Just got my 2010 and haven't noticed the problem. I didn't expect it to be as smooth as a bigger, heavier car but it's not awful. 17 in wheels run almost $3000 at the dealer. I couldn't bring myself to pay it. I found some third party wheels and tires at tirerack.com but I want to check with the dealer to make sure I don't void a warranty.
Just got my 2010 Prius IV and haven't noticed the problem. It's not as smooth as a heavier, bigger car but it's not awful. Check out tirerack.com. They have less expensive options although I'm checking to make sure I don't void a warranty if I buy wheels and tires from someone else. Dealer wanted $3000 for the 17" wheels so I didn't do it.
Many would kill for the 17" wheels and you're in Orange County so I'm sure you can find many local Priuschatters who are willing to swap out their 15".
What did you think of the ride? Have you been able to compare the Prius V with any other Prius model? You assume not only that your friend really knows how to judge car rides (relative to the "average" person, let's say), but you have the ultimate faith in his opinion. While your feelings toward your friend's capabilities are your desire to help him understand and deal with this situation are admirable, the whole situation makes me a bit cautious about this tale. I'm sorry to be so skeptical, but there have been plenty of one-time posters here who drop incendiaries on this group of Prius fans just to see how we respond. The fact is, I'd have a very different initial response and reaction if your thread title read: "2010 Prius V . . . my friends says it is a terrible ride."
The solution to the original posting is so simple, as has been pointed out. First, check the tire pressure and reduce it if above recommended levels. If that does not satisfy, then swap out the tires and wheels. There is NO difference, as one other poster said, in the suspension, only the steering ratio, between the V and the rest of them. Repeat, no difference. There would be no reason to exchange the car for another. I continue to hope that the myth that the V has a different suspension would die a quiet death, but apparently it is not to be.
I will be getting a new Prius with 15" rims this Sept and will gladly swap out rims and tires with you. I live in San Diego and can even pay you some for the swap.
I don't really have "feelings toward my friend's capabilities" with deducing ride quality of vehicles. He says it's awful, so I posted the same. For the sake of simplicity, perhaps I should have simply posted that the Prius was mine. But it isn't, so I didn't. My opinion on the whole matter is entirely irrelevant (and I haven't ridden in it, so I don't have one). I'm only here to inquire if other people have the same opinion, and/or if so if they've found a means to cure it. I'd rather not see my friend take an 8k bath trading in a new car that he might have otherwise loved but for a set of shocks or different tires.
I'll bet if Toyota offered a good looking 16" alloy with 55 series tires on the Gen3, customers would be jumping all over that.
I had my test drive in a T Spirit at the weekend and the ride on the 17's on UK roads was very stiff, much stiffer than my A3 on 17's. It is because of the ride and the numerous rattles the car had that I am now unfortuantly not going to purchase the Prius
I'm hoping your friend will be able to find a way to deal with his discomfort in the ride. I don't share his opinion of the Prius V, but the only way I can see to soften things would be to change out the wheels and tires. The first thing, of course, is to check the pressure on the tires and lower it, if necessary, to the numbers suggested by Toyota. (I don't see how there would be any benefit in going lower than those pressures.) The next option is to do as many others have suggested, and that is to swap out the 17" wheels for someone else's 15" wheels. The 17s will bring top dollar, so the "swap" should also result in cash going back to your friend. It also will result in a drop in the trade-in value of the car, because a significant part of a Prius V is the 17" wheel. I have no idea what difference a set of shocks would have. Perhaps there are others here who could make an educated guess. One problem is that the Prius V was first available in late May, and it is the lowest-run of the Prius models (in terms of production numbers). Also, at this point a trade-in with the dealer is going to cause a very large financial loss. I'd suggest placing an ad here on PriusChat as well as attempting a sale on Craigslist. Let us know if there is any positive resolution for your friend.
Just for grins yesterday I dropped the pressures in my IV with the 15's to the recommended 35/33 from 42/40, and did not like it. While the steering seemed to get more road feel it seemed heavier, and overall the car felt like a slug, with reduced rolling resistance. But the intermittent glovebox rattle went away. I pumped them back up before heading out today.
Thanks everyone, I'll forward the suggestions along to him. *Really* do not think he should try to turn around and trade it in, as that seems truly foolish in my estimation. Try it for a year, drop the tire pressure, try the 15s, complain to the dealer, whatever...but if you liked the car enough to obsess about it and then buy it, at least give it a chance. It's not as though he stumbled onto a lot and walked away with one.
This is very correct and is the route I am going. Nice compromise for many and perfect for a vehicle like the Prius when you want a good balance of features.
The 17" low profile tires are stiffer than the 15" tires, and the 17" low profile tires handles better than the 15"!
No, the only demo they had was a T Spirit and I wouldn't have a Prius with 15" wheels. Personally I think the numerous rattles the car had exaggerated the stiffness of the ride. Unfortunately it was the build quality issues that made the decision for me
Subscribed. BTW, checked part numbers of the suspension with the partsman today. Part numbers for the springs and shock absorbers are the same for all Prius variants. The part number for the steering box is different though on the Prius V (Touring Package). So I guess there is really no suspension upgrade with you opt for Prius V. You only get 17" alloy wheels/tires and a quicker steering.
well then.. that really limits the options lol. If I were to do the same you did, I'd only have one package to choose from cause the rest are all 15s. There are some TRD Sportivo 16" accessory wheel/tyre combos from Japan to replace the 15s.
