Disappointed in Prius ('08) waiting for '10

Yep. The OP should take a look at the list at ConsumerReports.org - Most fuel-efficient cars. It looks like the list got updated to reflect the latest Corolla review.

 

April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

Motor Authority April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

I don't know if this has already been posted, if it has sorry for the dup.:nerd:

 

Sorry, I couldn't let this one slide by...

Toyota has NOT developed a Perpetual Motion Machine (Perpetual motion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). If they had, it would be selling for a much higher MSRP than $21,000.

Others here can explain more eloquently how we gain an advantage from "all of the electronics," but it has to do with being able to capture, store, and recycle SOME of the kinetic energy that we inevitably lose when we brake and slow down - not ALL of it, but it's better than losing 100% like every other car does. It also allows the car to choose to run the electric motor instead of the gasoline engine when the gasoline engine would otherwise be operating in its least efficient state.

Tim

 

Re: April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

Agreed, but...
They are looking to win over a larger segment of the population. There are simply too many people who won't even consider a 110 hp vehicle. We current owners will make do with a 160 hp 'rocket' but it might find the manufacturer another 100,000 units annually.

In the end it's just a business and in the auto business it's just about volume first and foremost. I'm sure none of us is going to complain about getting 10-20% better fuel economy. Just consider how tightly they have us. Barring any specific complaint about features, can anyone really say that they'd be willing to take a step back to mediocre 27 mpg vehicle?

 

I wonder what cars Toyota sell in Europe that are mid size, 1.0 to 1.3 litre and perform anything like as well as a Prius?

 

Re: April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

Will it include cylinder shutdown technology to improve highway mileage? Who knows.
Maybe it will be a little wider to truly be a 5 seater? Who knows.
I'lll just wait and see.

 

I seriously do not know how people get the 50 and 60 mpg. I've had mine for over 2 years and I have to really focus on my driving technique just to average anything above 40 (like 40.2). Otherwise it's high 30s for me. Yes, I live in Southern California, where we have lots of hills and people who tailgate if we don't punch it out from every stop sign/light. But is there anything else I should know?? Like is my car a lemon or something???

 

Hi!

Sth. to think about:

What is the prius 2010 going to need, when you mainly drive on highways at 120-140 km/h for 100 km an more?
I don´t really think, it´ll be much more efficient in that situation than the current one!
Next gen. prius will sure be able to save even more fuel, but there always will be people with 40mpg as well just because of their driving profile.

And when the plug-in comes just imagine all the people moaning about the miles they only can achieve in EV-mode! I can hear them already:

"with one charge I get 50 miles, they said i should get 60"
"i only get 30 miles, is my battery broken?"
Imagine alle the paranoids besieging the toyota-dealers...

When my driving profile does not change I´ll only need fuel on two weekends a month. The everyday driving will be done 100% electrically.:third:

kr
wogue

 

Re: April 2009 sales launch for next-generation Toyota Prius

As long as the mileage increases, so can size of the engine. But it hasn't been the Prius's power that has kept me from buying one yet--it's the uncomfortable seating and legroom. (I'm 6'2"--tall but not unusually so, 185 lbs.) I hope this is addressed on the '10. Anyone know what the chances are for more legroom?

 

If you can provide some more detail about your driving profile (example length of trips - if you have segment MPG (like work to home; home to work) even better; tire pressure; use of EBH... etc) then it would be easier for us to offer suggestions.

 

Possibly. Get a second diagnostic opinion from another dealer.

Find another Prius owner and ride with them a little, or have them ride with you, to see what differences in technique you may have.

Use the parking brake every time. This helps keep it from sticking, which would (obviously) reduce MPGs.

You *don't* use "B" for everyday driving, right?

Do you spend lunch hours sitting in the car parked with it ON, listening to music and the A/C running? (Forgive me for asking; what people don't know about cars is sometimes amazing.)

