So, HOW did we do?

Doug. I think you guys have done super!!:cheer2:

*Solar tech is AMAZING!!
*MPG improved
*adjustable height seat/comfort/tilt-steering wheel sounds like a small thing but this is the reason we were hesitating on buying an 09 before we found out about the 2010.
*increased rear headroom
*little things like the LED light on the shifter (gorgeous) are what makes this car so much more than it seems
*GREAT PRICE! Thank you for staying competitive

Only negatives I can think of:
*still no plug-in (but we'll keep being patient)
*no back-up camera as great safety feature (unless you get nav)
*less doors with SKS...I loved that feature for busy moms that always have their hands full!
*too tightly bundled packages (sunroof has to come with nav?)
*option for powered "memory" seats (even if it does take a bit of MPG hit)...SO is 6'1" and I'm 5'2"...lots of seat manuevering.
*better cupholder placement but now I'm just being demanding.

 

I only hope your success is tempered enough that I can make a deal for one...

Which is to say, "Great job. Send more ships!"

 

Being a tall guy 6ft. 3in., I push the driver seat all the way back and full down on height adjust ...

I think the steering wheel could use a little more tilt down range and more telescope range towards the driver for such seat adjustment.

Also, I like the wheels on my 09 non-touring Prius better than the 2010. I like a $22k+ class car to show mostly alloy wheel, over a full plastic cover. Always thought the plastic Gen2 trim rings were smart and blend in well. Never lost a trim ring yet. KoW.

Neither of the above are deal breakers though.

So, beautiful job on the 2010 - Looks, power, space, features, price is great. Thanks for the great front seats! Just a week ago I wondered if they would only put Corolla-like driver's seat and legroom .... nope, the 2010 seat is more like a Camry, very good!!

I see COTY and a red-hot seller for years to come!

 

Doug,
I would like to find out. I have discovered that having a deposit with the dealer for almost a year means nothing. I wish they had explained the Toyota system before they took my deposit. I was told it was preferenced several weeks ago and we still do not have an anticipated delivery date. Why do dealers on the west coast have cars available when we still don't have vehicles in Eastern PA? We have not actually seen a 2010. It did not appear when we visited the Richmond, VA car show. I think your distribution system has left a lot of confused and even frustrated customers. Oh, and it has been raining here all day. At least it is Friday.
Bob

 

Doug -- All I can say is I would not have purchased a 2009 (or earlier) but the 2010 blew me away. Thanks!

 

When I test drove the '09 Prius last summer, here's what left me underwhelmed:
1. driver's seating position/comfort was a deal killer
2. (severe lack of) power
3. dash design a bit funky for me, and not very ergonomic (for example, having to reach pretty far up for the nav touch screen)
4. overall driving experience refinement level (road noise, steering feel, road feel)
5. wheel design

So I decided to wait for the 2010. After going on 2 test drives before taking delivery of my car, I was very happy with the improvements, and after 3 days of ownership, here's my assessment:
1. much improved (though I will say the drivers door armrest is way too low)
2. PWR mode makes a big difference when entering crowded freeways and going up hilly areas, and even standard mode is more peppy
3. dash design very nice, and much more ergonomic
4. improved in all areas
5. love the 17" wheels

For the last 25 years I've owned luxury and sports cars, and while I have no illusions that the Prius drives like a BMW or Porsche, I must say that I'm very happy with the overall experience. And getting 3x the MPG of my previous few cars ain't bad.

Now if it only had a USB / iPod adapter at launch, and a cargo mat that wasn't such a light color...

 

Great car, great package. I don't like being forced to buy nav to get a sunroof, so I'm foregoing both and getting a plain IV - but not the end of the world.

 

What if the 2 right thumb buttons on the steering wheel of the ATP pkg(LKA, Radar) were retasked to be the ECO and PWR buttons for the other pkg's. Would use PWR for push to pass and hill climbs and then back to ECO. No reaching way over below dash to get to them.

 

I think that's my only complaint. I don't really want the moonroof, either-- seems like it's just inviting future leaks.

 

I think it looks and rides great. I am purchasing a prius for the first time because of all the nice new features like the solar sunroof.

My main gripe would be the DVD based Nav system with mp3 player integration as an afterthought.

Hard drive space is cheap these days, and I would not think it unreasonable to have around 100 gigs of space for ripping cd's or dvd's to.

MP3 player support should be well thought out and SAFE so a driver with a lot of music doesn't have to scroll through hundreds of pages to find what they are looking for. Title Search, Voice Recognition, etc...

Overall great job though, keep up the good work!!

 

How about power modes on steering wheel for all models, not just ATP?

 

Ya did great!

Hey Prius team!

Great job!

I sell these as well as drive one (I am in my 3rd Prius, my 2007's got 80K on it by the time I get home to Laguna tonight....) and what I love about the new one:

Seats! Far better back support, especially with the power lumbar support.

Drive! It rides and handles way better than my 2007. Corners great! And, the freeway ride is totally different. More Camry-like as far as it being a heavier car.

Rear seat room! On every single test drive I did that past Memorial Day when we had a rep's car here, I sat in back behind the driver and had way more room than I needed. I also didn't feel claustrophobic back there.

Back cupholder design. My 2007's cupholder in the rear falls off constantly. I like the new "in the armrest" design.

Seat material and leather quality - yay! Looks and feels GREAT!!!

Back mat - it's bendy-foldy - sort of like perforated. Nice idea!

