Anyone else notice how flimsy the center console is on the Prius. We have owned other Toyota vehicles and they always seemed very solid, but I must say I am not impressed at how flimsy the center console is on the Prius. It makes it seem very cheap.
Yes, the center console is a bit flimsy. But, Toyota squeezed a lot of conveniences into the few inches available (storage space, storage shelf, IPOD jack, 12v power point, tissue box, arm rest and four front and rear cup holders). The Prius is an exercise in technology, size, weight, fuel economy and emission controls; something had to give.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rest @ Nov 19 2006, 03:27 AM) [snapback]351641[/snapback]</div> No. I find I have to carry my bowling ball in the back now. In my old Hummer, the whole league could tote them in the glove box. Those were the days.....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Nov 19 2006, 10:15 AM) [snapback]351734[/snapback]</div> But, more importantly, where did you keep it in the Tristar?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius @ Nov 19 2006, 11:26 AM) [snapback]351752[/snapback]</div> In the right seat.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Nov 19 2006, 12:10 PM) [snapback]351766[/snapback]</div> Touché.
It's strong enough, unless you're going to use it for a pommel horse and do gymnastics. Weight is an issue for good fuel economy. Tom
I would think that if you sit in the back seat, brace your knees against the backs of the front seats, grab the console from the front and pull back as hard as you can, it is flimsy enough to rip right out. My advice, don't do that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Nov 19 2006, 07:23 PM) [snapback]351856[/snapback]</div> NOW they tell me...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Nov 19 2006, 07:10 PM) [snapback]351925[/snapback]</div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tony - GREAT advice (about refraining from yanking on center console, while in back seat)! That advice might go down in history as one of the finest! But I must confess - - My console was pretty strong. I really had to yank & yank to get it loose!
It seemed fairly sturdy when I installed my cd changer into mine. I didn't completely remove the console to run the wiring under the carper there. So it was more of a bend and stick my arm in there. Though I had to remove the power outlet, but it was in the perfect spot for the connection to the changer.
Plenty of other center consoles made by Toyota are not as flimsy as the one in the Prius. I think Toyota dropped the ball on this one. No matter how much is in this console is no excuse for a weakly attached console.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Nov 19 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]351734[/snapback]</div> Somehow, I'm reminded of the Mythbusters episode in which they tested the Tissue Box of Death myth: the one in which a tissue box on a ledge behind the back seat could come forward and kill the driver in case of a head-on collision. They also tested it with a bowling ball in the back, with ruinous results....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Nov 19 2006, 04:47 PM) [snapback]351790[/snapback]</div> I keep reminding myself of this when I come across something in the car that's not quite as beefy as I'd have hoped. Notice the word, beefy. I'm beginning to think that a bit of 'give' in the plastic structures is normal in this car...but this, in itself, doesn't necessarily mean that anything is going to break off in the near future. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Nov 19 2006, 01:15 PM) [snapback]351734[/snapback]</div> Humph. The salesman told me that the reason for the shape of the dashboard is to provide bowling ball storage (should have asked for a demo before buying the car, though). Last time I'm listening to a salesman.
My 14 lb dachshund sits on it without any problem. He loves the split seat, he can get back in the hatch and look out the back window. How he gets it open I'll never know....
I would agree that the center console in the Prius is strong enough....if Toyota made them like this in all of their other vehicles. The problem is they don't, many of their other vehicles have much stronger center consoles. There really is no excuse for this lame design in such a leader of the Hybrid's. I expected more from Toyota considering they gave more in their less expensive vehicles. Toyota....are you listening?
I have no problem with my console. I do not ever lean on it though. It seems to me that for the money the Prius is quite good. It doesn't compare to my Accord in the comfort & ride dept., but I love the 52 MPG it always gets in town. My Accord only gets around 23 MPG or so in town with a 6 cyl. I don't think you have a problem with the console.
