I am trying to pick upgrades for my 2008 Prius based on safety features or accessories I need. While members of this group like the Prius so much I have read many threads about either safety additions or accessories that make their cars more road worthy. For example, I am surprised Toyota installs such poor quality of tires. I am also surprised there are rather inexpensive accessories that make the car a better handling vehicle or that some owners believe the Prius may be vulnerable in the under-carriage damage. Is this a case of Toyota cutting corners on protecting very sophisticated engineering? I am just wondering what members feel the most important safety upgrades or accessories would make the Prius, the ideal Prius. I am not looking whether it should have more horsepower or better turning radius, etc..
seems like you could have solved a lot of these issues by getting a touring model. better handling in my mind, can stop in less distance, wide tires for better traction, etc.. the best addition i have made to my car was a box of square tissue in the center compt. fits perfectly ;-)
Tissues also fit perfectly (out of the box) in the "secret" compartment at the bottom of the center armrest.
My next one might be the touring. Had a hard enough time getting the base #2 with out waiting until next year. I have started the mod process, door moldings and mudflaps. Have a tire that wants to keep going down, need to look at it as soon as I can pry it out of the wife's hands. As far as cutting corners, I couldn't say one way or another. As for tires, I know when they build a line of anything that needs a lot of rubber, sometimes you get what you get. Will see how long they last. Have run BF Goodrich on alot of my vehicles with good luck, not sure about resistance properties though. Would like to have seen an instrument cluster, oil pressure, engine temp, rpms etc. and less glare on windshield from illumination at night. I would liked to have seen a small mess inner screen in the front grille to protect from rocks, does the touring have this. Am looking at the stiffening plate and to strut tower support or bar. Looked underneath and not really sure it needs the skid plate unless you are driving rough back roads or off roading.
Auto heated folding wing mirrors would be nice... One click auto up and down windows on all four doors with anti-pinch would also be nice... Changes to the MFD display graphics.. the width of the yellow mpg bars should vary with speed. Even better.. maybe a line graph updated at 30sec/60sec/2min/5min intervals so you can "drill down" (zoom in and out) also scrollable. And it remembers it when powered off and on. More info on MFD.. it's there so use it... like Engine revs, engine on/off indicator on the engine graphic (on = yellow off= green etc) Maybe a complete screen devoted to the engine.. for temps, rpm etc.
Glare on the windshield is drastically reduced by dimming the dash lights. Beyond that, I fear that all your MFD gizmo suggestions would be too distracting to me - I have trouble chewing gum and walking at the same time
Since the OP asked about most important safety features, beyond the rear camera and Bluetooth, I would suggest getting the Bluetooth defeat mod so that you don't have to fidget with the small buttons on your phone if you need to dial while the car is in motion. As for accessories, none of them are really important safety features IMO. They're just nice to haves. I'd love to have a USB port as well as an input port for the MFD to plug in an aftermarket GPS device.
Seems none of you have hit on the first mod any Prius driven by a guy would want ... A Blonde, large breasts, green eyes, short skirt, rich beyond the dreams of Averous!!! Anything else is just 2nd!! You gals can choose ONE of the following options .. 1 - Brad Pitt 2 - George Clooney 3 - Tommy Lee 73 de Pat KK6PD
Seems you missed the point. If Touring model was the be all, Touring members would not have ordered any accessories, yet they have, some have ordered many accessories. I was just trying to prioritize accessories (or necessities) for my STANDARD PRIUS, there I said it. I am one of those Prius drivers that didn't experience the handling difference between the Standard Prius and the Touring like CR reportedly did, although I drove both. I realize some Touring members of this group have experienced improvements in handling. Other members commented that Touring felt like a harsher ride with diminished mileage. Pick your poison. I am happy you found a place for your square tissues. I have put that somewhere on my list...
Programmable MFD display to show things like aux. 12V charge, coolant temps, engine rpm, tire pressure (this might be limited to a % offset from initialization), or other goodies. (Bonus points for allowing user input limits for display prompts.)
