2010 Prius V...terrible ride.

[tomb]

Just got my 2010 and haven't noticed the problem. I didn't expect it to be as smooth as a bigger, heavier car but it's not awful.

17 in wheels run almost $3000 at the dealer. I couldn't bring myself to pay it. I found some third party wheels and tires at tirerack.com but I want to check with the dealer to make sure I don't void a warranty.

[tomb]

Just got my 2010 Prius IV and haven't noticed the problem. It's not as smooth as a heavier, bigger car but it's not awful.

Check out tirerack.com. They have less expensive options although I'm checking to make sure I don't void a warranty if I buy wheels and tires from someone else. Dealer wanted $3000 for the 17" wheels so I didn't do it.

[32kcolors]

Many would kill for the 17" wheels and you're in Orange County so I'm sure you can find many local Priuschatters who are willing to swap out their 15".

[a priori]

Originally Posted by endo

Friend of mine just picked up a 2010 Prius V after obsessing over the idea for several months. He'd only driven the lower end models with the 15" wheels, never the V with the 17" wheels and low profile tires. Both he and his wife felt the freeway ride home was unbearable, to the extent that they phoned the Toyota dealer and asked if there was some way to return the car afterward.

Has anyone else experienced a large difference in ride between the 17" wheel/tire package and the 15" setup?

What did you think of the ride? Have you been able to compare the Prius V with any other Prius model?

You assume not only that your friend really knows how to judge car rides (relative to the "average" person, let's say), but you have the ultimate faith in his opinion. While your feelings toward your friend's capabilities are your desire to help him understand and deal with this situation are admirable, the whole situation makes me a bit cautious about this tale.

I'm sorry to be so skeptical, but there have been plenty of one-time posters here who drop incendiaries on this group of Prius fans just to see how we respond. The fact is, I'd have a very different initial response and reaction if your thread title read: "2010 Prius V . . . my friends says it is a terrible ride."

[dc202]

The solution to the original posting is so simple, as has been pointed out. First, check the tire pressure and reduce it if above recommended levels. If that does not satisfy, then swap out the tires and wheels. There is NO difference, as one other poster said, in the suspension, only the steering ratio, between the V and the rest of them. Repeat, no difference. There would be no reason to exchange the car for another.

I continue to hope that the myth that the V has a different suspension would die a quiet death, but apparently it is not to be.

[madoue]

Originally Posted by endo

Friend of mine just picked up a 2010 Prius V after obsessing over the idea for several months. He'd only driven the lower end models with the 15" wheels, never the V with the 17" wheels and low profile tires. Both he and his wife felt the freeway ride home was unbearable, to the extent that they phoned the Toyota dealer and asked if there was some way to return the car afterward.

Has anyone else experienced a large difference in ride between the 17" wheel/tire package and the 15" setup?

Is there any difference in suspension, i.e., spring rate/damping, between the V with 17" wheels and the 15" wheeled cars?

And additionally, would anyone know what the easiest way to go about swapping would be? Assume dealers would want an arm+leg, and they likely won't be available on Craigslist just yet.

I will be getting a new Prius with 15" rims this Sept and will gladly swap out rims and tires with you. I live in San Diego and can even pay you some for the swap.

[endo]

Originally Posted by a priori

What did you think of the ride? Have you been able to compare the Prius V with any other Prius model?

You assume not only that your friend really knows how to judge car rides (relative to the "average" person, let's say), but you have the ultimate faith in his opinion. While your feelings toward your friend's capabilities are your desire to help him understand and deal with this situation are admirable, the whole situation makes me a bit cautious about this tale.

I'm sorry to be so skeptical, but there have been plenty of one-time posters here who drop incendiaries on this group of Prius fans just to see how we respond. The fact is, I'd have a very different initial response and reaction if your thread title read: "2010 Prius V . . . my friends says it is a terrible ride."

I don't really have "feelings toward my friend's capabilities" with deducing ride quality of vehicles. He says it's awful, so I posted the same.

For the sake of simplicity, perhaps I should have simply posted that the Prius was mine. But it isn't, so I didn't. My opinion on the whole matter is entirely irrelevant (and I haven't ridden in it, so I don't have one). I'm only here to inquire if other people have the same opinion, and/or if so if they've found a means to cure it. I'd rather not see my friend take an 8k bath trading in a new car that he might have otherwise loved but for a set of shocks or different tires.

[cycledrum]

I'll bet if Toyota offered a good looking 16" alloy with 55 series tires on the Gen3, customers would be jumping all over that.

[renpriv]

I had my test drive in a T Spirit at the weekend and the ride on the 17's on UK roads was very stiff, much stiffer than my A3 on 17's. It is because of the ride and the numerous rattles the car had that I am now unfortuantly not going to purchase the Prius

[a priori]

Originally Posted by endo

I'm only here to inquire if other people have the same opinion, and/or if so if they've found a means to cure it. I'd rather not see my friend take an 8k bath trading in a new car that he might have otherwise loved but for a set of shocks or different tires.

I'm hoping your friend will be able to find a way to deal with his discomfort in the ride. I don't share his opinion of the Prius V, but the only way I can see to soften things would be to change out the wheels and tires. The first thing, of course, is to check the pressure on the tires and lower it, if necessary, to the numbers suggested by Toyota. (I don't see how there would be any benefit in going lower than those pressures.)

The next option is to do as many others have suggested, and that is to swap out the 17" wheels for someone else's 15" wheels. The 17s will bring top dollar, so the "swap" should also result in cash going back to your friend. It also will result in a drop in the trade-in value of the car, because a significant part of a Prius V is the 17" wheel.

I have no idea what difference a set of shocks would have. Perhaps there are others here who could make an educated guess. One problem is that the Prius V was first available in late May, and it is the lowest-run of the Prius models (in terms of production numbers).

Also, at this point a trade-in with the dealer is going to cause a very large financial loss. I'd suggest placing an ad here on PriusChat as well as attempting a sale on Craigslist.

Let us know if there is any positive resolution for your friend.