Thinking of Prius - stunned at wife's assessment

This is my first post and I'll fill you all in on my new purchase in another thread but let me second, or third what has been said earlier. I was completely dis-interested in the Prius until I rented one from Avis ("cool cars" program) while in CA last month. Two days using it on the 101 and driving around numerous corporate parks and I was SOLD SOLD SOLD. The steering wheel is too small, the seat does not adjust the way I want it to, and the rear visibility is poor. It doesn't bother me nearly as much as the other wonderful aspects to the car. I'm used to driving 12 - 18 hours non-stop in my oldsmobile or in one of our team trucks (I volunteer for a NASCAR team and drive the hauler) and I would not think twice about taking the same trip in the Prius. What it lacks in 'plush' it makes up for in basic controls, ease of overall driving, and plenty of space for two to four people for an all night ride. The money I will save in the next 5 years will be enough to buy the next Prius outright. I have not had it long enough to have actually made the Charlotte run yet but I will in a few weeks. My wife, BTW, likes it but is skeptical of giving up her 1984 Oldsmobile station wagon --now that is a lousy drive seat and real back wrecker after 25 - 30 hours on the road!

Spend a couple of days with one and good luck!

Steve

 

They make all kinds of seat stuff, including covers, massaging devices, beads, fluffy pillow seats, etc. - I would imagine it would be pretty easy to get past this objection.

My gal upon testing out the Prius a couple of weeks ago repeatedly said, and I quote, "It looks like a$$" and then giggled at how clever she thought she was. Funny how the car has grown on her since then and she loves it almost as much as I do....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(New2Prius2008 @ 2007 11 19 14:04) [snapback]541669[/snapback]</div>

That could be good, could be bad. Did she like it, or not?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringmike @ Nov 19 2007, 04:35 PM) [snapback]541655[/snapback]</div>

I suspect this may be what is going on. She doesn't have a rational reason for not wanting the car and is just finding a nit to pick. If this car is for her, you are never going to get over this so move on. (But still make her drive it first.) If this car is for you, then it doesn't matter if she likes the seats or not. She's not driving. You can get her any of the numerous pad and seats on the market.

 

I am 5' 9" and 190 lbs. (wish it was 170) The seat and I get along just fine, in fact, when I am in the car I never give the seat a second thought.

 

Well I'm 5'0 (maybe 4'11" sometimes) and 95 lbs. and although the seats are comfortable for short trips, I invariably get lower back pains on trips longer than 60 minutes. But, I've sort of become used to them and now I just move around and stretch out when stuck in traffic. It's not a big deal... But they are definitely not the most comfortable seats.

 

For me, the seat position is perfect. But the lack of lumbar support makes the seat uncomfortable after several hours of driving, and painful after a full day. I solve this by properly adjusting a folded-up towel in back of my lower back. Knowing that I am burning only half as much gas as just about any other car, I can live with the towel solution. If I drove several hundred miles every day I might feel differently. A one-hour drive is too short to cause me any discomfort.

There's no substitute for renting a car and taking it on a long drive. Do consider, however, that if you only take one or two long-distance trips a year, a certain amount of discomfort may be justified if you are concerned about the environment.

 

I was seriously interested in the Prius until I took a test drive of about 10 minutes. I was miserable to discover the seat just didn't fit me. Needed more legroom and a slightly different angle after 4 years of minivan and 5 years of suv driving. Looked at some other stuff. Found nothing that excited me. Thought about my 30,000 miles of commuting a year at $3 a gallon and said damn, let me just buy it and get used to it. 6,000 miles later and I couldn't care less about the seat. I spend an average 2.5 hours a day commuting and have taken 2 or 3 drives in excess of 4 hours. No 10-15 hours trips yet but we would generally use our minivan for that with the family.

Would I like a better more adjustable seat? Sure. But it is in fact the only flaw in an otherwise marvelous piece of automotive magnificence. I have lower back problems. I've gotten rid of cars with crummy seats. You don't really know until you try it. Some of the most comfortable seats turn out to be most damaging to your back. Comfort tends to be more about what you're used to rather than what you should drive.

 

After several 500+ mile trips in the Prius I have to say it is a very comfortable long hauler. Three things make up for the lack of seat adjustments:
1. The CVT makes long distance driving a dream.
2. The view out of the car allows me to relax.
3. The left foot rest makes everything easier....

For those who are calculating sizes 5'11' and about 220....

This is actually the most comfortable long haul driver that I have owned! Sure beats the Celica with the racing suspension! Oh my aching back.......

 

The Toyota Avalon comes with "Perforated leather-trimmed multi-adjustable power front seats with driver’s power lumbar support". Why not see if she likes the seats in an Avalon and if you could have the Prius seats swapped out for a pair?

