'The Truth About Cars' Rips 2010 Prius a New One

Does anyone know the 0-60 time in power mode? That's what I will be using all the time.

 

I understand you like it better this way, and I also hear you that others have taken up this way of doing it, but it still does not make a whole lot of practical sense. It took up much less valuable space in the Gen2 by being on the dashboard. How often do you need to use the shifter? Just about as often as you push the Start button -- maybe even less. Typical drive: Start - R - D - Start.

No arguments over this one, please. The die is a bit more than cast, and I don't think we'll see the shifter moved unless (until) there is a Gen4. Also, it is likely just a matter of aesthetic preference anyway (I like the cleaner look of the Gen2 setup, though I appreciate more the revised Gen3 dash with fewer parts and less chance of rattles). I would just use the shifter space for something else, like a cupholder or a shallow dish/tray for glasses or change.

 

Its the same argument about cars with a shifter on the steering column and no console and cars with a console with a console shifter, its no different. Its just a question of trend, from the mid-90s through today cars with consoles and console mounted shifters have been popular. Before that everything had a bench seat and a column shifter.

In terms of usable space, I don't see any difference in usable space. The space between the console and the dashboard in the Gen II didn't serve any purpose, you can still put a purse or whatever under the console, and in fact its much more secure there than in the gen II. Its not like you were trading a third person position for a console. The console was always there, it just wasn't connected to the dashboard.

 

Have you so quickly forgotten the usefulness of a column shifter with a bench seat? Left hand on the wheel; left elbow out the open window; right arm around your girl . . .

 

It's obviously no Jim Healy (USA Today) review! Healy is objective and provides constructive criticism when he feels it's warranted. This guy is no where near objective and any reasonable person would dismiss his ranting & raving style. My opinion!

 

The line "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." gave me enough of a laugh to forgive the rigid, up-tight, bigoted reviewer a bit.

 

I'd read that review before. All I can say is, not everyone needs a car to validate the relative size of his... self-esteem. Some people like a machine to be efficient, not just fast.

 

I'm a brand new Prius owner as of less than a month ago. My previous car was of the sportier type with a V6 engine. I test drove the Honda Civic Hybrid, Insight, and Toyota Prius. The Honda IMA engines in the Honda Civic and Insight were MUCH weaker than the HSD in the Prius. That was one of the primary reasons why I went with the Prius. In fact, the Insight was peppier than the HCH.

I really don't understand how the reviewer can claim that his HCH is much more of a "real car" and the Prius isn't. Hey Jay, at least I can fold down my back seats in the Prius!

 

Someone needs to point out to him that this is not a manual-transmission vehicle. It's not even an automatic-transmission vehicle. I don't think he's clear on the concepts involved here.

 

+1

Here's an '89 speedster similar to what I got rid of, when I grew up (whoops, I meant) grew out of the vroom vroom imaturity:



$5,000 for a replacement windshield back in 1994. Sure made a nice getaway car for wedding pic's

Make certain you read the comments to the article. They're great! Everyone gets emotional and all. It's really polarizing.

 

If you are just reading this review for the first time, don't forget to take a look at a more recent TTAC review from another reviewer -- this time the review was MUCH more positive.

See: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius, Take Two. This review was written by Paul Niedermeyer.

 

The problem with the article was that the author knocked everything that was important to a car, regardless of the truth.

I wasn't pissed off about the article until I read the statement about the brakes doing little to retard forward progress. Did the author not depress the pedal? That statement goes beyond opinion. It is a lie. Anyone who has experience in the car know how the braking works.

This is more than complaining about the comfort of a seat.

The author said that the car can't get up a driveway in eco mode. "which makes it impossible to make it up my driveway" I leave mine in eco mode even when I am driving up to the fifth level of a steep parking garage. Lie.

But there is more... When you playfully exaggerate to absurd levels, you are not being witty. This is not a movie review. It is a car review. The author is not being witty. That level of exaggeration is a lie. Bringing up the overused "golf cart" referance is one thing. Saying that the car moans instead of going forward is not being witty. It makes people think that he car doesn't work. It is a lie.

Eco mode "makes it impossible to... escape the neighbor’s kids on their bikes." Lie.

"Hammering the throttle only causes a dull moan to be emitted from the engine compartment. The car doesn’t really accelerate..." Lie.

No modification can "transmogrify the [Prius] into anything resembling an automobile." Lie.

"It just doesn’t meet my definition of an automobile." This is not witty. This is not an opinion. Eveyone knows what an automobile is, and when a reviewer says with authority that this is not an automobile, people believe an untruth. That makes it a lie.

The author did not review the car in any respect. He drove it and then made fun of it.

 

This is where the truth is misleading. The brakes work fine but the "brakes" do indeed do little to retard forward progress. The regin braking (not hydraulic brakes) do the retardation in most cases with the hydraulic brakes doing the final stopping for us. So in his ignorance he may have told the truth but perceived it as a bad thing when it actually is one of the key features of the system.

 

Just one of the many comments showing his ignorance. Eco mode has nothing to do with that. Now the traction control may cause you problems, but that's another issue

 

Mr. Shoemaker should stick to what his familial name implies is his profession. "Shoemakers" should not be reviewing forward thinking automobiles. Every comment is negative I wish he would read some of the lovely things Automobile has to say about the spartan interior of BMW and their wonderful plastic. No, the car does not go like stink but then again it also doesn't get the lowly mileage of his so wonderful BMW. I will laugh my way all the way to the gas station when the price of gas again creeps up to $4.00 per gallon and he is bellie aching about how much it costs to fill his behemoth. His last line about the Honda Fit which is a perfectly good economy car but can in no way be compared to all the technology in the Prius.

 

I am the owner of a 3 series BMW. It has plenty of power, gets pretty good mileage for a 3 liter sports sedan, and the brakes and handling are indeed exceptional. By handling I mean cornering ability, not drivability which is how it feels and how easy it is to drive.

Having said that I would like to point out to the reviewer that one of the major owner complaints about the 3 series is that the power steering is to light. One of the things he dislikes about the Prius . When I bought this 3 series I was disappointed to find the steering and tracking were better with my old Honda Accord.

I would also enjoy pointing out to him that the new BMW models come without a dip stick! how depressing BMW doesn't even think It's customers can check their own oil. Also all BMWs are now equipped with run flat tires, in theory a good idea that just hasn't worked out in practice. To many times they don't run when flat, they are very expensive, and they are very heavy.

As concerns the new Prius I don't think this reviewer was at all objective and was simply preaching to the choir. I wonder if he even bothered to drive the car before he wrote his review? Many of the comments below the review start out with statements like, "I haven't driven this Prius thing and now I don't intend to". This should tell you something about his audience.