Raves & Rants

I haven't seen that sticker on any of the 2010's yet. Not sure what it might be, but none of the roughly 20+ units that have passed this way had them.

 

I picked up my Sandy Beach 2010 just a few minutes after you picked yours up at the same dealer. This was a good experience with this dealer and my fourth Prius. Also have the Red with same package. So far, havent found anything to rant about except like you said, the rear view mirror does vibrate. First 200 miles, 49 mpg.:cheer2:

 

Wow - it's great to hear that the Prius may have put some "fun" back in to driving! I'm now on the fence between a IV and a V. Love the moonroof, but I also enjoy a good driving experience. [Would like to have both, but that's another story ]

I was wondering if you can comment on the ride-ability of the lower-profile tires on the V. Do you feel that there is much comfort sacrificed with the 45 profile on the 17" tires [vs the 65 profile on the 15" tires]? I drive in an area where 50% of the roads are really smooth, and the other 50% can be choppy due to the patching of cracks and potholes. That plus some of the highways have those annoying breaks every 20 yards or so that some cars and tires handle better than others.

Keep the review material flowing - Great Stuff!

 

Low profile tires tend to be noisy as well. My Scion Tc, which has the 17" wheels that some current Prius owners put on their cars, is very noisy at highway speeds. I have pushed the clutch in and coasted to see where the noise comes from and it doesn't get any quieter. To me that would take away from the overall quietness of the Prius. It is possible that the Prius suspension doesn't transmit as much noise. Has anyone compared a IV and a V for noise level?

 

I like the ride of my V just perfect ... connected to the road, but not rough ... feels better than my '08 Touring with the 16s for sure.

Rant:

I am noticing a buzz on the left side of the interior of the car ... thought it was maybe a speaker, but turned off the radio and it was still there. Then I shut off the A/C and it went away ... seems the light buzz was coming from near my driver's vent. Anyone else?

 

Yes, that slight BUZZ is the Plasmacluster doing it's thing. It mentioned it in the manual (don't have the page here, but will try to edit and post it later), and stated that it would make a noise, and it is normal. The Ionized air comes only from the driver vent, and only when the Air is running.

 

Thanks for the note ... isn't there a button to turn that on/off in the Plasmacluster area of the ventilation system?

 

Nope, that button is for the Pollen/Dust filter. If you hit that button, it will turn off the Auto Mode, and work for about three minutes before the little green 'on' indicator goes away, though the a/c settings will otherwise continue as before you pushed the button.

According to what I read in the manual, it stated that the Plasmacluster is always on with the A/C.

 

I've noticed that mine makes all sorts of buzzing and beeping sounds from time to time. Since there's no check engine light I figure everything is ok.
This car does so much that it's a whole new driving experience. I'm sure over time all the electronic noises will become familiar.

 

Rave: Loved the new options available making buying a Prius Gem 3 an easy decision. Liked the V package and placed an order with my local dealer.

Rant: After a week or two of tracking boats, dealer calls and cannot match up my choice with his allocations. He made several calls and came up short. I believe him. I settled for a IV package. Spent next week thinking of how to customize the IV with 17" wheels etc.

Rave: Today, my dealer called, he was able to secure a V in his allotment as a priority selection. He's not sure if it's on this ship that just unloaded (Andromeda Leader) or if it will be on the next (Overseas Joyce?), but it's in his upcoming allocation.

My original decision to go ahead and accept the level IV package was based on wondering if he, as a small dealer, would be able to obtain a package V any time soon. I won't buy a Toyota from another dealer, he has been good to work with. If I wouldn't buy from him I would have bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid from another dealer (whom I also like dealing with).

Many of you shop dealer to dealer, I don't blame you, but I only do that to check prices. I like my sales manager, but I do keep him honest ) so I want to know the going prices on trades and discounts. In return, he has gotten my Toyota business (about 10 in my family since 2001).

 

I am confused. What model did you finally take delivery on, or will be taking delivery on? I am not sure if you got the IV, and now the V is coming, but too late, or you were able to change your order for a IV to a V?

