Most annoying thing about the prius?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Aug 3 2006, 03:50 PM) [snapback]297199[/snapback]</div>

You can go to "Coastal Electronics Technologies" website. He will sell you an easy, and i mean easy, clip on kit that will convert your doors to auto lock, when the car reaches 15mph. Super cheap!!! I'm very happy with it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usmc @ Jan 18 2007, 07:05 PM) [snapback]377506[/snapback]</div>

$65 plus shipping is super cheap?

 

I have both an 05 package 4 with aftermarket leather seats and an 06 package 8 with factory leather. The aftermarket leather is way nicer then factory. I sould have bought a package 7 and gone aftermarket leather on the seats.

Lousy seat comfort and adjustability.

Very poor rearward visibility.

With the lights on and wearing polorized sunglasses you can't even see the MFD.

Fingerprints on MFD.

Variable performance based on temp, battery charge, heater, air, etc.

A little too low, the front air dam crunches on parking tire stops.

I hate the seat belt buckles. They are sandwiched down between the seat and the console and my clothes alawys get caught in them trying to engage the belt. They need to be on a stalk and up about 2 inches higher.

-Paul R. Haller-

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Jan 18 2007, 08:24 PM) [snapback]377512[/snapback]</div>

Sorry Buddy. I was trying to be helpful. You win. Stop by the dealership and pick up the kit. Oh, that's right, they don't offer one. $65.00 dollars may not be $10, but think about the benefits. You yourself, were complaining about it.

And your welcome.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usmc @ Jan 19 2007, 01:03 PM) [snapback]377785[/snapback]</div>

Wrong, buddy. You should have checked the thread before replying; I'm not the one who posted about it.

You're welcome.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usmc @ Jan 19 2007, 10:03 AM) [snapback]377785[/snapback]</div>

Well _I_ find it helpful! I think I'll order this today!

 

My only complaints are you can't get a comfortable power seat in leather and the cruise control always has to be reset after stopping at lights, etc.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Paul R. Haller @ Jan 18 2007, 07:56 PM) [snapback]377522[/snapback]</div>

I have factory leather, and at the local Prius club meetings, those with aftermarket leather all thought that my factory work looked better--especially the armrests and center console.

Absolutely agree; my #1 complaint for the car.

Agree to some extent with the first item; I never used polarized sunglasses in the car.

Agreed; I will be looking into screen protectors (easier to take off and clean periodically, I think, especially if you get a multipack and rotate them). Some are supposed to also be more fingerprint-resistent.

I find this to mainly be a warmup issue; the colder temps make the engine take much longer to heat up. Once it's up to operating temperature, though, the performance is pretty stable.

I traded in my Solara for the Prius, and I don't see a significant difference. The specs for current cars show 4.91" for the Prius and 5.5" for the the Solara. That's not all that much of a difference.

Never noticed.

 

Number One, by a LARGE, LARGE margin: The Toyota NANNY scheme, which does not allow using the navigation, radio and phone as intended.

AFAIK, Toyota is the only manufacturer with such inane scheme. What makes it even more inane, is the fact that Toyota includes the animated fuel and power display, which, as someone else pointed out, is far more distracting!

Does someone really thinks that being forced to look at one's lap to dial using a cell phone's small buttons is safer than just pushing the large buttons on the MFD, which at least keep the road in your field of vision? Or having to repeat the same voice command and stare at the screen to see if it worked, or if you should repeat again, or cancel, is any safer than just doing it fast, ONCE?

Or do you think that having to glance every 3 seconds at the Audio display to be able to find out composer/performer/song playing, which is being trickled at one word every 5 seconds, is any safer than being able to glance at the full display ONCE, and then just focus on driving?

Or do you think it is safer to cut across traffic and pull over to the side of the freeway, with cars zipping by at 80 MPH, just so that my passenger can input the phone number of a business where we need to stop by, than simply doing it in traffic?

It is simply idiotic! Why should I have to purchase a hack, rip the dashboard open and waste my time installing, just so I can obtain the functionality that I have paid for when I purchased the car?!

This is my first Toyota product, and while the little quirky car certainly puts a smile on my face every time I sit in it, I am really not sure I would purchase another one, because of this. A friend, who was considering dumping his 545 because of a long commute (and pangs of green conscience laughed and declared it a non-starter, when he took a ride and couldn't select a destination while we were moving.

It just sucks!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black2006 @ Jan 19 2007, 07:09 PM) [snapback]378032[/snapback]</div>

I don't know if I'm the someone you're talking about, but I've posted precisely that here. I also mentioned this exact point to a Toyota area rep and he claimed that he didn't know of any Prius owners who kept an eye on the MFD to monitor power consumption (I'm not sure if he kept a straight face while saying this--it was over the phone).

I'll be installing the Lockpick Basic for my '06 (UPS has it now), and it's supposed to be a very quick, simple install. I didn't get the Ultimate because I don't need the A/V mod and I don't use a phone while driving.

I have a lot of nitpicks with the Nav system (I'm comparing it to my Garmin 2620 I've had since summer '04), but this'll take care of one of them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ohgreys @ Aug 3 2006, 02:50 PM) [snapback]297199[/snapback]</div>

I still am getting used to the lack of door locks that don't lock automatically once underway. I mentioned this issue to the selling dealer and they were surprised the doors didn't lock automatically. They suggested I make an appointment with their service department - infering it was a programmable setting.
Searching forums indicate this is not the case.

 

Rules for Complaining

1. Nobody forced you to buy a PRIUS
2. The Dealer will say/promise anything to get a sale
3. Rent a PRIUS before buying one
4. If operating a flashlight is beyond your technical capabilities do not buy a PRIUS
5. It is well established that the EPA ratings relate to reality as much as Dubia does.
6. Buying a PRIUS because the neighbor has one is not an excuse to complain
7. If you have a lead foot do not buy a PRIUS
8. Buying a PRIUS because of the tax credit is also not an excuse to complain
9. You can complain about the guess gauge
10. You can complain about the OEM tires
11. In snow country you need a 4 wheel drive
12. If you have more than one complain ( #10 ) sell the car.

 

I've only had my Prius (red Touring Pkg#6) a week now and the benefits outweigh the hassles so far. As with any complaint, it should be prefaced with compliments...

I love: the price (cheapest fully loaded car I've ever had); gas mileage (of course); it looks way cooler than any other hybrid on the road; hidden trunk bin for hiding all my crap; rack and pinion steering; rear stabilizer bars; air bags everywhere; total control on the steering wheel; small tight steering wheel; no less than 4 cup holders in the front and 2 in the back; lots of storage in the front cabin; and being able to easily park in SoCal where every space is a compact spot and 90% of cars around here are SUVs. ...and not to mention I'm helping saving the planet and maybe one day I'll see the mountains nearby with reduced smog. Oh, and not having to wait for the engine to warm up to get the heater on. Oh, and small enough I can wax it myself! Oh, and the smart key system...never having to handle the key FOB. Oh, and the backup camera. Oh, and the tax credit and carpool lane access...if I'm lucky enough to still get those.

Things I'm frustrated with: NAV/phone Nanny; lack of ambient lights while driving at night...not counting the glove box light that stays on; no auto-lock on the doors; reduced rear visibility; volume knob not sensitive enough; the low undercarriage clearance; hard to see the MFD with fingerprints; backup beeping; lack of sunroof; center console glove box is a pain to get into; voice regonition sucks; reduced leg room; and no cassette player.

Overall, I'm very impressed with the features and proud to be a Prius owner. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DougBear @ Jan 20 2007, 11:18 AM) [snapback]378246[/snapback]</div>

I'm not certain what you mean by the lack of ambient lights while driving at night. Cabin lights? You don't want lights in the cabin when it's dark--it reduces your night-vision. It's always easier to see out of a dark space into a lit one than the other way around.

And the backup beeping can be turned off; read here.

In what way are you having problems with the center console? Maybe there's a defect in yours; I've never had any difficulty with mine.

Reduced legroom compared to what? I'm not small (6', 190 lbs) and I've had bigger or taller people in the car who've liked the room.

(Correction: voice recognition really sucks.)

 

The seats need to be more adjustable and comfortable. I'd prefer to have plastic or vinyl instead of cloth on the doors and center console. Why don't we have rear disc brakes and the EV switch like everyone else?

I'm glad I saved the money by going low end.

 

whoever complained about the stock prius being low should drive a lowered car....

i havnt lowered my 240 yet, but it is lower than the prius, and i have no problem with it

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jendbbay @ Jan 17 2007, 04:51 AM) [snapback]377074[/snapback]</div>

No need to turn the rear view mirror upside down to reposition it higher. The post the mirrow is mounted to also swivels up and down. Push the post up all the way then adjust the mirror.

 

I'm very pleased with all the features of my 2007 Prius! I bought it and immediately took a 1200 mile road trip, learning the features as I went. Everything was pretty easy to figure out.

I appreciate the comments about how to turn off the 'reverse noise'.

The only other nit I have is this: I wish I didn't have to keep turning cruise control on each time I re-start the car. My previous car kept the cruise control feature on, awaiting my signal to set a speed. Not a big deal, but just one more button to push while driving.

