First, the wheels look way better. Take off those plastic toppers and compare your Touring Prius to the standard one. It's not even close. I've got sick rims; the standard has weak ones. Second, handling. I've never slipped or drifted once despite going way too fast through turns and the such. My old 1997 Mustang with Goodyears would drift at times and that car handled pretty well. Third, the safety. 10 feet is a big deal.
Oh that I could wait for the Touring I wanted (Mag Gray Pkg 2)...the region Ohio is in is not getting any more 08 Tourings, except for a stray Pkg 6 here and there...at least I'm getting 2 of the 3 (color and package)...phooey Greg
Thanks for all the encouragement. I think it's all this waiting that makes me second guess myself. Feel sure when it comes I'll just love it.
I had standard pkg 4 Prius for 6 month, then totaled. I replaced it with a Touring top of the line. So I am saying this based on my experience & same driving habit. - Touring has better handle especially on turns. - Touring suspension is a little stiffer - Based on my calculations. (I take records of each fillups). My Touring mpg = 47, standard = 48. It's just 1-2 mpg different, almost un-noticeable.
INTERESTING.................................has anyone ever "converted" their standard prius's to TOURING ones? I want to hear the stories, the conversion and the steps. I've always wanted a touring (for the millionth time) and for all that have one or about to get one, consider yourselves very lucky. WHY are black touring prius' less likely to be waved at???? cheers. :flame:
GadgetDad has both the BT Tech Stiffening Plate and Strut Tower Brace on his 2007 Touring. He seems to like them a lot.
I've seen a couple of Touring model with wheel covers. I thought they were Alloy Wheels not wheel covers. Are those earlier models?
they just don't wave at me the other day i was pulling into safeway to get gas, and another prius driver noticed me and followed my car with his eyes in slow motion as i was driving by, and he still did not wave!
no they just have 7 spoke alloy wheels, gun colored grey, toyota ships them with plastic wheel covers so you don't scratch the wheels on a curb. for $20 each you can buy center caps, toyota calls them wheel ornaments that will cover the hole in the center of the bare alloy wheel. i think it should be included, but thats just my opinion if you take the wheel cover off your bolts show and it looks tacky so you cover the hole with wheel ornaments
I went through just what you're experiencing while I was waiting for my touring model to come. After I had placed the order, I started reading about how the touring gets less gas mileage and has a rougher ride. Then I was wishing I had ordered a standard Prius and thought maybe I should change my order. But I stayed with my original order and couldn't be happier. I love the car and I think it rides really good - not rough at all. It feels sporty to me. I have my tires set at 42, 40. I only have 1500 miles on it and I've been getting mid to upper 40 mpgs on highway driving. So it should only get better once it's broke in. I'm waiting to see 50 mpg on the display!! I'm sure it can happen. So relax and don't second guess. You will love the car!! Connie
I preferred the Touring from the second I drove one (after driving the base) ... it was more stiff, but not rough. Less floaty imho. I like the look of the slightly bigger spoiler and the wheels (including the different hub caps). To me the Touring felt more connected to the road w/o feeling rough at all. Plus, it seemed to differentiate the car from the others slightly as there are tons of these things running around now ... imho it also made the car look as sporty as it's gonna get (not that it'd ever be mistaken for sporty). I have been getting upper 40s/lower 50s ... there was a Consumers Report which showed the Touring achieved 2 mpg lower over their test run, but then the same report showed the overall mpg for a 150-mile run to be the exact same for both the Touring and base. To me it was worth it to get the Touring.
browercreed, Stay with your original thought and go with the Touring model. Believe me, you will not regret it. They handle and drive great. Wife and I really enjoy driving our Red and Tan Touring twins.
Previously I had a 2005. I just turned 30k on a 2007 Touring. Better suspension and "hugs" the road better. Love the vehicle.
