2010 vs 2009 early comparisons

[a priori]

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

. . .we NO LONGER have to turn the car on just to see what time it is!! failure to have addressed this issue would most definitely, unquestionably been deal breaker for me

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

wow you like that?? i hate it!!!

on the SPM first thing in the morning with the 5 min bars, you get one bad segment, a medium segment then the good ones right??

with the one minute segments, now i get THREE bad segments, an ok one, then finally the good ones!!

You really are a pain to please, aren't you.

I don't know why you had bad, medium and good -- I just had bad to good. Well, except for winter when it was bad, bad, still bad and "wow! is 45 MPG "Good" for winter?"

Originally Posted by ddepasse

what are the possible ways to open(unlock) the hatch on 2010 prius 2?

Without SKS, press the key fob twice, I believe, to unlock all doors.

With SKS, driver's door only, either open the driver's door and then press the "unlock" button on the inside driver's door, or program the SKS to unlock ALL doors as soon as you reach for the driver's side door handle.

With SKS, three doors, just go to the hatch, reach for the rubber-covered "latch" and press.

In any case, I believe you still can use the key fob, pressed twice in a row, to unlock all doors.

[HTMLSpinnr]

The SKS can be programmed to open all doors from the driver's side. See owner's manual.

[dakshah]

After the contacts sync are you able call them using voice? A friend of mine just got a Honda, and she could send her contacts to the onboard system, but needed to speak the contact name of anyone she wanted to have the system identify by voice.

Thanks for the brain dump!

Stephen

Originally Posted by a priori

Oh, almost forgot: When I sync'd my iPhone to the car yesterday, it asked if I wanted to sync the contacts. I hadn't been able to do this on my '07. It just gobbled up my contacts -- better than 1,000 of them!

[cantgoback]

Thanks everyone so much for your comments, especially a priori and DaveinOlyWA (btw nice pics) for the details, and 94Aspy for joining the chat. Short of a test drive, you've helped convince me that the 2010 is indeed a superior car in many ways. Here is a summary on 2010 advantages over 2009, based on your comments here (sorry if I left something out):
-> better handling, tighter turns
-> better ride
-> less road noise
-> increased stability
-> more control (driving modes)
-> improved comfort (seat re-design and lumbar/height adjustments)
-> more horses --> increased acceleration
-> no engine belts
-> better MPG
-> better safety standards
-> cool toys only available on 2010 - like solar roof
-> probably lots of other things I can't begin to understand

Despite being the clear winner (price aside), it sounds like there are also a couple of nuances with the 2010, along with a few things that require some effort to learn or get used to:
-> awkward cupholders both front and rear
-> maybe too many controls, and not the friendliest placement of some
-> expensive package needed for console+backup cam
-> new touch-tracer senser (unchartered territory)
-> 1st release prone to bugs
-> other?

The other factor to consider mentioned above in passing is price. Given the demand for the new 2010, it sounds like most of us will be paying or have paid MSRP or close to. The dealers will likely profit $2-4k per vehicle they sell, depending on which pkg + options, according to Edmunds and Consumer Reports pricing reports. Whereas the 2009 are going for $k's less than MSRP and in some cases below invoice. It's a tough decision.

I test drove a 2009 pkg5 today, and was not impressed with its handling at all (I plan on test driving pkg6 later this week). The seats were comfortable enough for me, since I'm only 5'10" and actually prefer the higher seats. I was not pleased with the road/wind/engine noise, although it was better than the new Honda Insight gen 2. I like the general feel of the controls and console display. Overall, I definitely understand why people love their Prius's (or Prii?).

Anyways, thanks again for all your inputs. I'll let you know my decision in the coming days/weeks/months.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by cantgoback

Here is a summary on 2010 advantages over 2009, based on your comments here (sorry if I left something out) . . .

Overall, that's a pretty fair summary of what I've read posted here. Still, I'd like to make a couple of comments.

Please remember that among the real reviews you are getting there are from two of us with the Prius V. That car will be quite different in its handling characteristics, because it has 17" wheels and wider, low profile tires.

Also, I don't know what you mean by adding "better safety standards" to the list of 2010 pros. I don't know that the 2010 "scores" better in safety (some test results have not yet been announced).

Originally Posted by cantgoback

Despite being the clear winner (price aside), it sounds like there are also a couple of nuances with the 2010, along with a few things that require some effort to learn or get used to:
-> awkward cupholders both front and rear
-> maybe too many controls, and not the friendliest placement of some
-> expensive package needed for console+backup cam
-> new touch-tracer senser (unchartered territory)
-> 1st release prone to bugs
-> other?

I don't know that people have complained about the "awkward"-ness of the cupholders. My complaint is that I'd rather have a cupholder in the console as opposed to the gear knob.

Also, I don't know if there are too many controls, though there are enough buttons to make you wonder how to approach the thing! The placement issue really has to do with the heated seats button, and that only comes in to play with certain configurations having leather seats.

Overall, you are doing a commendable work thinking through the differences and seeking input on the value of the differences as you try to choose between the '09 and the 2010. Please keep up posted on your progress.

Originally Posted by cantgoback

I test drove a 2009 pkg5 today, and was not impressed with its handling at all (I plan on test driving pkg6 later this week). The seats were comfortable enough for me, since I'm only 5'10" and actually prefer the higher seats. I was not pleased with the road/wind/engine noise, although it was better than the new Honda Insight gen 2. I like the general feel of the controls and console display. Overall, I definitely understand why people love their Prius's (or Prii?).

