Toyota Revises Prius

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There's 2 different things you're talking about. With FF (Front-engine-Front drive) you can get torque steer if there's too much power being put to the wheels which makes it difficult to turn the wheel with it resisting you. Power-steering counters this, and the Prius doesn't have this problem, unless the electrics are at full-power and you have the wheels turned a lot in some direction (traction control prevets torque steer too). This is one of the reasons people go to FR (Front-engine-Rear-drive) with much more powerful engines.

The other thing related to FF because of this is understeer. In a turn, you have to turn the wheel harder and more as you hit the turn in order to get the car to go in the right direction. Wheels are fighting to pull straight. This shouldn't be causing the twitchness at speed especially if you're just going straight.

FR has the opposite with oversteer where the rear drive causes the car to want to turn more than necessary. Prius doesn't have this problem.

These two steering characteristics can be created depending on suspension settings also. A more stiff suspension/body can create oversteer especially if the rear is softer/stiffer than the front. I forget.

The Prius steers more like a MR (Mid-engine-Rear-drive) to me on curves IMO, but I wouldn't mind a more tighting up on that massive body-roll. At least to stock Civic levels.

I keep getting the impression I'm driving one of them old Toyota Truenos with the solid axle in the back, the underpowered engine, and the fun on turns. If only the Prius can drift.. heheh.

So some of you have modified the suspension. What can you recommend? I'm looking for more oversteer, or just body-roll reduction.

 

I wonder how many plants make the Prius?? It would not be logical to allow engineering changes like this to be vehicle specific - or - country point of delivery specific from the same production line- it would be all or none.

The article indicates the change was made at the end of April - so the question is "when would those be seen at dealers in the US"?? I wonder because I'm expecting mine at the end of May or mid-June (Black pkg 6) If it is in summer - I will wait for one with the changes at this point.
If anyone can shed light on this update to the vehicle please post.

 

Does anyone have a good idea of when these updates to the Prius - the sound-dampening features and the leather seat options in particular - will be available in the US market? I'm about to buy a Prius, and would like the quietest possible ride. I test-drove one yesterday, and caught the Prius monomaniacal fever big-time (which is why I just joined the PriusChat forum), but there was some room for improvement in the road noise insulation. Also, I'd like to be able to opt for a leather seat option. [An iPod-ready sound system also seems apropos for the target Prius demographic as well.]

 

welcome to the club. feel free to join the S.F. Bay Area prius group.

 

I am hearing second allocation in May - which means late June arrival for Prius with tweeks (July at the latest. Any one else hear anything??

 

I have a prius delivery scheduled for 5/16, but have told the dealer that my acceptance is conditional on their finding out whether my prius has the updates. If not, I want to know the cut-in date for the changes, so that I can decide whether to accept this one or wait.

When they respond, I'll post the answer.

(When I asked, they said they hadn't heard anything about the changes; the service manager will query Toyota.)

 

The North American market is not getting these changes. That article is about the European model.

 

Is this an authoritative answer, or is it conjecture?

 

What logic makes you think that a production plant would make engineering modifications of "increased Body rigidity, springs and dampers - delivering greater straight-line stability and ride comfort. Fine-tuning of the electric power steering system and stiffer wheel construction yield improved steering feel for the driver"

on cars that roll off of the same line to "some" - but - "not all cars?" Then choose to ship cars without those changes to USA? As a former Automotive Engineer that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

- For that to be true there would have to be 2 plants that make the Prius and I don't believe that to be the case.

or

- The plant would make several thousand and set them aside for USA - then retool production to add changes to vehicles then ship those to the rest of the world. Which would be impossible because the product is in too high of demand. Cars from the Assembly line arrive in America within 30 days from their build date.

It would happen to all or none.
I would think that if your vehicle has a build date after May, 1 it would have the changes.

It is common for production lines to make "in-line model year changes" (or improvments of quality) on the fly and not even inform dealers of these changes. It is also common for the public to know about updates to models through the press and TV before they (the dealers) find out this level of detail - especially your local salesman at your local Toyota dealer. In fact "you" as a consumer will know more about a product then the new car sales at your local dealer. Sales people just care about "selling". Being "in the know about the product" is the last thing a sales person is. Dealers do not have a direct line to Engineering departments or understand what is happening on the production line at this level of detail. Also. this stuff wont show up on a Toyota web site either.

 

i agree that it's most likely for Toyota to ship the same car here. They do take pride in being able to change an assembly line and re start production in about 14 mins or so... but i dought they do it.

 

MHR - Surely you know that Many cars have different tunings for US vs Europe? They very often tune the suspensions differently. Emissions are different, and sometimes power.
They could very easily change for Europe and not us.

 

i think they are seeing this in much more simple terms. the car is selling in the U.S. It's on back order. Why change it if it's selling? It would just cost them more. Now... when sales slow down they might add in improvements for the nextmodel. Since 95 percent ( or so ) of us would buy another prius, Toyota knowns we'll buy a better/improved model when it comes out in 3 years.

on the other hand, if they do ship them over hear, great

 

The Prius is made in 2 different locations. Maybe they just changed assembly in one location.

Just an offhand guess but I thought I'd toss it out there.

 

Lot's of perfectly rational conjecture, but so far no authoritative answer--either from the forum or the dealer.

Should I accept delivery on the car arriving at the dealer 5/15/05 or pass and wait a month?

 

I already passed on one for delivery in May - waiting for the next allocation to check build date. If I cannot confirm changes I will wait for a 2006 model.

 

You're not getting the authoraitve answer you want because no one has it to give. All the information that's out there so far has been given, re: changes to European models. Everything else is just a guess until Toyota says otherwise. Your dealer's probably being honest if they say they don't know - usually they're the last to know! (at least the Sales dept!) Up to you if you want to wait or not. With the increase in production, you prob could get another one if you change your mind. Who knows? Not me!