I just don't get it?

I bought the car for its Eco friendliness, elegant engineering and sophisticated gadgetry.

That does not mean that it without its shortcomings.

Coming from years of driving sport cars, sport sedans and high performance European cars, I find its road manners and handling to be lacking, even in comparison to my wife's Dodge Grand Caravan. The stiffening plate has helped considerably, though.

The tires are probably the worst which I have had on any car since my high school days, when I drove a Dodge Dart with 13" wheels.

The driver's seat is uncomfortable for long drives and is in desperate need of height and lumbar adjustment mechanisms.

Sound insulation is woefully inadequate; it is most obvious at highway speeds.

The hard plastic dominated creaky interior screams econocar.

The Prius is only a car. It is not a deity. Criticizing it is not tantamount to blasphemy.

End of rant.

 

but I find the tires to be OK and I won't change them, seats are very comfortable especially for long drives (15 hours or more), the hight is fine for me, the sound insulation is the same I had in my last car, the plastic is just plastic, and what is creaky about the interior?

So, how do you satisfy everyone???? There is nothing wrong in criticizing, the more criticizm the better, but it's kind of tought when it comes to personal preferences

 

Brian developed the BT Stiffening plate.

 

Whenever I drive on uneven roads, the symphony of all these ill fitting plastic parts rubbing against each other and the abundant rattles rival the output of the stereo system.

Toyota is capable of doing better. Too bad its executives decided to pinch pennies on the interior of the car.

 

Criticizing it not blasphemy, but let's be fair...

it's NOT a sports car, a sport sedan, or a high performance European car. To judge it as if it was a luxury vehicle, a performance sedan, or whatever isn't entirely fair...

A lot of what you listed could be construed as just that... handling isn't its strong suit, but you just said you were comparing it to sports cars. As for road noise, most non-luxury cars have noticeable road noise...

There is valid criticism, but don't judge it harshly because it doesn't live up to all of the luxury cars or sports cars you've ever driven in your life.

The Prius is what it is... it's a Toyota, not a Lexus... it's part econobox, part cutting edge technology... the parts that are luxury car level are limited.

 

A package 6 (BC) Prius has an MSRP in the neighborhood of the "near luxury" segment. Why did Toyota equip it with an interior that would be an embarrassment in a car costing half as much?

 

It true.. I agree with points from all sides, however if prius is going to cost 30K for a car decked out, it has the very hard job of being perfect to all people, for it will be compared with other cars "without the technology true" of simliar value. I think it almost is perfect!... People who have owned it for years, still love it!.. and new people with just one drive.. fall in love with it!..

BUT!... once all the cool new toys and engineering fades away, people start considering what they have compared to other rigs?... true the money they spent was well spent, especially considering the technology they bought and how flawless it works for how long....... yet things like sqeaks etc are easily fixed with some engineering changes. Its just oversights in my estimation. These are things that the engineers didn't' focus on because there was much else to distract thier attention!
Now may be a good time for them to help create the best of both worlds and consider some of these issues?

No one wants the price to go up even higher, but I don't see that it needs to?
Every new model is more exciting and more improved... its really quite an amazing little car!.. but I"m always open for improvement.. especially if it can be done without raising the cost... I think some of these reasonable suggestions may be viable to consider.

 

It's the bean counters.

The European (and possibly the Australian) version of the Prius has a better suspension. Both of those come with superior tires (16" Michelin Pilot). The Australian Prius has a driver's seat height adjustment.

 

Well it seems were talking pretty simple options.. I can see maybe not just putting it in all of the prius's, but it should be an option?.. and speaking of options.. we should really be able to piece out the options a "lot" better!! ... I mean if I want a rib-eye, I shouldn't have to buy the whole friggin cow should I?.... Many folks only want his hide, and they have to get everything?. :lol:

If we were dealing with a 10 - 15 K car that would be one thing penny and dimeing us, but after spending 30K, we should really be able to get these options without having to go to third party companies or doing it ourselves. "Even if it does cost more?"... after all, I am reluctant to spend that kind of mulla, unless its going to be comfortable for me...

And I still haven't figured out why they won't give all the same options to all parts of the country... what gives??????

Likewise we should have the options avaliable.... even if they are by special order.. that Australia or europe has... and they should be able to get whats available to us....after all.... It almost sounds like they build the car from scratch for every one ordered... at least thats the way they make it sound???

 

I have never owned a car that I thought was "perfect" in every way and needed no changes.

The Prius is a great car that needed some tweaking to make it even better. I did upgrade the tires to Goodyear ComforTreds as well as the seats to leather. I added XM Radio since I thought it was a definite improvement over AM/FM radio.

Now the car is closer to what I expect of a great car. It's still not "perfect" but what is in life?

 

I agree with you. Tell Weinerneck, who started this thread.

 

Because most of the cost of the BC Prius over the "base" Prius is for features like the DVD Nav, the bluetooth, HIDs headlights, safety features like side curtain airbags, SKS, traction control, VSC... need I go on?

I paid $28K for my package 6 Prius, but I wouldn't compare it to a $28K vehicle like the Toyota Avalon, or a decked out Toyota Camry because really there IS a premium for the cost of the hybrid drive...

The technology for the HSD itself kicks the price up to this "near luxury" segment, but just because it costs nearly that much doesn't mean it is a luxury vehicle.

The hybrid drive messes up any of the cost judgments you have... The price is inflated, but I'm not somehow disappointed that it's not a luxury vehicle at the price point it is at right now. I'm not paying for luxury level everything... i'm paying for cutting edge technology, and that's what I got.

The fact of the matter is, if Toyota made tihs car into a luxury vehicle, it would cost well over $30K, and would scare too many of its buyers away. There are compromises made right now, but it's understandable.

Sigh. maybe they should rebadge the Prius for the Lexus or Scion brand... :lol:

 

If we stop complaining I'm afraid Toyota will stop trying to improve the car.

 

Is that why the Europeans and Australians get superior suspensions and better tires and the Australians also get seat height adjustors?

 

Question: Not being very technical on this: what does this mean? Are we talking about some kind of stablizer bar that is welded in place (to the frame?) or?
Thanks!!
Judy

 

No, its an aftermarket plate that is more sturdy and I believe it is bolted in place of the existing.

It gives strength mostly in turning and swaying, but maybe even when bouning down the road... I'm only going off of what I"ve read.

Not sure yet, or have not yet seen it confirmed whether or not the 2006 model has been improved as to not benifit from this... I guess it will remain to be seen.

 

I see the Prius as a test bed for new technologies, the gadgets were an attractive add on for well the likes of us. Pogo anyone? I would love to see a Prius Limited (or what ever) with all the bits and pieces. I would love a bit more handling, but I too have had a few (more than a few) cars like that. I find the Prius to handle well only because I came from a Ford Explorer that I used off road. That is not a place I would take the Prius. I did feel guilty driving the Beast on a day to day basis. It really is not a commuter car it is a special service vehicle that has gone out of control. The Prius is a compromise and if I got a vote I would make changes. I have a list in case Toyota wants to hire me, and I expect they will not. I am comfortable with the compromises even if I do not agree with all of them.