4th generation coming 2015!

All of you make interesting reading and good points. I would only mention that other manufacturers meet the safety standards without resorting to the atrocious "pouty lips" or "beak" employed on the Prius v.

Also, most will agree the NS4 is truly a handsome design concept. But don't forget, that was a 2012 design. More recent designs seem to indicate that Toyota's design department is headed in a different direction.

I keep thinking about the "beginning of the end of Prius" article. I want to be wrong about this! Toyota, by default or design, has allowed the Prius to completely fade into the background in automotive news. I routinely read several automotive magazines. The Prius is rarely even mentioned. Even Toyota's advertising, the Prius is all but forgotten. Everyone recognizes the Shelby Cobra was a world beater, but it passed and only fondly remembered, and sometimes replicated. Might the G3 Prius have been innovator, and finest example of a mass produced hybrid? only to pass from the scene because of who knows what? oil glut? improved and lower cost competition? safety concerns?

Personally, the more time that passes, and the absence of reports from Toyota ........ I am becoming suspicious that Toyota is experiencing difficulties in reaching the vaulted expectations for the G4, and doing so at a reasonable marketing cost. Prove me wrong Toyota!!

 

we love our hycam, and actually don't see the need for many changes. but when you look up boring in the dictionary, you'll see our pictures!

 

Yes. Prius are never advertised in local papers, the last few years.

 

I've seen a predominately positioned billboard in Southern California advertising the Prius C (One) for $17,888 the last 2 times I visited...that's probably the exception versus the norm because I haven't seen a lot elsewhere.

 

Welp, I had the displeasure of driving the Prius last night over the San Mateo bridge, was kinda tired, thinking if I had to commute this bridge daily, I would sell this car. Those seams between the concrete sections really had the Prius unsettled. I'm going to drive our 05 Accord across the bridge to compare against the Prius. Puhlenty of compromises for this 50 MPGs.

 

Caught this picture on Instagram:




Hmmmmm?

 

Which tires do you have? What pressure?
I couldn't drive Gen3 out of the box but with small incremental changes it is as good as anything in this price range. Good enough for PCH and carving canyons.
Now if you want a better handling 50 MPG car "C" is a better starting point. It only needs a camber correction and alignment
Gen4 with double wishbone and stiffer lighter body should be much better

 

If this is Gen4 I like it!

(Too bad that with left hand drive you can't rule out koreans)

 

I believe thats the Hyundai Prius like clone.

 

I drove our 2005 Accord back and forth over the San Mateo bridge: Well, the Eastbound direction pavement sucks and affected the ride in the Accord too. I'm going to change my original post to cut the Prius some slack.

I run 38 fr / 36 rear cold psi.

 

I've only been across bay bridge twice, both times on the bike. But we used to have an open grid bridge around here, which was on my daily commute route. Different brand of tires would make huge difference in stability.
Try to run higher PSI in front tires. I am running 42/38, but you at least want 4-5PSI more in front, 4o/36?

 

Expecting a comfortable ride on any California highway is a pipe dream. Unless perhaps you're driving an 80k Lexus/Merc.

 

He'll no you have best roads in the country, and nicest drivers even in LA. Try driving in DC: people are more A-holes than in NYC, worse drivers than Atlanta and pothole big enough to swallow aircraft carrier.

 

Now, you're exagerating....about DC being worse than NYC (wink,wink)!

 

not at all. The major difference in NYC people who can't drive don't, and in DC they unfortunately do. So as long as you able to keep up with traffic and make quick decisions you'd be fine in NYC.

Now nothing prepares you to what you'd see in Italy and Rome. The only light of sanity is notoriously underpowered cars.

 

New span of Bay Bridge very nice to drive on. 880 up and down East Bay has had a lot of repaving, it's smooth. I haven't been on I5 forever.
Eastbound San Mateo bridge particularly bad, still have to change post above.

 

So; which auto show Gen4 is gonna debut on?

 

Umm, at Toyota's current rate of Prius progress, none.

 

My money is on Detroit, Jan. 2016