What I hate about my Prius

The A/C is always on, or I have to set the temperature, turn the A/C off, then crack a rear window to get passive airflow. I concure, for an otherwise energy efficient vehicle, Toyota engineers slipped on passive air flow. The present design is an intentional phantom load on overall energy demand of the vehicle.

Because 2008-2009 CE Prii are expected to be PHEVs, eliminating hidden loads is critical to vehicle performance and occupant comfort.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 10:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

I hear ya. However, I have heard from other Prius chatters that Toyota has included extra holes in the rails under the seats to allow for a small modification to move the seat back a couple inches. You might want to check into that.

 

The A/C issues are bad and the MFD controls are somewhat awkward.

The front pillars are wide (I am 5'7") and I almost pulled in front of a car because I did not see it clearly.

The fog lamps are useless. I have tried to tell if they actually illuminate the road edge, or just 'glow' like markers. I think they are markers,

 

Regarding the AC.

If you turn the AC off, it turns the whole system off. There is still outside air venting through 2 of the four upper dash vents just as you would like. If you run the system in auto with the AC compressor off, it will manage the temperature as best it can without running the compressor. Also very efficient.

Regarding the foglights.

I'm almost positive that it's in the US auto lighting code that foglights can't be turned on without the headlights. It's how I've seen every set of factory foglights set up. I know it's stupid, but that one isn't Toyota's fault. On the other hand, the foglights on the Prius are useless anyway so it doesn''t really matter.

 

Does anybody else have the problem that the upper right steering wheel spoke totally blocks the view of the windshield wiper controls (intermittent, rear wiper control, etc.)? Maybe it's just my height (5'9") and tilt steering wheel position but I'm a very average size person and I should be able to see the control. I can see the turn signal/headlight control fine, I just wish the wiper control was at the same angle as the turn signal control.

With as good a job as Toyota does with ergonomic design, I'm really surprised that they blew it this bad on the Prius. I also have a '96 4Runner and I can easily see both turn signal and wiper controls.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 07:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

Well, on an automatic transmission on the floor, forward is Reverse and back is Drive, and on a column shift, pushing the lever up will put it in Reverse and down for Drive. It sounds like it's following the same pattern. I admit I expected it to be the other way too.

I want to know why there isn't power seats, plus instrumentation is sparse. It might be good to know if there's a heating problem in advance. On the MFD would be fine. I don't bother using the fog lights.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(steved @ Jul 10 2006, 11:35 AM) [snapback]283835[/snapback]</div>

I must have my tilt setting slightly different, because I'm the same size and the spoke only blocks most of my wiper control. I also find having the rear wiper control on the control with the front wipers tough to get used to. I'm used to a switch on the dash for that.

I also am not all that fond of all the things that can only be done from the MFD. Controlling fan speed & vent location, switching to a different CD, etc. I find having to use it very distracting.

Nevertheless, I love the car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

I would suspect that if you spent much time in Japan you often would be the tallest in the room. Perhaps since this car was designed there, that has something to do with this problem. I'm 5'10" (not tall at all) and I have to slide the seat all the way back AND recline it slightly in order to feel comfortable.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

I agree. This seems a little dangerous and was hard for me to get used to.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

This, on the other hand, was very easy to get used to and I never have to think about it now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(n2y2 @ Jul 10 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]283808[/snapback]</div>

I haven't noticed any side-mirror visibility problem. Good idea with the wide-angle stick-ons though.

 

I wish you could pop open the hatch from inside the car.

 

Seat comfort/Steering wheel sux

Let's see, Did I mention that the seat comfort sux?

What about Seat comfort/Steering wheel sux.

Also, Seat comfort/Steering wheel sux.

What else, Oh ya, Seat comfort/Steering wheel sux. :lol:
sux
sux
sux
sux
sux
sux
etc.
etc.

