4th generation coming 2015!

That's finally true in Canada too: we recently adopted a more realistic test regimen, it shifted all the ratings roughly 20% closer to reality.

 

toyota's been talking about the need to restyle/reshape the gen IV to be more exciting? i thought that was cycledrum.

 

As in "refreshing" it until it becomes ugly?

 

from bad to worse?

 

Have you ever wondered why there is this fascination with low profiled large alloy wheels especially here in the UK? And even worse when Toyota / Lexus decide on trim levels, only the very basic entry level version comes with normal wheels. I went for a T3 with 15 inch wheels as it gives a less harsh ride, slightly better mpgs, slightly less emissions and I am okay with compromising a bit on the looks.

I hope with G4, there will be a wider choice of grade with smaller wheels

 

I chose the 15 inchers for that reason too. Don't look as good but the tyres are half the price - great when I was a taxi driver, and the ride is much more comfortable - ideal on our knackered roads and/or speed bumps.

I agree about at least having the choice to go for normal or low profile fashion wheels.

 

We run 15" snows in winter, 17" OEM the rest of the time, and the ride with 15" is much cushier. I just wish they'd ditch the plastic wheel covers on the 15", and come up with a nice silver painted alloy rim. Not that hard.

 

Bolt patten is same for 15" or 17" wheels...buy what you want.

 

Hybrid module went out on my 2010 for the 2nd time, this time out of warranty. Thank you TM corporate for covering the repair!
But now I'm a little worried that something might be causing that to happen.

Anyway, I'm going to kill time with a Model S. When the next gen PiP comes out, I'll upgrade my 2012 PiP assuming the Gen 4 PiP is a worthy successor.

 

Insurance becomes void if we change from original size, also I don't believe a straight swap is recommended even when bolts and outer diameter is the same because the car comes pre-tuned for a particular tyre size - at least that is my understanding.

Over here, this option is available on the highest spec (TSpirit) with solar roof package. The problem with that is A) This is around £5000 over base price and I didn't want to spend that much and B) Toyota had no option but to offer 15 inch wheels with this configuration due to added weight of solar panels etc.

My complaint is about the bosses at Toyota UK who just don't seem to understand that there may be customers who might want a mid / high spec car with smaller wheels. The same goes for Lexus UK, the new NX300h is advertised as 56 mpg, 121g CO2/km etc. but then in the small print they say this is the 17 inch entry level version. The remaining 5 grades come with 18inch wheels with less mpg and higher CO2. So basically they are making use of the better figures to market the car but anyone who wants to get a decent grade other than entry level has no option but to go with larger wheels.

Anyway, I don't want to divert away from the main topic. I am hoping things will change in Prius G4. But knowing Toyota UK and the petrolheads at the top, I somehow doubt it.

 

Duh, um .... uh .... both Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla lineups in US come with choice of, um ... duh ...

15 inch wheels, 16 inch and 17 inch wheels ... 15's for base models, 16's for mid to uppers and 17 for top trim ...

Um, errr .... maybe it would be good if 4th gen Prius offered that range of wheels? I do not know, um, maybe Prius is just meant to be king of the hybrids only .....

Oh shoot, you might lose a mile per gallon on 16" wheels, nevermind, that would be tragic.

 

could it be your driving style?

 

GrumpyCabby has mentioned having bad inverters on his gen2.
So the HSD isn't truly bullet proof.

 

nope. but what is? it's generally about reliability, there aren't any good figures, but reputation is everything.

 

Reliability is about statistics and Grumpy drives Gen3

 

Gen 3. Mine is an early, 2009 gen3. And yes, I had to have an inverter replaced - amongst other things.

 

If 'stats' are important, chalk me up in the no problem category (2010, 108,000 miles). Hopefully, the trend will continue, because I have been 'turned-off' about any notion of rushing out and replacing it.

 

I don't see any issues, switching between our OEM 215/45R17 and 195/65R15 snows (on Corolla steel rims). That said, our turning radius spec is slightly larger, maybe to accommodate 215 width? I can't imagine it's that critical tho.

 

Do we have definitive proof that the 2016 Prius will be a complete change from the current 2010-2015 Prius. With no showing in all the U.S. Major Auto Shows, while other car companies proudly display their new 2016 vehicles, I believe Toyota may not have a new model release for 2016 maybe 2017 instead. It just does not make sense to anyone, even people like me who went to public school, that Toyota had no entry display for the 2016 Prius. It just seems with the 2016 Malibu Hybrid being shown in N.Y. Auto show already blew away the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota had to have known that and should have had the 2016 Prius for the world to see with a new body design and an average of 55 mpg and maybe a plug in version with a true 25 miles of electric range, but as we all know Toyota did not.....