 

After all the quick responses, not sure how much I can add except if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. I'm 6'2" 210 lbs and have no trouble with the seat. My wife is 5'0" and ?? lbs has no trouble either, but she does not drive. Most of the Prii I've seen here come with the rear camera so its almost standard. I always use both the camera and looking back when backing up, both have their advantages. This car is such a GAS to drive (or lack thereof) that I would rent one and let her really try it out... the extremely tight turn radius is another big plus, give it a try. Its just plain fun to drive and optimize the symbiosis between you and your car. I'll never own a car in which the engine runs at a stop light again.

 

My previous car had alot of thigh support, and upward seat-bottom tilt, almost like a recliner.
The Prius' lack of thigh support and downward seat-bottom slope took me some getting used to. At first I used a folded towel under my legs, because if I didn't my back hurt. I finally got sick of dealing with the towel, and have actually gotten quite used to and comfortable with the seat. And no more back pain. Thank Goodness.
Cause I really like this car and the amazing no-gas abilities it has.

 

The thing my arthritic knees noticed immediately is that the Prius seems to be a little higher & thus easier to get out of than lower riding cars (I had been driving an old Chevy Cavalier. I don't notice the height anymore, but when I sit in other people's cars I feel like my rear is dragging on the ground!) OP didn't mention age or if often transporting older people, but the seat height is worth considering if one has knee problems. (My new knees like it fine, too!)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grandma Judy @ Nov 20 2007, 09:18 AM) [snapback]541922[/snapback]</div>

good point grandma, my previous car was a rav4, and the prius seems to be the same seat height....sorry, may i call you grandma?

 

My wife is a school teacher, she drove our 04 Prius to work. The other teachers took notice as it was a strange looking car even those that where driving Lexus's & other luxury guzzlers. When they found out it was a Toyota they where amazed, a couple of male teachers asked if the door could be taken off and the car used as a golf cart.

When the gas prices started climbing they started asking where they could get one? There was a waiting list, so they kept driving what they had and paying the high prices for gas...

Now with the increase in gas again they have come back inquireing about the Prius. Even though she now drives the HyCam.

This is what she says to the other teachers that ask.
The 04 was purchased for $27k, drove it for 3yrs, even took it on a trip from Orlando Fl. to Bryan Tx. on 2 11 gal tanks of gas. Cost was $35 in fuel one way. (smugness, pure smugness)

Her brother took the same trip in a Dodge ram with a V-10 and stopped 7 times for gas.
totaling $1200 spent just in gas for the trip. :blink:

When the car had 75k on it we traded it in and the dealer gave us 15k for the trade-in, on the 07 Hycam.

Prius Pros. Roomy, good cargo space, comfortable ride, and averaged 47 miles to the gallon driving mostly hwy speeds. nice front & rear leg room.

Prius Cons. rear turn signals arnt as bright as other vehicles, cloth armrests center and on door hard to keep clean.

HyCam Pros. Very roomy cabin, nicely opitioned out, lumbar seats! nice leg room front & rear.

HyCam Cons. smaller trunk space, can hold one suitcase, one overnight bag, one garment bag. and an average mpg of 37 on the hwy. So theres a 10 mpg difference between the two cars ...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grandma Judy @ Nov 20 2007, 09:18 AM) [snapback]541922[/snapback]</div>

That's exactly why I sold my old car and what makes the Prius more comfortable for me. I have two herniated discs in my lower back and having to sit low in my old Saturn SC2 coupe was making my back worse. I love the fact that the Prius sits more like a chair and less like a racecar.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FBear @ Nov 19 2007, 10:24 AM) [snapback]541585[/snapback]</div>

+1. But rent a Prius for longer than a day. More like a 3-day weekend. While the seats are not 8-way adjustable and designed by an orthopedic surgeon, they are not objectionable. The only way to tell if they work for you and your wife is try them for an extended period of time; hence the 3-day weekend suggestion.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 19 2007, 02:48 PM) [snapback]541662[/snapback]</div>

I think commuting from Vermot to see you in San Diego would be quite the commute, even for a Prius to come see you. I'm sure making that trip a few times would make anyone's backside sore, even with the best seats.

As others have said, the seats aren't the best attribute of the Prius. This is one of the first things I noticed as well when I test drove it. In practice though the seats really aren't that bad, they're just not great. I've only sat in mine for up to 2 hours at a time and it was fine. I'm not sure about longer trips though.

Mike

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Nov 20 2007, 09:03 AM) [snapback]542006[/snapback]</div>

Then you definitely do not want a Tesla Roadster.