Higher inside roofline. Makes car seem roomier.

OKOK the weird swoopy console is growing on me. I still miss the pull-out drawer. Nice attached shelf in center console and yay yo getting rid of the slide-in shelf in the upper glove box.

Now, we need some prettier colors!
Bring back Tideland pearl (GREENISH GRAY)! Blue Moon pearl!

Di

 

I think you did a great job on the 2010 Prius.

I currently have a 2004 Prius. When I saw the announcement of the 2010, I decided I had to replace mine with a 2010.

The DRCC sold me on the car! I have always asked myself why the car can't automatically slow down when approaching a slower moving vehicle. This one can.

I also loved the idea of the solar powered ventilation system. It is hot here in Austin, TX, and it would be nice if the interior of the car didn't heat up while it was parked at a shopping mall.

I am disappointed, but not surprised, that I have to buy several thousands of dollars worth of options to get the ATP. I was surprised that I couldn't get both the options I wanted (the solar powered ventilation system and DRCC), but I decided that the options in the ATP were more important to me. I can open the windows and let the car cool off for 5 minutes every time I get into the car. The DRCC and LKA sound like they will make driving on highways much more enjoyable. If it was up to me, I would buy a Prius II with ATP (and no buillt in navigation system) and the solar ventilation system (preferably without the moon roof). (Of course, I know I can't get that combination, but I can always dream!)

There are several minor things I will have to get used to which I have on the 2004 Prius but are not in the 2010 model. I keep my MP3 player in the storage compartment underneath the stereo, which is no longer in the 2010 model. I also keep maps (paper backups?) in the map pockets, and use the second cup holder to store items I need while driving. I know the 2010 model doesn't have the map pockets and, from what I have read, the cup holders are slightly less convenient. I will adjust.

You did a great job in designing the 2010 Prius. Now, if you could only do something about the inequities in the distribution system. It appears that in some areas of the country dealers have already received several shipments of the 2010 Prius, while, here in Texas, we have yet to see a single vehicle. It is very frustrating.

I am (im)patiently waiting for my 2010 Prius to show up.

 

I'm not a previous Prius owner, so I can't provide any feedback regarding improvements. Our current vehicles are a 2007 X3 and 2002 Sequioa. Our new P III replaces the X3, that gets returned early next month.

First, I researched this purchase for literally months. I considered a wide variety of vehicles including the BMW 328i, CR-V, Accord, RAV4, Mazda CX-7, and a few others. Despite manufacturer and buyer loyalty incentives offered on these vehicles, I kept coming back to the 2010 Prius as my first choice. Advance detailed information on this site and from your team regarding this release was critical in my decision making process.

Did you do a great job? Absolutely! The Prius III represents a great value for my needs. It's extremely practical in terms of reliablility and total cost of ownership. It's sporty -- love the new body styling and interior. And it appeals to my desire to be a bit more "green".

Yes, there are a few options that I would have preferred such as rear view mirror with Homelink and backup camera.

But all in all, I am extremely satisfied with my choice and hope to enjoy my new Prius for many years to come.

 

Great job; no nits to pick on.

Thanks to your Great information, I got my detailed order in by 2/09 and was (probably) the first South Florida delivery. Kentucky Highway docked in Jacksonville at 7:00AM 5/26 and my car was priority delivered at the dealer in Ft. Lauderdale by 7:00AM 5/28.

 

I must offer the following at this time: I am overwhelmed at the effort and dedication of the Prius team for the time they took to listen to the public and put together a vehicle that everyone asked for. Major Kudos!! Couple this with the opportunity to see, feel , touch, and drive the 2010 before the public is again, an unprecedented thing.

Many many years ago I purchased Toyota products. Sadly, I went to the dark side for a few years when I traded my '86 Toyota longbed truck (that was still running great: not burning oil, no major breakdowns.. heck even the A/C still worked) in 2000 for a GM product. Now that is an ugly picture! I truely lost my mind.

I am very happy and very proud to own a Toyota product again, and even happier it is a 2009 Prius!!

Tnanks again Prius Team for your work and efforts.

 

Nailed it: You fixed the twitchy handling and the seats, and improved the ride, which were obviously the most important problems. You also gave us just enough extra power to take away the feeling that it was straining at times. Fit, finish and design inside are great, IMHO. You've gone from echo to corrolla to something just below camry. The voice recognition actually works...:cheer2:...although you do have to jump through a lot of steps sometimes to get to the end result. Exterior is much better. Someday I'd like to drive something prettier and less "iconic", but within the design parameters, great job. At least we got some more headroom in the back!

Nitpicks: Steering still a tad light. Seats are great, but could possibly use a tad more cushion. Don't like the hard plastic door handles. Kind of cheapens the overall look IMHO, though I understand the intent to add coordinating accents. From a practical standpoint, my knees tend to rest against them both driving and riding, and they are not comfortable. Still waiting for my USB ipod interface. Not including a basic common convenience like auto on headlights is almost as silly as leaving auto up windows off my 2007 HyCam.

Wishlist: The Nav is much improved, but I really, really, wish you had given us a faster, more detailed HD based Nav. with 3D views, more info, and cheaper, easier upgrades to maps and info. Resolution could be a tad better, since its one of the reasons to go with built-in nav. Also, I would love to have the HUD.

Don't really care: Sunroof. I'm still a skeptic on the SR, but I probably would have bought it if you had offered it on the V.

Overall: :rockon: