My problem with 2008 prius, help

Welcome. Please give it some time. I felt the same way the first time I drove a Prius...after a few days...you don't even think about it.

 

Welcome to PriusChat, caroleyang. I think you'll get used to it. I know a guy who mounted a fake cell phone antenna on his front license plate holder so he would know where the front of his car was. And I know another guy who mounted parking "whiskers" by his front wheels so he would know when his wheel was near the curb. There are so many good things about the Prius it would be a shame to sell it for such a small thing.

 

Hi Carole,

There are a lot of other cars that have or had the issue of hoods sloping so much that you can't see the front end: mini-vans, Honda Civic from the 1980's, VW Beetles.

I have been personally familiar with this issue for decades -- I had it with the VW Super Beetle in the 1970's, my 1987 Honda Civic, and now my Prius. I got used to it quickly, even under the most severe conditions: parallel parking in New York City parking spaces that are only 1 to 3 feet longer than my car.

I think you will get used to it too.

PS: As Bill mentioned, you can attach an antenna to the front of the car in order to see where the front is. You can use either a telescoping metal antenna, a wooden dowel (or banner/flag pole) cut to the right length, or a fiberglass/plastic bicycle flag pole cut to the right length. You would attach the antenna, wooden dowel or flag pole to the front license plate area or on a mount attached to the front license plate area.

 

Decades of competitive handgun (and also rifle, but the handgun skills are more applicable here) shooting have taught me a principle by which to manage certain hand/eye/visibility issues when one is unable to really "see" a target or certain aspect of a target. It is called "indexing". You take cues from other visible landmarks or indicators and, based on your knowledge of the given equipment at your disposal and its characteristics, you go by faith based on those indicia.

What I just said probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It does take some study and practice, but it can be done. When I first got my Prius it took me about a week before I could drive it into my rather crowded-with-stuff garage successfully. That was because i couldn't "see" where my front end was in relation to obstacles. I would drive into the garage, stop, and then have to get out and make sure I could get the door closed without hitting the rear deck or bumper of the car when I closed the door. I always felt closer to the stuff in front of me than I actually was.

But by getting out and studying where I was in relation to how the visual cues when I was behind the wheel led me to think, I was able to figure it out. It doesn't take long, and each person is different because of height and other factors, but give it a try. At first I thought I was going to have to hang a tennis ball from some twine in my garage to bump with my windshield as I have seen some "senior citizens" do......and I fear that it won't be too many more years before I qualify for the senior discount in restaurants and theaters, not something I'm breathlessly looking forward to! But, all kidding aside, that is an option too, at least for that one application. However, as others have commented, give it some time. You just got the car yesterday. Many if not most cars have some visibility issues. The only one that I've driven in several decades that doesn't is a Jeep Wrangler (the standard one, not the Unlimited), and you don't want one of those unless you love buying gas on a frequent basis. Hang in there and :welcome:.

 

Sigma Automotive does sell some indicator "antennae" that can be mounted at the front corners of the bumper so the driver can tell where the edges of the car are:

Sigma Automotive – Toyota Hybrid Prius 2004 - 2009 OEM & JDM auto accessories

You will need to scroll down the page to find them; I can't provide a direct link. Its called "Corner Pole Marker Fixed". There is also an auto version, but its more expensive.

I was able to get used to the front visibility after a short time.

 

You need little flags on the front corners. Ask at a local accessory shop about them.
Edit: - Oops, I was distracted between writing and posting this.

 

Not being able to see the front of the vehicle was one of the very first things that I noticed - as soon as I got home with my brand new Prius, and pulled it into my garage (didn't even register with me during the test drives). I complained to my wife, and she reminded me that I had already dealt with that very same issue in driving her Chrysler Voyager - and she was right! I'm still getting used to it after 5000 + miles. And remember, it's not that way by mistake - the whole design is for aerodynamics, which is very important in getting the great miles. Make friends with this quirk, and the many others that you'll find! You'll be loving it (again) before long. Thanks for talking about your concerns.

 

Hardcase, I do the same thing in my garage. For us, it's a light switch on the wall. When you are even with that, you know you are in far enough, yet not so far that you can't walk around the vehicle.

With any vehicle, it takes time to get a good feel for the dimensions. I tend to think the Prius is longer than it actually is, so I haven't hit anything with it. I jump out thinking I am 2 inches away from our fence only to find about a foot of space there.