I rented a Prius and a HCH; here are my reviews of both

I don't understand the complaint about having a foot on the brake to start the car. Most cars require you to depress the brake in order to shift out of 'Park' anyway.

When I rented a non-Prius last week, I kept forgetting that on some one might need to pump the gas pedal before starting and went right to the foot-on-brake position. The car started right up and I could shift and take off. But I did realize that I was not quite doing it right. So, anyway, it shouldn't be a big deal in a Prius to depress the brake to start the car.

 

Applying the parking brake first makes starting the car, for the purpose of driving, a SIMPLE one-button-push process. Can't get more intuitive than that. Otherwise, you'd have to push the power button three times to start the car for the purpose of driving. That would become an annoying routine.

Furthermore, imagine the danger of a single button push alone starting the car, whether it is inadvertent by the operator, or unattended passengers etc. Even my lawnmower requires a previous action to allow a start to occur when pulling the rope!

Likewise, if driving is not the immediate intent, don't push the brake, and a SIMPLE one-button-push allows radio listening. If subsequently driving is intended, step on the brake and, once again, a single button push accomplished that.

I also find shutting it down to be sweet and simple. Stop, push P, push Power, push on parking brake....Done. No reaching here and there, No pushing levers, twisting keys, or pulling levers.

The simplisity of never having to fumble for a key/fob to gain entry, fumble and manipulate one for starting, nor fumble and juggle one with other items (books, bags, briefcase, groceries, kids hands, etc.) to exit and lock is quite a nice liberation from the normal search, fumble, juggle routine accepted with other ordinary cars today.

 

Nustrike... forgot about the glove box light

 

Potential Buyer,

Obviously you'd be happier driving a car other than the Prius. Toyota will survive and so will our egos.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"116925)</div>

Did you verify they have SKS? Also, were they trying to open the driver's side rear door? Since there is no door unlock contact for the rear doors, the default options for opening the rear driver door are open driver door, unlock all using door button OR double-unlock using the FOB remote. You could unlock the passenger rear door by touching the passenger door, but maybe they forgot simply b/c they weren't 100% situationally aware.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsrAmeriPrius\";p=\"116913)</div>

That makes me think about the overall reaction to his review. Let's face it, some people are not going to like everything about the car. People come from different auto backgrounds and do different comparisons, that doesn't make a person's experience wrong.

 

Not at all. I have lived long enough to know that different drivers have varied tastes, preferences and priorities which were developed due to coming from different backgrounds and experiences.

My "ego" comment was directed at those members of the PriusChat community who worship the car to the degree that they cannot understand why it is not the perfect car for everyone on the face of this Earth and who receive any criticism of it, real or imagined, valid or not, as an insult.

 

I found the reviews particularly interesting from the point-of-view of someone who does this much (to me) high-speed driving (e.g., 80-90 mph).

I'm definitely not a "performance driver" by any definition; and I'm always interested when I read reviews of the Prius from people who are.

It's fascinated me that there are a significant block of these folks who are pleased with the Prius, at least in this respect. They're not comparing it to a Road & Track poster child, but many of them seem to like it for day-to-day driving.

 

Yeap, I sure wish I had gotten that perfect Prius with more room for me! Then I would be more comfortable in the passenger seat! :lol: