One big lack in the new Prius

I'd rather get rid of all the electronic gadgetry, like power windows. Rather have manual drive. Get rid of any luxury features. Keep it simple and keep it mechanical and keep it less expensive. I'm always astounded at how much people will pay for a consumable item like a car. It's difficult to find a car without these features. Yeah, I know I'm in the minority...

 

I appreciate your comments.. they stimulate thought and discussion... Please do not assume I am being disrespectful of your thoughts, I am not... only challenging them a bit!
I don't want to go into a sermon about your one comment, so what I am about to say are my own comments only sparked by yours.

I know this may sound several steps into extreme, but you do like luxuries and don't know it!.. otherwise you would be on a horse or bicycle!

All the things a car affords.... dry out of the weather ride, quiet no wind in the face feel, climate control you didn't have 30 years ago before air "or however long it was".

Once upon a time we all thought a simple car as you describe was wonderful... becuase back then... that was luxury!..

But everyone wants upgrades and improvements!... otherwise, they could just sell the same car every year and your right!, they would be "very" cheap.. one edge jeep and a few others have discovered! When you build a good thing.. don't change it!....
my jeep has the same straight 6 they used to use in tractors... they are bullet proof!

By not changing every year, the factory saves tons of money on enginnering body changes, remaking of cast and molds, hiring of better trained staff... training...etc etc etc....

the fact is... if we didn't want improvements cars would be much cheaper!.. but its a very expensive luxury to have improvements!.. because of those setup costs we could actually have had even more improvements, but companies want to recoupe the cost of their last improvement before they sink bucks into the next.

What you ask is not available because there is no demand!...
Its human natures fault!

I too have often wished cars would just stay the same and only cost 5000.00 in the year of 2006 instead of 30000.00, but if that were the case, we would still be riding horses and buggies.... but someone decided to improve the buggy and it cost more and here we are!...

There will always be improvements... But as I have discussed in prior threads.. It would be nice if we had more options on our options!..... But what would be the definition of "no options"?..... Would we settle for no power brakes?.. that used to be an option!...how about power steering?.... same story!.....
what used to be options are now standard.... heck even some of the options of 2005 prius are now 2006 standard!

If we had the ability to pick and choose all our options all the way back to 20 years ago, it would cost a fortune to maintain the systems to build them for everybody... then resale would be a nightmare! then your old roll up windows would cost more than the electric. A better illustration is computer memory.... if you try to purchase the older slower stuff to go into an old system, you pay more than the faster stuff for the newer systems.
I suppose Cars are the same way to some degree... or at least the parts for them and having those parts installed.
But then there would be someone else who wanted to go back 30 years in technology to get even cheaper!... who draws the line?

Technology is nice, but you pay dearly for the latest and the greatest. Usually the best bet is a few year old technology... all the bugs are worked out and production is up enough that they are cheaper!... The prius technology will be cheaper in a few years.

I hope you understand I am not condemning your feelings or thoughts, merely discussing issues of the market these days..... I'm sure many would love to run bare bones and get as cheap as possible, but currently you can only go so low.

 

That is what US auto manufacturers are doing -- and we see the result. Toyota innovates, and Detriot goes retro. You can't have an innovative technology like that in the Prius and keep it simple.

 

hey, they gotta save something to add for the '07 Prius... like say... those power seats a lot of us (me included) wish as an option

 

Isn't there a luxury hybrid out there somewhere, that would be less attractive if a cheaper car had all the right stuff?...

 

Nope.

That's one of the reasons many of us are mystified by Toyota's failure to provide a better capability to adjust the driver's seat.

 

I am with you.
I'm not against having these things available.
I'd just like more choice in which ones I have to get and pay for.

 

The first time I went to test drive a Prius, the only one on the lot had been sold. The dealership, after much discussion, allowed me to sit in the car, so that I could get a general sense of it. I recall thinking that the seat was terrible, mostly because it had so few adjustments, and the seat in which I'd driven to the dealership had all kinds (don't recall the #) of power adjustments available at my fingertip.

