What you don't like about your Prius?

I don't like the ICE turn on Algorithm. I can have the engine up to temp., the climate control system off , the battery fully charged and be dong a nice long slow 30 mph coast in neutral for miles , and then have then engine kick on for no good reason and start putting out 4 hp and its going nowhere??? Why ? The car is in neutral, no power being used, battery is not getting charged . Also had this happen when drawing power slightly , very low down on the HSI electric range as well. Seem to be no good reason to waste gas that provides nothing to the car.

 

It would be nice if the mirror adjustment switch was illuminated at night.

 

Ditto for gauges' brightness dial.

 

Everytime I'm digging around to tilt the mirror becausee some a$$ is behind me with his highbeams on, I keep hitting the dimmer.

 

Did you know that in some states it is illegal to coast a motor vehicle in "neutral"?

 

Theparking brake warning light should also be a bit more noticeable.

 

Supposedly, it's to heat up the catalyst to keep down emissions. I wonder if it has any relationship to the way a particular emission test is designed and needing to pass/do well on it. Agreed that it is annoying. In some (many?) cases, on my 2nd gen, at least the HV battery is being charged a bit during this useless run.

As a side note, it seems my mom's 07 NAH is less aggressive about firing up the ICE after power on. If the ICE on the NAH is pretty warm (I don't have exact numbers since she has no SG), it doesn't fire up after power on, unlike on my 2nd gen Prius where will it will if you power down for more than say 30 seconds. I don't if the 3rd gen's behavior is identical.

 

Checked it again on the way home and nothing in D nor R.

 

no chime. SO did it once. surprisingly, no permanent damage that we can ascertain. it was all in town driving. but have no idea how long it was on. guessing not too much as the tank mileage was normal or near enough to not warrant suspicion

 

In the USA, the word "brake" pops up, but no alarm.

 

And undetectable. I don't do it in the Prius because I don't see the point of doing it in a Prius.

It's also illegal for a driver to talk on a handheld cell in many states (including mine), but you'd never guess that from looking at the drivers of cars that go by. And doing many many other things is illegal but likewise not enforced.

 

ooh IC!! that is a "beep". u said "chime". i dont remember any mention of "beep"


but wondering if its like the seat belt warning where it shuts off after a while?

 

In the USA, PRND is the law.

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations:

Nor does the Prius in the USA, the law is that it must be in Park..

 

OK, then how does Toyota get around the rule about the location of the park position?


S3. Requirements.

S3.1 Automatic transmissions.

S3.1.1 Location of transmission shift positions on passenger cars. A neutral position shall be located between forward drive and reverse drive positions.

S3.1.1.1 Transmission shift levers. If a steering-column-mounted transmission shift lever is used, movement from neutral position to forward drive position shall be clockwise. If the transmission shift lever sequence includes a park position, it shall be located at the end, adjacent to the reverse drive position.