Very glad to hear you are test driving before buying!! See if you can test drive the touring models of the '09s. There is no such distinction in the 2010, but the earlier models, regardless of package number, came in regular and touring.

[usbseawolf2000]

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

with the one minute segments, now i get THREE bad segments, an ok one, then finally the good ones!!

Do you notice the faster warm up cycle (due to exhaust heat recovery) or is it about the same since it is summer?

[a priori]

Originally Posted by usbseawolf2000

Do you notice the faster warm up cycle (due to exhaust heat recovery) or is it about the same since it is summer?

It may be too early to tell, but I was just thinking about it this morning as I was driving to my office. It seemed to me that I was getting a faster warm-up. I got a 99.9+ on minute 3!

[usbseawolf2000]

Originally Posted by a priori

It may be too early to tell, but I was just thinking about it this morning as I was driving to my office. It seemed to me that I was getting a faster warm-up. I got a 99.9+ on minute 3!

Is the requirement to reach S4 still the same? Coolant Temp at 158 deg F and a complete stop (or < 7MPH without foot off the accelerator).

It seems that "bug" is gone. 99.9+ MPG on 3rd minute seems to indicate it.

[cantgoback]

Originally Posted by a priori

Overall, that's a pretty fair summary of what I've read posted here. Still, I'd like to make a couple of comments.

Please remember that among the real reviews you are getting there are from two of us with the Prius V. That car will be quite different in its handling characteristics, because it has 17" wheels and wider, low profile tires.

Here's a dumb question -- what is the difference between having 15" vs 17" wheels? Does one handle better, feel more comfortable? Or is it mainly aesthetics? Could a non-V pkg have 16 or 17" mounted after market?

Originally Posted by a priori

Also, I don't know what you mean by adding "better safety standards" to the list of 2010 pros. I don't know that the 2010 "scores" better in safety (some test results have not yet been announced).


I don't know that people have complained about the "awkward"-ness of the cupholders. My complaint is that I'd rather have a cupholder in the console as opposed to the gear knob.

Also, I don't know if there are too many controls, though there are enough buttons to make you wonder how to approach the thing! The placement issue really has to do with the heated seats button, and that only comes in to play with certain configurations having leather seats.

Overall, you are doing a commendable work thinking through the differences and seeking input on the value of the differences as you try to choose between the '09 and the 2010. Please keep up posted on your progress.


Very glad to hear you are test driving before buying!! See if you can test drive the touring models of the '09s. There is no such distinction in the 2010, but the earlier models, regardless of package number, came in regular and touring.

I will try to test drive a touring model. I'm also scheduled to test drive a 2010 this Saturday. $20k is not easily gotten, especially in down times like now, so I'm carefully considering my options.

In the mean time, I came up with a list comparing 2009 pkg5 vs 2010 pkg3, since those are what I'm considering at the moment. The notable differences (in my opinion) are:
-> base price: $23k(+750?) for 2010p3 vs. $22.5k for 2009p5
-> 2010 slightly better MPG, more horse-power, reportedly better handling and less noise, more cargo room (21 vs 14 ft^3)
-> 2010 has touch-tracer, knee air-bags, seat height adjust, telescopic steering wheel, 4-disc brakes (as opposed to 2), 3-mode driving
-> 2009p5 has Nav, backup camera, homelink, fog lights, parking sensor, and slightly more interior volume (96.2 vs 93.7 ft^3)

(There are obviously some things that I can't comment on yet, but did I miss anything?)

After the comparison, the mark-down price of the 2009p5 just doesn't seem like a worthwhile deal compared to the 2010p3, since I don't need Nav, backup camera, etc. I'm beginning to realize that the benefits of the 2010 and slight cost difference are worth waiting for. I'm looking forward to test drive on Saturday.

[DeadPhish]

Great comments by all and thanks for the initial impressions.

Originally Posted by cycledrum

Although many love their 2009, it is well known to have compromises in seating, chassis stiffness (non-touring model), bladder in fuel tank, pushed around in side winds,

2010 said to have much better front seats, legroom, stiffer chassis, no bladder in fuel tank, holds up to crosswinds better.

I say that's a pretty big increment in improvement. Not to mention updated, bolder styling on the new one.

2 dealers in SF Bay Area said 2010 won't be in 'til end of May. I'm just looking. Word is can't tow with 2010 Prius either, so wouldn't buy one.

Yes this may be one of the biggest ( yuck ) improvements for the generally larger American public.

The iconic Prius was designed at the end of the century and early days of this decade, in Japan, with the expectation that most of the buyers would be in the JDM. As a result the vehicle was built to JDM driving expectations in both seat size and also in engine size/performance. the 1.5L engine in the Gen2 is very capable in congested city driving and moderate-speed highway driving over relatively short distances ( JDM ).

The immediate acceptance of the iconic Prius in NA and the overwhelming demand by Americans shocked everybody including the Toyota business planners and designers. However the iconic Gen2 doesn't fit us or our driving patterns as well as it fits the JDM market. Thus the new Gen 3 is designed for its largest market...North America.

The seating and steering wheel were immediate needs to be addressed for the generally larger Americans driving it. In addition since our highway driving is generally over longer distances and at higher sustained speeds the 1.5L engine in the Gen 2 is strained to its limit. The new 1.8L engine was added to match up better with the NA highway driving characteristics. Very smart engineering and marketing on both scores IMO.