is there any downside to a prius?

there is a lot less maintenance. Downsides... if you have trac control.. er.. it think every prius has a basic function traction control.. the engine will cut if you slip.. so.. going up icy roads.. it "stalls".. up slippery dirt roads.. stall... this is the only real problem.


hmm.. other.. other... lemme thing... HID theft.. it's rare though.. engine cut out is very rare.. although fbi was warried about it or some crap.... umm... rear visibility? i adjusted my mirrors so i can see everythign around me.. just some other people complained. hmm... sound.. it's not up to par. sound deaden the car ( however you spell it ) and everything gets much better. there are several post on this right now.

it's quick.. keeps up to speed.. good gas mileage... those are all good things huh?

ummm... well.. after 40k miles on my '04.. i'm happy.

oh.. heat

i would sound proof the ceiling if you are going to sound proof. well.. you could just insulate it too... but the ceiling is big.. heat build up... so.. point the a/c vents up if it's warm where you live.. or.. tint the windows and sound proof the car.

not much else i can think of.

enjoy

 

My other car is BMW 540iA. So you know how I reach the following comparison. I commute in my Prius and am loving it.
- poorer handling: slow down when you turn. The rear solid axle suspension is not very forgiving. It hops when you push it beyond limit. Most sports car would scream first....
- be careful of sidewind situation (e.g. driving over long bridges in strong wind) Hold on tight to the steering wheel. However, it is not as bad as in any minivan or SUV.

That is what I can think of now in addition to as expected slow acceleration. Who would race another driver up the ramp in a Prius anyway? I always drive on the slow lanes and enjoy my peaceful commute in my Prius.

 

Cain't anywon spel aniemore?

Come on guys, make a little effort, please!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stinken1\";p=\"100051)</div>

Well, the parts that you are probably most concerned about, like the drive train, battery, motors, (and I think the engine), have a 8 year / 100,000 mile warranty.

 

Seems we have a big BMW contingent here. My other car is a BMW 740iL. I guess us BMW people like to save gas at times

 

Because of the aerodynamic fusiform shape, the vehicle tends to collect insects and take road debris hits directly on the front leading edge and two side mirrors. Eddie currents tend to put fine road dust on the rear of the vehicle (with mud flaps installed). It is hard to tell where the front is sometimes when parking against a curb.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stinken1\";p=\"100051)</div>

What rumors are you hearing? I still talk with people that think the Prius needs to be plugged in.

Get an extended warranty from Troy and you're good for up to 100,000 miles.

 

The dash plastic tends to creak a little TOO much. I'm sure people here have remedied it, but currently, the irritation has not surpassed my laziness... :mrgreen:

 

Limited rear visibility is the only major drawback, and I can live with it, thanks to the oversize side mirrors.
As far as creaks from the plastic, I have noticed it only because the car is so quiet. I doubt very much whether there is a "remedy" for it.
The steering is pretty dead feeling, but after 3 weeks I am used to it.
On the plus side, has anyone mentioned how easy it is to find in the parking lot? Out of thousands of clones, it stands out, even in the ubiquitous silver.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse\";p=\"100073)</div>

I took care of most of the first issue by having a Clear-Bra installed on the hood, bumper, and side mirrors. This is absolutely keeping paint chips down - I can compare to about half a dozen other Prii in my parking lot at work.

I agree about not being able to tell where the front curb is. If you aren't careful, you can do damage to the front spoiler on curbs when parking.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Greyskye\";p=\"100108)</div>

This hasn't been much of a problem for me since the front end of a Prius is much shorter than the car I replaced. I discovered that by default, I was parking a good foot from a curb in front of the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stinken1\";p=\"100033)</div>

If you've had it for a few months, you're already aware of most of the downsides really.

Like most of the BMW owners mentioned, it's a poor handler. Doesn't hold a candle to my old Jetta, which is eclipsed by the BMWs, I know....

NVH is terrible. This is the loudest car I've ever had on the highway. I've heard Toyota is upgrading the sound insulation on the newer models, and that's a good move.

Sometimes the brakes will "slip" if you brake on uneven pavement. You can find other threads about this little issue on this site.

 

I find a frustrating down side is trying to use a full service car wash. The car wash jockeys have no clue about the Prius and will try to turn in off like any other car. They don't know/understand that turning off puts the Prius in park.
I once asked if they knew how to take a Prius thru, and was told that I could ride thru and take care of things. The next time I went to that car wash they refused to let me take it thru, so I left

 

The arm rest in between the two front seats is way to low to rest your arm on, other than that I love the car. I don't find it all that noisy. Sure it does not compare (execpt gas mileage) to my BMW 7 series, but it handles a hell of a lot better than the Olds Bravada SUV we have.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kirbinster\";p=\"100208)</div>

Did you know you can use the plastic tray to prop up the front of the armreast? It makes it quite comfortable.

 

What plastic tray is that? Mine is an '02 and I cannot think of any plastic tray.