 

I see a lot of talk in this particular thread about the braking. In my car, you can hear the regenerative brakes, and feel the difference. When my car slows down from 60mph to 0 you first get just a slight feeling of the car slowing, but from the front. That is because at that point, only the front tires are providing resistance from the regenerative brakes. Around 45mph-10mph you hear a really loud whine. I believe it is present from 60-45mph, but you can't hear it over road noise. Then at around 10-5mph (depending on how you are braking,) you notice a different feel of the car, as it uses [friction] brakes to slow it to a stop. (Sometimes when it has been raining, and you haven't used the brakes that 10-5 mph to 0mph can be a bit harsh.) lol

Well, I think it is an amazing tool that saves a lot of pollution even if it isn't expressed in miles per gallon. The results that have been coming in from ditches, storm drains, even water supplies have been alarming. The metals and heavy metals, as well as all that goes into making a friction brake and rotor system have been making it into these results big time. We don't see it visually, but that is a pretty bad pollution. I hear that in high population areas it can even affect the air quality. Another bonus, did you guys know there is a thermal coolant storage tank on the car? That is an amazing feature that doesn't have the greatest affect on your wallet, but gets the emissions equipment running properly quicker. Enjoy your cars everyone!

 

I rented an 08 Prius back in April, then made several comments how it 'didn't seem to have much power going up a steep hill' ....

wrong, I forgot to press the gas pedal back then ...

rented another one this week, floored it going up a steep hill ... aha! This thing can giddy up and go!

 

It looks like 2010 too will not have the Li Ion as earlier expected.

Toyota Prius 2010

This means a disappointment for us. Let us hope it now for 2011.

 

I dont really see it as disapointing dehati. Who wants LiIon batteries that are not ready? They had a nasty habit of overheating or catching fire which wouldnt really be a good thing in a new car yes?

Battery technology is coming along nicely. Given them a couple more years and we will see miracles!

 

Zack, no reason to fear upset Prius users. We each make our best decision. I am picking up a new Prius Touring next week. I just sold a 2006 Covette (about 19 mpg) to pay for it. I also have a 10 mpg suv seldom driven, and a supercharged jaguar (struggles to get 16 mpg). I borrowed a 2007 Prius from a car dealer friend of mine for a while. Last week I drove 200+ miles with 4 people and a dog in 95 degree weather, stop and go, city, and also some good freeway driving @ 77 mph. A good combination of city and highway, and the return was 49.8 mpg. That was enough to confirm my choice.

As with another friend of mine who traded in his 2002 porsche carrera for a Prius, we are entranced with a different form of technology, watching the energy flow on the screen and finding ways to keep the mpg up - marveling over efficiency instead of brute power. It is a new way to view transportation, but so far, quite fun.

I agree that European cars are ahead of us in the U.S., but the Prius is what we have now. And, I have already reserved the Hymotion Lithium Ion Battery pack to go "plug in" later this year. For less than $60k (home solar panels, car and pak) I will have no home electric costs and use about 6-8 gallons of fuel a month for 8k miles a year of driving (I am lucky to commute to work within the range of all electric). Energy independence.

 

Umm... Im moving from the Toledo, Ohio area to Phoenix, AZ. I am staying overnight in Albuquerque, New Mexico right now (and posting from my hotel room) before I get to Phoenix tomorrow... So far I have driven over 1400 miles since leaving Ohio last Tuesday and have driven through Ohio (50-65MPH), Kentucky (70-75MPH through mountains of western KY), Tennessee, Missouri (including 70 MPH through the Ozark Mountains), Oklahoma (70-75MPH), the Texas Panhandle (75-80MPH), and across 200 miles of New Mexico mountainous terrain (@75-90 MPH) with a car that is FULLY Loaded from the dash of the front passenger seat to the rear window and have averaged 48.5 MPG thus far... so I have NO idea what the original poster could do to get anything below 40 MPG...

 

I went from BMW to Prius and back to BMW. I was impressed with the mileage, but at this point I'd rather pay for gas but drive car with decent seats, AWD and other luxury details. Prius is still more or less Corolla (luxury wise).

I am interested in 2010 Lexus 'lifestyle wagon' that is supposed based on Prius.

 

Welcome to AZ. Hopefully you didn't get rained on too much when you moved in since we've been having storms. Your mileage will go down a few mpg when it's 110 and over. I'm up in the 50's again now that it's been a little bit cooler from the rains.