After 10k Miles on MY 2010 Prius - Observations

Since we had the thread regarding one Prius owner’s observations after 6k miles in a 2011, I felt that I would share my observations of my 2010 after 10K miles.

First off, I’ve owned a LOT of cars across a broad spectrum. Luxury, utility, sport, and everything in between. Infiniti, Volvo, Ford, Mazda, Jeep, Chevy, Dodge, Honda, Kia, VW, Chrysler, to name a few. Add racing modified Miatas in the SCCA Solo II autox series, I would definitely consider myself a "car guy". I have to say that my 2010 Prius V (with ATP) is one of the best cars I’ve owned to date. That’s not to say that it isn’t without its flaws. However, the flaws are quite easy to live with based on the myriad advantages the car has to offer.

Pluses
Fuel economy. I consistently get 50+ MPG without really trying, but I did have to shake a few bad driving habits to get to this point. Someone said in a post awhile back that the Prius doesn’t have a break in period…the driver does. So true.

Brakes. I LOVE the fact that I can bring this car to a stop without actually using ANY friction brakes. It takes a little practice, but it can easily be done.

Storage. I have surprised myself with the volume of “stuff†I can haul in this car. It’s amazing how a car can look so small on the outside, yet be so cavernous on the inside.

Ergonomics. Everything is right where it needs to be, and is easily accessible (except the switch for the heated seats…the location of that switch seems like a complete afterthought).

Comfort. While this is by no means a “luxury carâ€, it is quite comfortable to ride in. Yes, there is some wind noise, but it’s no worse than any other mid-level car I’ve owned. Ever try driving a Jeep Wrangler down the highway? It’s like a tent on wheels…I know, completely different type of vehicle.

ATP. At first, I thought this was going to be very gimmicky (for gimmicky, see ATP in the minuses section), but I have to say after a couple of road trips, the LKA (Lane Keeper Assistant) and Radar Cruise Control made those trips a lot less stressful.

Nav and Stereo. It’s not an audiophile’s dream, but the stereo sounds fine to my untrained ear. I don’t need my car’s stereo to produce sound that mimics sitting in the front row of a concert. The Bluetooth feature works great…I use it almost exclusively to listen to music and podcasts stored on my iPhone. The Nav isn’t the best I’ve used, but it’s certainly not the worst…It has never steered me wrong.

Rearview camera. It really comes in handy.

Handling. First off…this is no sports car! That said, I was pleasantly surprised when over the winter with the copious amount of snow we had in the Midwest this year, I NEVER had any issues with losing traction or getting stuck. I did high center it once in the snow, but that was my fault and would’ve happened regardless of the car I was driving.

Minuses and nit pics
Cool Factor. LOL who really wants to drive a jelly bean? This car is truly all about function over looks…and I’m OK with that. I know some people actually like the way the Prius looks. I love my car…but they really need to have their head examined! I keed I keed.

Stigma/Stereotype. While I no longer give a rat’s arse what anyone thinks of my vehicle of choice, it does get tiresome listening to people repeat all of the same old myths about this car. I also get tired of people just dismissing the car as a POS when they’ve never driven it. How’s that 13mpg working for you “Mr. I drive a big ol' manly truck� Their loss.

Seats. I wish the seats were more adjustable. I would love to be able to control the pitch of the seat angle.

Visibility. There are definitely some blind spots, and the spoiler really takes away from your rearward view…The spoiler also can wreak havoc on how well (or how badly) your auto dimming mirror works...but tinting the windows pretty much takes care of that.

Materials. For the price of the car, I would expect the materials to be of a higher grade.

Instrument Panel. I love the information displayed on the instrument panel, and it’s easy to read and navigate. I would love to see some color here, and the ability to customize views.

ATP. Self parking feature. Really? Really? The day I can’t park my own car is the day someone needs to just take my keys away from me.

Rattles/Squeaks. Need I say more. They’re not so bad now that the weather has gotten warmer, but in the dead of winter, the rattles and squeaks can drive (ha, no pun intended) you to drink!

Door insulation. There really is none. I like a door to make a nice solid “thunk†when I close it…not a tinny “thwangâ€. I know that some folks have added insulation themselves...I may be among that group in the near future.

Stereo. I know I listed this as a plus, but there is a component to the stereo that needs work…that would be the USB setting. Yes, it’s great that you can plug in an iPod and just sort of forget about it…but navigating between artists and songs is a bit…shall we say…â€cumbersomeâ€.

Traction battery. This isn’t really a “minus†per se…but I would love to be able to get a few more miles out of the existing traction battery without causing long-term damage to the car. I know that this will only continue to improve.

Overall, I am very happy with my Prius. I still enjoy getting in and driving it every day (especially driving by gas stations), I love the geek factor that goes along with all the useful gadgets…and the ScanGauge only amplifies the fun/geek factor. It’s fun to drive in its own geeky way…like others have said, it’s like driving a video game. Since trading in my 08 Ford Sport Trac in January 2010, I’ve saved roughly $1500 in gas. Would I buy another Prius? Absolutely.

Wow, did I get a bit wordy or what? What can I say...slow day at work.