 

FWIW, if the car was on a ship that just unloaded, he would know that for sure, since the vehicle inquiry report includes the vessel name. If it's on the next ship (and that ship has already left Japan), again, it should show on the VIR. Why don't you ask him for a copy of it?

Not that I'm accusing your dealer of playing games...

 

I am still waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the dealership to have information to tell me about what they will receive. It is so annoying that the dealership has no idea what they will receive.

Dean,

What do you think about the EV 70mph secret switch and program option?

 

"not far behind?" That cannot possibly be true. According to Jay Shoemaker's article Review: 2010 Toyota Prius | The Truth About Cars, the new 2010 Prius handles like a cheap plastic golf cart. In the driving and handling department, he said that the Prius isn't an automobile, and that it was his worst driving experience ever!

(I believe you much more than Shoemaker, btw.)

You'd think that Toyota would have added an extra digit to the MPG display by now. Lots of people, myself included, complained about the Gen2 Prius limited to 99. I'm now used to my ScanGauge displaying in the multiple hundreds or thousands of MPG when it's barely sipping gas. How hard would it have been for Toyota to program the MPG display to show the "infinity" symbol when the engine is off?

 

He's not playing games, he called me as soon as he had gotten the information about the allocation. He gave me a printout of the IV that showed the Andromeda Leader. You have to realize too that he's not used to people asking him what ship the car is on and then tracking it.

The story is that I originally asked for a Prius V w/ Nav in Blizzard White with Bisque Leather. As soon as the Pyxis appeared on the screen, he was given an allocation that the closest he could get (after several calls to the region) was the IV with the same colors and Nav that I wanted. I had to decide if I wanted that one or wait. Being a small dealer, and with dealers not seemingly wanting to trade, I thought it might be quite a while before I matched up. I'm not willing to go to another dealer, I like dealing with him. Before I would go to another dealer I would simply change brands as I also like the Fusion Hybrid and the saleman there as well.

I decided I'd take the IV since this is a third car in my fleet and mostly the wife's daily driver. I decided not to be so concerned that it matched my desires considering its intended purpose. But then I started looking into tires to immediately install on the IV with a set of Scion TC wheels I already have. I was somewhat disappointed that by the time I simply upgrade the wheels and tires I'd have almost as much in the IV as a V would cost but I'd still not have the fog and LED lights.

This morning while I was out of the office he called me on my cell and let me know he had the V in his future allocation. I asked him about the ship and he chuckled. He would check into it as soon as he could. He had been to an auction and not at the office and just didn't have the information I wanted.

We have a good relationship and when we deal we talk very openly and frankly about the deal details. I want him to make money, just not as much as some dealers. He wants me to buy from him. We always come to a mutual agreement and remain friends

I'm getting a discount that could be considered substantial for a 2010 Prius as well as a free rubber floor / cargo mat set. This issue goes back a long way as that was always the deal closer. I've done it enough now that he just knows it's part of the deal.

I don't know what the normal informational flow is between the region and the sales manager. It may be that my car is on the Andromeda, but I would assume that it's the Overseas Joyce at this point. When I was getting the IV he did give me a printout last week showing it was on the Andromeda. He should know that immediately if it is. However if it's on the Overseas Joyce I would expect confirmation in a couple of days.

He was going to do the paperwork after we got off the phone but wanted to verify that I wanted it. I'm sure there is a printout somewhere because he called me back after I asked him to check and see if it has Bisque Leather. He confirmed that it did.

Anyway, he kept after the deal, offering me the closest match he could get in his allocation and then still remembering me when his next allocation came and he was able to obtain what I wanted, making it his priority 1 selection.

Knowing the difficulties of the allocation selections, I am very satisfied in the efforts he and the regional manager have made in getting me the car I wanted. Not all salespeople will go to that trouble, especially with a car that they know they will sell whatever comes in.

Thanks Toyota!

 

A company called EWERT (I think that's right) unlocked both mg1 and mg2 for propelling and can reach up to 70mph, but you need to also have an aftermarket plugin conversion battery installed. It has to be able to draw enough power from the battery to make it happen.