The next time I was in a Prius was for an actual test drive. I remember not being impressed by the seat when I climbed behind the wheel, and not being too impressed by the view, or lack thereof, through the back window. Then I started the car, and those complaints were overwhelmed by the driving experience. I was in awe. It was as though I had never driven before, though the experience was even better than being introduced to driving, as it was like fun had been entered into a chore that I had been performing for 20+ years.

Nearly seven-months later, I hardly even think about the seats. I wouldn't complain if the seat had more adjustments, and my elbows had more support from the seat/surroundings, but these "issues" barely even register in my consciousness.

Most aspects of the Prius are so cutting edge that I doubt you'll even notice those parts of it that are something less than top of the line.

Enjoy your '06; you won't regret your decision to purchase one.

 

I've never been been fond of the power seat option on any vehicle so I didn't miss it at all when I got my Prius. Same goes for the cigarette lighter/ashtray. It's just an option that I didn't think was that big a deal. Lack of power seat adjustment is in perfect keeping with the philosophy behind the Prius anyway. That is, to be as energy efficient as possible. True, there are a few standard features on the Prius that may not seem to adhere to that philosophy but power seats definitely don't. I'm guessing here but wouldn't the power seat option add quite a bit of weight to the car?

 

My wife and I have a 2004 prius that we have traveled in and our only complaint is the seats!!! We have ordered a 2006 prius #7 and before we pick up the car in January it is going to an upholstery shop to have padding, lumbar, heat, and leather added. Unfortunately Toyota makes the best hybrid, but they will not listen to the customer about the lousy seats. It’s ashame we have to be wasteful to save the environment. The seats are so bad that the first trip we went on I get out of the car with my a** hurting and decided not to complain, But my wife said out loud that her back bone hurt from the ride in the hard seats. Then my mother in law chimed in with a me too. Please know my wife is 95 pounds, my mother in law probably 125 and I am 210. I do not know where Toyota gets the seats but I can assure them they are getting ripped off, and so are we. Toyota fix the seats please.

 

I think this is a personal preference, I do NOT have a problem with the seats at all. I like them. No way to make everybody happy as we apparently have different a**es.

 

I agree, maggie, the seats are very comfortable to me. There are a few little things that I find annoying about any car and you're right, you can't make everyone happy but I'm so happy with my Prius that the little annoyances are easily forgiven, no question.

 

Uhm... keep it simple and mechanical? Fewer electronics?

What you have with the Prius is one of the most elaborate and integrated electronic drive control systems in existence... the HSD is tightly coupled with a computer system, and software is a big deal in how this car works.

So yeah, you'll have to look harder to find a car that keeps everything mechanical...

 

Yes, the lexus and even the Highlander - The Highlander's loaded package makes it quite luxurious.

Once they add power seats to the Prius, then what will everyone complain about. Once they add that, what's the next thing to be complained? And then after that???

There will always be something missing and I think Toyota's done a good job of leaving out the excess items that really aren't needed by most. If they added everything, we'd be looking at a $40k+ Prius. And, there's a limit to how many options they can feasibly have.

So, for those that feel they need power seats, let's hear what you'd like removed to achive them?

 

My issue is not the seat but rather the steering wheel. I find that I have to lean forward to grab the wheel. If it could telescope out a bit I'd be much more comfortable...

 

i have no problems with the seats either.....but being black...hahaha...i have a little extra padding in the back! lol....so they work 4 me......the only problem i have.....is that i am 5'6" and i would love more leg room....my prelude gives me plenty of leg room.....however i cant seem to get the seats back far enough.......(i like a lot of leg room!) i can fit.....& i'm ok with it.....but i would like more room.......but everything else......i really love!

 

Considering I still drive a 99 Cavalier (wife got the Prius - had a 00 Taurus), I find the 05 Prius seats to be more than comfortable.

All the gadgets and hybrid parts aside, the prius looks and feels like an economy car. So that is the "feel" i expect. (Granted the price doesn't say economy ).

Try to compare similar "feeling" cars when talking about the Prius.

Now if the Prius was considered a "Luxury" hybrid, I would definately complain about the seats, shocks, tires, mutliple color interior, fully plastic interior, etc.

Instead I look at our Prius as a High End Economy car with lots of cool gadges and good MPG!

(Note: We haven't driven more than 60min at a time yet, so my opinion about seats make change LOL)