 

Things I love about my Prius...

Steering wheel controls for radio/CD's/temperature/DEFROSTER (unusual), KICKASS real world gas mileage (I don't get nor do I expect 60 mpg--40mpg AVERAGE driving like a bat out of hell is perfectly fine with me), lower emissions (the real and only reason truly to buy a prius besides the space), rear seat leg room, relatively quiet engine for a 4-banger, Bluetooth actually works (check other auto web sites and look at the complaints), hatchback utility, airbags everywhere, front passenger headroom, hightech look of the dash display and MFD, all the hidden (and not so hidden) storage spaces, easy to park, uncommon in true flyover country so everyone does a double take and wonders Wth, lastly the tax credit (actually the LEAST reason I bought the car but made me stomach paying MSRP for my touring just a bit less), HID lamps (great visibility for me and they annoy the hell out of everyone else), aerodynamic shape cuts through headwinds like a knife through butter, hatchback picks up tailwinds and the mpg shoots up, up, up, keyless startup (way of the future anyway), KICKASS cupholders (one of my favorite things about the Prius and a major reason NOT to buy a BMW or Porsche -- ok, not really), cruise control is out of the way (I never use it!)

Things I hate...

WIND NOISE (I don't expect Lexus or Buick, but dang...), ROAD NOISE (expected w/ a hatchback), no telescoping steering wheel, no power seats (fortunately it's just me but still), AWFUL SOUND system (I considered taking a loss on a trade in two weeks after I bought the Prius because of this), poor rear visibility even with a backup camera (probably common on all hatchbacks), the PRICE (a Prius costs more than a Camry CE, Malibu, G6, Fusion, Sonata or any other midsized 4-cylinder mass-market car except the Passat), EXPENSIVE options, flimsy sheet metal, seat comfort, ugly exterior (HIGHLY subjective -- I think all of Toyota/Lexus' exteriors are boring except the Prius, FJ Cruiser and Solara/SC which I think are ugly), interior layout not as nice or appealing as the Camry/Accord/Aura/Passat (still leagues above the current Malibu and G6), no steering feel (common w/ Toyotas all the way up through the Lexus line), common in California and Austin (I park at Whole Foods and have to look at my touring wheels to tell which blue Pree is mine -- minor nitpick), boring CVT tranny, OEM tires (suck on every car under $50K -- I have yet to see any enthusiast site where people aren't bitching about tires) that handle great on wet pavement but lose grip on dry roads, susceptibility to crosswinds, not as much oomph as I would like but jeez the car isn't that bad for a 1.5L engine plus the electric motor acts like a turbo/supercharger, feel all the bumps w/ a touring (a non-issue in Central Texas but major in Louisiana), no remote start (before you say anything -- in CA this is a non-issue, in places where the weather is more extreme it would be nice to heat or cool the car before I enter it), no Euro style blinkers on the mirrors (Toyota did not think of everything after all!), still lack of widescale availability of Pree at dealers around Austin (they didnt have any Pree w/ nav plus I got the only touring on the lot), no heated/ventilated seats or steering wheel, overly aggressive traction control, steering wheel is a bit big for such a small car, weird gas tank takes getting used to (Exxon pumps fit fine, but Shell's take finesse. I could make an off color joke now, but this is a family friendly site!), no daytime running lamps, WIMPY horn, other Prius drivers in the right lane looking at the mpg on the MFD and not driving the thing, car can't even officially tow a kayak much less a jet ski, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, etc., no official satellite radio option, no official HD radio option, FLIMSY mousehair headliner (thing feels like a cheap paper egg carton wrapped in one of those 5 cents per bolt discontinued fabrics)


Still -- only cars I would even consider trading my Pree for would be the vaporware Chevy Volt and possibly that upcoming Cadillac CTS. (Add a reliable Audi A6/Mercedes E-class and an Acura TL that doesn't look like an Accord to the list of vaporware cars that I would want.) So for now... ("From my cold dead hands!")

As far as fingerprints on the MFD issue goes, has anyone tried a thin square strip of plastic (like PVC) similar to what geeks used to use on their Palm Pilots and other PDA's back in the day? It would stick to the screen via static electricity and could be cleaned w/ solvents unlike the MFD. I just figured I would throw that out here.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PrairiePri @ Jan 21 2007, 01:43 PM) [snapback]378691[/snapback]</div>

Our Hybrid SUV (Lexus 400h) can have this annoyance programed out (for FREE !! ) by the dealer. anyone tried asking Toyota to do it (maybe with a $100 bill in hand?) ??