What I hate about my Prius

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bruceha_2000 @ Aug 28 2006, 05:21 AM) [snapback]310477[/snapback]</div>

The only way I have accidentally changed "gears" was with a coiled accessory cord from the front powerpoint across the dash (for a GPS, which I have now changed to one I can mount in a better place). I learned REAL quick not to route the cord that way.

I DO use the PARK button and the parking brake in all of these types of situations...as a training exercise...so I DO NOT forget to hit 'em for longer "stands."

 

Also to everybody:

You should be using your parking brake EVERY time you park. The parking prawl is not designed nor is it strong enough to hold the car in a stationary position, and once it gets knocked out, the car is free to roll. I've seen several cars in park roll down hills and after being hit when parked because the brakes were not set. In fact a member on the Lexus Owners Club forums just had his brand new Lexus ES350 hit when parked with enough force to push it past the prawl and backwards into traffic. Think about the potential for further damage and danger to bystanders we're talking about here.

Plus, if you don't regularly use it it may seize up when you finally DO.

If you park the car, always always use the praking brake.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Aug 28 2006, 07:30 PM) [snapback]310799[/snapback]</div>

I second that; the parking brake should always be used. The few times I have just used the Park button without brake, even on the slightest incline, the car "rocks" into place when the brakes are released. Of course, next time you shift into drive, there is a bit of a 'nudge' (since there was pressure on the pawl?), and I can't imagine this doing anything good for the "transmission".... Using the parking brake should be second nature anyway for anyone who has ever driven a manual transmission, where it is mandatory unless you like your car rolling away.

On a different note, one other 'peeve' I have about the Prius (that I do not believe anyone has mentioned here, though the thread is getting pretty long) is how the clearance for opening the "fake floor" in the hatch is a bit tight to get past the tie down loops at the back, at least in my '06, don't know about 04/05. Whenever I want to open the cover, I need to fold the tie down loops up flush and make sure they are "just so" so the cover will open, generally with a bit of wiggling. Of course, if you are using the OEM cargo net, it becomes even more difficult since they have relatively fat clips on them that also need to be moved just right. Couldn't Toyota have just made the cover about 1/2" shorter in length to make this feat a bit easier? Or am I missing something? :huh:

Kevin

 

Well folks, I've had my car for 8 weeks now and I honestly do not have anything that I hate about the car. The better I get to know it, the more I like it. I kept waiting for that one thing to pop up when I saw this thread. So far , so good. Still love the car.

 

You know what I hate most about the Prius? I hate how my parents, my siblings, my girlfriend, and my friends all get between 10 and 30 mpg and here I am driving around and getting 46-47 mpg without really trying all that hard... I feel so left out =(...

I also hate how I spend less than $30 per tank to fill up and drive for two weeks while they fill up once a week and spend upwards to $75 per tank.

jk... I love my car and cannot see myself driving anything else...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(archermoo @ Aug 28 2006, 01:17 PM) [snapback]310631[/snapback]</div>

Going from "B" back to "D." Moved the lever up by accident.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(markymags @ Aug 29 2006, 11:52 AM) [snapback]311225[/snapback]</div>

[smug]
If you were driving an EV, those same miles you get out of your $30 tank would cost you less than $10.

Sorry... can't help myself.

[/smug]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Aug 30 2006, 08:50 PM) [snapback]311885[/snapback]</div>

Depends on your electric rates - we pay about $.013/KWH. NOW how much will EV cost me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(livelychick @ Jul 11 2006, 06:32 PM) [snapback]284677[/snapback]</div>

I agree with this - I have the tan interior also and it is the one thing I really dislike about the car - and leather wasn't an option in the 2004. I also miss my heated seats - our other car is Subaru Outback and it has heated seats. Comes in handy on those cold winter days when you have left the car in the packing lot all day at work. Maybe on my next Prius

 

OK. I don't hate this about my Prius. Now that I have realized it, I am trying to change my habits.


I leave the MFD on consumption instead of energcy monitor most of the time so this didn't become apparent to me until recently... I am a "light footed braker" - I tend to take my foot of the gas early approaching stop lights and when stopped, I only hold enough pressure on the brake pedal to keep the car from moving. That appears to a be problem.


Though the car not be moving at all, I have found that if my foot is not firmly on the brake, the energy monitor shows the electric motor sending power to the wheels. When I press a bit more firmly, the indciation goes away and I feel the drive line disenage (for lack of a better way to describe it).

Just found it a bit annoying that the hybrid system is still trying to move the car just because my foot is pressing the pedal hard enough.

I think I can understand why it does this. If your foot had to be all the way off the brake for power to go to the drive line, there might be some hesitation when it's time to move. And, there are certainly low speed driving conditions everyday where you need to control your speed with light brake pressure but still need propulsion. Like I said, I just need to retrain myself to push on the brake pedal a little harder when stopped at a light.

