The 2005 Toyota Prius gets several accolades in the new Consumer Reports Auto Issue. - Top Pick for Green Car - Highest rating (94%) for owner rating (would you get this car again?) - "unbeatable for its economy, acceleration, and interior room" - "Reliability has been outstanding" - on the knock side, "steering feels vague" April 2005 issue of Consumer Reports, at your newsstand now.
I'd say the Prius is the car most often found in pairs in driveways...In other words, it's pretty much the only car I know of where both the husband and the wife (and maybe even the kids) simply have to have theirs. :mrgreen:
Steering seems fine to me. I think there is a difference in steering between Prii with the VSC option and those without. I have the VSC option, and I notice that the car is very solid, although there is no kinetic feedback in the steering. I remember someone posting a complaint that the car drifts at freeway speeds, but I have not noticed that and I believe the car in question did not have VSC. My only complaint about handling is the leaning in a turn due to the relatively narrow long wheelbase and tall body structure. All in all, I love it, just like the other 94%. Bob
I have said it before and I will say it again. I am getting the vibes of the early Mac years. Say what you will but Mac users are loyal because the technology continues to deliver. Toyota are you listening. This is a movement. Feels right.
I read about "drift" in several posts here before I made a decision to buy and that increased my desire to get the fully loaded version. No drift, just rock solid, very stable, fairly responsive. The absolute worst tires come on the Prius standard, though. I ordered new Tiranzas yesterday.
We get Bridgestone Turanza ER30 tyres over here as standard. The 195/55R16 tyres will cost twice as much to replace though. Few manufacturers make tyres in that size, and they're all high-performance.
