have a problem with the stock rubber and I think I would even buy them again if I had to. I'm going to let this set wear out before getting something better.

 

Thanks guys for taking the time to post your impressions of our BT Tech stiffening plate!!

 

I recently installed the BT Tech stiffening plate on my 2006 Prius. My initial impression is that the car feels tighter, stiffer, and more responsive. Well worth the money. It took about 10 minutes to install.

Perhaps the biggest performance enhancement I have made is swapping the 185/65R15 Goodyear Integrity tires which came on the vehicle for a set of 205/60R15 Michelin Hydroedge tires. After picking up my Prius, I knew, even on the drive home, that some kind of change re: the way the car handled was going to be necessary. Granted, my last car was a BMW X3, and I didn't expect the Prius to handle like a BMW, but I also didn't expect it to feel as unstable and loose as it felt on that initial 70 mile drive.

With the BT Tech stiffening plate, plus the new wider tires, the handling characteristics of the car have been raised to a new level. As for mileage, I would expect a small decrease due to the wider tires and more "rubber on the road," but I am prepared to accept that for better overall performance and control.

The car still has less that 1,000 miles on it, so neither the engine nor the tires are broken in yet. After installing the new wider tires, I filled up the gas tank to check mileage. With the new tires, I got 49.4 mpg in mixed city and highway driving, including some mountains. I can definitely live with that!

 

Installed mine today. I commute 200 miles a day, mainly highway. Will give it a couple of weeks to ascertain any difference.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gusmur @ Sep 28 2006, 11:43 PM) [snapback]325423[/snapback]</div>

This is simply not possible to be corrected by this plate and here is why. The plate while thicker and wider than the OEM plate is still only bolted on by 2 bolts on each side. All that wideness of the new plate is pointless if it isn't held in place by more bolts, which it isn't. Therefore it can't hold any stronger than the OEM plate. So what you are experiencing is called the "Placebo Effect."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Nov 8 2006, 12:16 PM) [snapback]345372[/snapback]</div>

Rest - I'm not so sure.
I thought gusmur had approached the installation quite methodically - picking reference points on which to test the benefits/or not, offered by the plate.
Its pretty much what I'm doing now to specifically avoid falling into the placebo effect trap you make reference to.

I thought his post was an honest and sincere one - with the added virtue of being a 'hands on ' before and after conclusion - which for me, speaks volumes .

Perhaps we should just agree to disagree ! :huh:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Nov 8 2006, 06:16 AM) [snapback]345372[/snapback]</div>

Your funny, you are willing to discount someones experience because it doesn't make sense to you?

Wow!.... can you tell someone they don't feel dizzy too?.. how about they don't love someone?

Do you really discount everything you don't understand?... Does gravity exist?... can you explain it and reproduce it or stop it to prove to me its really there?

I bet if you lived a few years back you would have never bought a radio either.

This morning you wanted to buy it if the price was reduced.... even two of them, now your back to saying they don't work at all and its placebo?..

Which is it?.. Are you just really confused, or just that fickle in your decision making?

No wonder your having a hard time!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ Nov 8 2006, 12:36 PM) [snapback]345504[/snapback]</div>

Now you are just being silly. Gravity can be quantified,measured and proven.

I have never stated that the plate doesn't work, what I have been saying is that the average driver (notice I said average driver) will never notice a difference for the price. Take this normal average Prius owner, tell him/her you are going to do an oil change in their Prius. Instead install this plate. I will lay odds this owner would never feel any change in the handling of the vehicle. But tell the owner you are installing a plate that will improve the handling and they WILL notice a difference, even if one really doesn't exist. Placebo Effect.

Now put a high performance driver in a Prius and I totally agree that they will feel the difference as they are trained in vehicle feedback. I'm sure the average Prius driver would also feel the difference if they drove their Prius harder, but most do not as this is counter productive in keeping with good fuel mileage.

If some of you think the plate is worth the cost then fine. At its current price I personally don't think it is for what I would get. I bought my Prius for fuel mileage, so it would be a rare occassion that I would be able to test the plates ability and get any benifits. It is a simple cost vers function equation.

That is all I am saying.