Most annoying thing about the prius?

New Prius owner... 1/31/07... Like the car so far, but REVERSE BEEP was annoying, so searched online and found a "User's Guide" at a Prius site. This guide provided directions for disabling the beep. It was fairly easy to do, and now I can back-up in peace.

 

OK, had mine about 4 months now, most annoying things so far are:

1. No heated exterior mirrors. This may seem trivial to you guys out in the states but here in the UK even the most basic of cars have them, even my wifes little suzuki which was a quarter of the price has them as standard. The weather here is always cold, wet and misty which means the mirrors get wet or frozen over at this time of year.

2. The way the little windscreen wiper misses half of the passenger side screen.

3. The rear wiper only covers the left hand side of the window.

On the other hand, there are 101 things I love about my Prius!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Feb 2 2007, 08:40 AM) [snapback]384669[/snapback]</div>

According to my GPS speed camera detector my Prius speedometer display is a good 4 to 5 MPH slow at 70 mph anyway (i.e. when car shows 70, gps shows 65) so there is no point at all in being able to see 1/10 increments! Most car speedometers are just as bad and err on the safe side.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vince31 @ Feb 5 2007, 04:20 PM) [snapback]385697[/snapback]</div>

The sideview mirrors are heated (most packages, anyway). You don't have separate controls though--it activates with the rearview defroster (I think there's a little blurb buried in the manual).

This is with US packages, anyway.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vince31 @ Feb 5 2007, 01:33 PM) [snapback]385699[/snapback]</div>

Yet with the built-in NAV system, some of the verbal instructions are given in 1/10s (ie "In 3/10s of a mile, turn right').

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Feb 5 2007, 08:03 PM) [snapback]385793[/snapback]</div>

That's distance; the preceding discussion was about speed-- miles versus mph.

 

If the car is unlocked and you need something from your trunk, you have to unlock it with the fob or manually. i hate that!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Holly311 @ Feb 6 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]386107[/snapback]</div>

Assuming you mean the driver's door only is unlocked (and if you're using the keyless entry) you can just press the lock button on the hatch (hence locking the car) and then open it in the usual keyless way.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MegansPrius @ Feb 6 2007, 09:18 AM) [snapback]386110[/snapback]</div>

But i have to get the keys out the passenger seat in my purse and bring them outside to the trunk with me, yah?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Holly311 @ Feb 6 2007, 01:32 PM) [snapback]386118[/snapback]</div>

Hadn't thought your fob might be in the car while this is happening. You can however, change the unlocking settings of the fob so smartkey will unlock the trunk with the front door. See this post http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=326271

 

Hmm, on my 07 I just hit the unlock button on the door before I get out, then I open the back hatch with the handle. This is easier than having to use a physical key.

Dave

 

1. On/Off button on the end of the cruise control stalk (my previous cars used the stalk button to set speed - it's hard to break old habbits - I often turn cruise off when meaning to set speed - Grrr). I'd much prefer an option of always-on cruise control - Why must it be turned off at all?.

2. The Bladder issue .. nuf said.

3. Mileage degradation with time (my average mpg goes down each year).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MegansPrius @ Feb 6 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]386127[/snapback]</div>

WOW! thank you

 

I love my '05 Prius, but there are lots of things that annoy me too...

(In no particular order)

* On occasion, when I'm turning and accelerating into traffic (e.g. turning out of my driveway) left or right, I get a very short stall, probably caused by the traction control, but very bad time for it to happen.
* The controls. Wiper control down for on and faster, but rear wipers rotate the other way. Intermittent speed is reversed from wipers. ... Toyota must have different teams working on each control, and not talking to each other.
* The rv mirror can't be manually dimmed, and never dims when I need it
* The window configuration makes the blind spots much bigger than necessary. (Why aren't the rear side mirrors taller?)
* Voice recognition doesn't work while I'm driving with road noise. Almost everything I say seems to be interpreted as "Coffee House"
* Some voice commands such as "Delete all Destinations" require a confirmation ... "Please say 'yes' or 'no'", but don't let you say these things, you have to push the button. (Does anyone know how this is supposed to work?)
* No RV camera option (I have an '05)
* CD player can't play MP3s (I have an '05)
* Audio system has no Aux input (I have an '05)
* No EV button. (I don't want it attached to some other button. Can I order the button as a part from Europe? ... "My EV button broke. Can I get a replacement?")
* Cruise control is reset when I stop at a light or stop sign
* Weak FOB. I'd like to be able to find the car from a distance in a parking lot, especially when it disappears behind an SUV or minivan. But the FOB isn't detected until I've found my car anyway.
* Lack of a visor extender (mentioned previously)

It is still, by far, the best car on the road.

 

2004 - 69000 MI - No Complains
2006 - 12500 MI - No Complains

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ted T @ Feb 20 2007, 08:19 PM) [snapback]393719[/snapback]</div>

There are several sites that import this button from Japan and sell it in the US. Here's an example:

http://www.sigmaauto.com/jdm/prius/prius0405.php

Scroll down to the "EV Switch Kit" under "Interior". Note that you must specify the 04-05 Prius or the 06-07 Prius version, as the slot for the button changed between 05 and 06 model years. Also note that in addition to the kit, you'll need to buy wire tap connectors and one additional wire (all generic electronic components available at Radio Shack and many other retailers). There are instructions on PriusChat on the installation (Sigma doesn't include full instructions and instead refers to PriusChat, but that's OK because the PriusChat info is very good).

 

Smelly A/C (Aircon has a musty smell)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AceFace @ Feb 21 2007, 06:07 AM) [snapback]393823[/snapback]</div>

You can change/clean the AC filter. Instructions in the manual.

There's also this thread on Priuschat, regarding replacing, vacuuming, etc, the filter.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&show...st&p=250187

And Evan previously linked to this great thread on just how much junk can get in the filter (worth following just for the pics).
http://www.priusonline.com/viewtopic.php?t=8039