Non-Touring vs Touring - Mountain twisty road?

[Swanny]

Originally Posted by David Beale

Well Pearl is a standard model. I've flogged her over mountain roads with no problem...

David, we don't have a base & touring model here in Canada, they're all equivalent to touring. That's the case for 2008 and I'm pretty sure that was the case for 07 as well. Did you get your car in Canada or the US?

[rpiereck]

I just finished driving my first 100+ miles on my Touring and I can say, wow, there is a big difference between the Base and Touring models. On the highway the Base tends to feel floaty and vulnerable to cross winds, while the Touring feels more stable. I drove all theway up and down the mountain to Half Moon Bay and of the twisty part of the road the Touring exibited less body lean and it felt more connected to the road. I feel like the Base has very light spring rates and low dampening, which makes the car have that floaty feel to it. The thinner sway bar might be the culpit for the behavior under cross winds. So far I am loving my Touring model and it seems like it was worth every penny. Tomorrow I hope I get the chance to tackle CA route 130, which is a very twisty road that goes up to 4000-some feet. I drove a rental Base Prius on that road a week ago, now I'll get to take the Touring there. High hopes...

[animalcontrol]

What do you want out of your car?

Do you want that "floating" (mushy to me) feeling when you drive over bumps? To get that feeling (it is less harsh), get the base model.

Do you like to feel "connected" to the road? Do you want the car to respond in the turns? To get this connection, your ride will be stiffer (more harsh) over bumps on the road. This is the Touring model.

Cadillac or any touring car would be an example of "floating"
BMW, Audi, VW and Mercedes would be examples of "connected"

If you have expierence with any of the above type of cars, it would explain itself.

Personally, Touring all the way. My first test drive of the Touring showed me what I already knew...I didn't like the body roll and instability of the base model. It is a personal preference.

[richard schumacher]

I am seriously thinking about getting Touring edition.

(What is it with all the html? Simplify, simplify.) Test drive both of them if possible. Some people love the difference, other can hardly notice. I put 42 PSI in the tires on my standard and get most of the to-me-discernible benefit.

[David Beale]

Originally Posted by Swanny

David, we don't have a base & touring model here in Canada, they're all equivalent to touring. That's the case for 2008 and I'm pretty sure that was the case for 07 as well. Did you get your car in Canada or the US?

If you look at my post closely, you will see that Pearl is a 2007 package "B". In 2007 all Prius sold in Canada (from Toyota Canada) were the "standard model" with 15" wheels and "non-Touring" suspension. The 2008 is a different car in Canada, being more equivalent to the US "Touring" model.

So if I had waited one year I could have had the "Touring" package with the rear camera added to what I got and paid about $2000 -less-. Welcome to my world!
Oh, and could have still got the $2000 ecoAuto rebate.

At any rate, I have no problem with Pearl on twisty mountain roads. I have cornered hard enough to cause the tires to squeal. Then the Goodyear Integrities - now I have Nokian WRs on her, and she corners even better, harder than I'm willing to allow.

[mingoglia]

I think if you don't drive a Touring you'll be happy with the base. I've owned some pretty darn good handling cars (including a '03 911 Turbo) and the base prius has met my expectations. In the mountains up north in Arizona I have no problem holding 85-90mph around the turns. Yeah it leans a bit, but it's not white knuckle driving by any means. Yes it's affected a bit by crosswinds but anyone but a newly licensed teenager should be able to handle driving it in wind.

With all that being said there's no doubt that the touring will handle high speed better. I'm just saying don't get scared off by the base. From the sounds of a lot of threads here you'd get the impression you can't drive it over 50mph on the highway without signing your own death warrant.

[rpiereck]

Originally Posted by mingoglia

I think if you don't drive a Touring you'll be happy with the base. I've owned some pretty darn good handling cars (including a '03 911 Turbo) and the base prius has met my expectations. In the mountains up north in Arizona I have no problem holding 85-90mph around the turns. Yeah it leans a bit, but it's not white knuckle driving by any means. Yes it's affected a bit by crosswinds but anyone but a newly licensed teenager should be able to handle driving it in wind.

With all that being said there's no doubt that the touring will handle high speed better. I'm just saying don't get scared off by the base. From the sounds of a lot of threads here you'd get the impression you can't drive it over 50mph on the highway without signing your own death warrant.

You are absolutely right, the Base Prius is no white knuckle ride. Before buying my Touring I had rented three different Base Prius and I wouldn't have fallen in love with it if it had been such a scary ride. We drove the Base Prius from LA to San Francisco for two weeks and enjoyed the ride. I am just pointing out that the Touring does have a more solid, firm, and stable ride than the Base, and it feels like a better car. I believe all Prius should come with the Touring suspension.

[RichL]

Renato ... Did you have to order that Blue? One dealer told us that the touring only came in the Classic Silver, Grey or Black.

[rigormortis]

the touring edition comes with alloy rims and 16" tires, that alone is well worth the $895 difference

[ginadee]

I just read your input from April---so how did it ride in the mountains? How about mpg for mountain climbs and did the hills slow you down do to the small engine?