 

Wrong on the a/c. Select any fan speed to turn the system on [NOT
"auto" mode], bring the temp down to "max cold" and make sure the
a/c compressor is off, select "fresh air" [i.e. not recirc] from
the MFD or steering wheel button, and then turn the fan speed OFF.
That's generic fresh-air-inlet position, without any heating or
cooling. Unfortunately it doesn't let a *lot* of air in due to
duct geometry under the wiper cowling, so you might want to run the
fan on low to help it out every so often. That's a very light load.
.
To deal with the mirror, rotate it *upside down* on its little
ball-joint stalk [careful of homelink wiring if you have it], and
shove it all the way up toward the ceiling.
.
The left A pillar issue is just something you'll have to get used to,
but a gentle lean toward the right when going around a lefward curve
is all it takes. Have a passenger that you like along, who will
appreciate the occasional fuzzies and think you're *completely* nuts.
.
Adjust your outside mirrors correctly. You should *not* be able to
see your own car in either of them, unless you lean a little in the
appropriate direction. That places them maximally outward allowing
you to see cars in your otherwise blind spots.
.
Wiper stalk -- well, heck, does a sax player have to look down at his
fingers all the time? You've probably already learned to play your
prius like a fine instrument -- shifter and other controls included,
with your hands falling naturally and precisely into just the right
positions to effect changes.
.
The shifter positions, although hotly debated in the past, actually
follow the model of many automatic- tranny selectors that have gone
before -- that go through P,R,N,D,L while pulling *toward* you or
effectively "down". The sideways bop is sort of an interesting
wrinkle on that, but since there may be times when what you want
most instantaneously is actually "B", it sort of makes sense for
that to be the most direct downward slap from where your hand sits
on the steering wheel. So in some weird place in the universe, the
shifter does make sense.
.
_H*

 

There are a few annoyances on this car but the one that bugs me the most is when you have a door ajar and get that nasty message on the MFD. The message is something about the car must be put in park, something is wrong, etc...... I've had it happen twice and both times it made my heart sink until I figured out it was just a door. IMO it would be much more user friendly if the MFD simply said "Your door is ajar", but maybe that's just me.

 

Proco,

Push and hold the arrow key on the steering wheel for about 3 seconds. It will advance to the next CD. Lift finger and try again to go to the next, etc.

Chris

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narf @ Jul 10 2006, 10:18 AM) [snapback]283827[/snapback]</div>

This is true. When I moved to Virginia, I had to bring in my car for inspection, and one of the things they checked was that the fog lights turned off when I turned off the headlights. Turning off the A/C (set it to not auto, make sure it's greyed out over the A/C button) allows you to adjust the fan speed manually.

As for tall people, I'm almost 5'11", which isn't particularly tall, but turning the inside rear-view mirror upside-down was the single best hint I got from Priuschat. It took me awhile to get used to the reach to the steering wheel, if the seat is adjusted for comfortable leg length. A telescoping steering wheel would really REALLY be nice!

That's a good hint about adjusting the side mirrors so you don't normally see the side of the car. I've been following that for years, makes sense to reduce your blind spots. The front side pillars do annoy me, particularly on angled intersections, they can block a surprising amount of space.

But I have no complaints about the seats. I took a 6-hour drive recently and didn't even think about the seats. I like the space in the back, it was more than I was expecting from a hybrid. I like the headlights too, one issue with my old Subaru was rather dim headlights, no problem now! (Although I'm a little worried about oncoming drivers).

Also the shifter is correct. Manual transmission (at least four-on-the-floor and five-speed cars, can't remember 3-on-the-tree) has reverse to the left and up. Reverse is above the forward gears on auto trannys. The layout is definitely a bit different though, with B straight down and park on a separate button.

 

Some of the interior plastic surfaces are too soft (on 2006). It is very easy to scratch the surface. An example would be the grey plastic on the doors near the handles. Or the lower surfaces of the doors.

 

I don't like the look of the little wheels. Makes the whole car look like a roller skate !!!!
But don't want to lose the high MPG by changing to 16' or 17's...........Such a problem !!!!!

 

I can not believe someone didn't mention this.
My BIGGEST complaint is the damn gas tank. I HATE getting gas. Not only having to pay the high prices, but the stupid thing shuts off the gas pump all the time. You gotta do the dance. Pull it out, put it back in, tilt it to the side, talk nice to it, AGH!!!!!