 

Very interesting dialogue. My pet peeves are very few. All the good (many unexpected) outweigh these, BUT:
5'8" and the Prius driver's seat does not seem as good for my back as my 01 Sienna... I prefer to sit up straight - not lounging back and then having to crank my neck forward!! part of this is the headrest - if you look at the position of the headrest compared to the seat back there's a curve there that just does NOT match my back & neck!! I'm thinking of adding a back pad of some kind to fill in that gap. Wish I could tilt the headrest back without defeating its purpose.
Second item relates to needed driver leg room compared with arm length. I have long legs and short arms - not a good combo with the Prius driver's seat.
Power seats would make it safer to adjust this during long trips, but would add $500-600 to the sticker, based on experience with Sienna...
I have the light tan upholstery and find the car heats up when parked in the sun more than the Sienna - which has rear tinted windows, a dark ext color, and bigger compartment.
Only other thing I find repeatedly annoying is the reverse warning sound! Yet - it's a badge of honor! When creeping, in stealth mode, out of parking places the LOUD beep gives need warning that I'm moving!

 

This thread has been very enjoyable to read...

I like the fact that the car tends to go forward in drive when I take my foot off the brake...I often let passengers off at the foot of my driveway, since there are bushes on the right where I park. They usually walk around the back of my car, and I will sit there with my foot on the brake while they go around the back of my car. This is a habit from many many years of driving manual transmission cars, which do roll backwards when you take your foot off the brake until you get the gears engaged. I always feel better when the car starts going forward without any hint of wanting to roll backwards when I take my foot off the brake in these circumstances, thinking about the time when there might be a reason that I can't or just forget to wait long enough for my passengers to clear the back of the car.

Also, I don't have any problems with the climate control, I really like it. In my area, usually all I want is some outside air being blown at me by the fan. So the air conditioning is almost always off (had it on a couple of times for the first time this summer, when the temperature was over 90 degrees outside), and I've never had an instance of the climate control varying the fan speed from my setting. I can easily regulate it on the heating side with the temperature buttons. So I find the car less work to be comfortable in than most cars I've had.

And if your groceries on the passenger seat causes the binger to bing, just seatbelt 'em in.

On the whole, I'm very happy with my Prius. It's the first commute car I've had that I can get 55mpg in (consistantly) with relatively little pollution, which gives me a big surplus of good feelings about this car. The problem with electric cars (just batteries and an electric motor), or plug-in hybrids is that primarily natural gas or coal is burned to make electricity around here. There's some hydro, some wind, some solar, but primarily burning fossil fuels is the electric power source here. Aside from the pollution/CO2, electricity is expensive. If everyone were recharging their cars by plugging them in, it would be much more expensive due to demand. Once we get enough nuclear power plants online, this may change, but we're talking at least several years and getting around government roadblocks for that.

-Roger

 

I absolutely love my Prius, but a few things seem problematic.

I have a horrid time dealing with the blind spots. I can't seem to get rid of them, and when I try a quick turn of the head to verify that the way is clear, I can't seem to get a quick look like I'm used to getting in other cars. I never feel completely sure when I change lanes that there isn't something in the other lane that I've failed to perceive.

We drove in a crosswind the other day, and the Prius seemed to have a tendency to feel like a small car - it was buffeted about by the wind, seemed to develop a wander that required constant correction . . . and when the pavement was wet and the wind was blowing, felt quite insecure. I think better tires will help, and possibly the BT brace - and I know about the alignment problems some have had. The car seems perfectly aligned - but again, I question my perception about whether it really is. Not sure where to start resolving these problems, but I'm sure they are things that many here have dealt with.

I'm not about to stop loving my li'l red baby just because it isn't perfect! What baby is?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Claudia @ Sep 4 2006, 02:16 AM) [snapback]313853[/snapback]</div>

Hi Claudia,

How long have you had your Prius? It is a bit different from other other cars, but something you should get used to after a short time. On the subject of mirrors, most people do not adjust their side mirrors correctly - you should NOT be able to see the side of your car in the mirror unless you lean that way a little. If your mirrors are adjusted this way, this goes a great way toward minimizing blind spots.

Indeed, the car is a little prone to strong crosswinds, I have noticed the same on occasion. I believe upgrading the tires will minimize this effect, not sure about the brace. I plan to put better tires on my Prius when the Integrities are worn out.

Indeed, though the Prius is a pretty darn spectacular car. B)

Kevin

 

Do US cars come configured with softer springs than their European alternatives? I'm wondering, because I've never had a problem with driving in crosswinds.. and other people don't seem to have a problem with the car skipping with tyres at 42/40 psi like I did.

I suspect the same cars do come configured differently in the states, and I know you guys have a thing for really soft suspension - soft enough to probably make your passengers puke on our windy roads...

 

Just had the first chance to crive the Prius in bad crosswinds (the remains of tropical storm Ernesto hit LI over the past few days).

No problems. Definitely no worse than any other car I've had.

 

Dear "I hate this, that & the other on my Prius"

Put it up for sale - you will sell it fast and will get for ever out of your complaining life.

 

Only thing I dislike about mine is the rear window: almost no visability.

It took me a few days to get used to the R-N-D setup (being of the videogame generation, and this being my first automatic transmission car, I thought it counter-intuitive), but I'm used to it now.

 

For nicos,

first paragraph of first post:

Ask any hot model out there what they hate about themselves, and they will give you not one, but a list. If you bought the latest and greatest TV out there, you will still find faults. That's what the thread is for.