2010 Prius V...terrible ride.

endo · 08-09-2009, 07:57 PM

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.

LoraJ · 08-09-2009, 08:00 PM

Maybe the wheels need to be aligned?

jsharpe · 08-09-2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoraJ

Maybe the wheels need to be aligned?

Tire pressure is a possibility. A couple threads down an op reported a very harsh ride with just slightly elevated tire pressures. On the other hand we've bumped our V to 44/42 and it still rides comfortably with no noticeable degradation in ride quality.

endo · 08-09-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoraJ

Maybe the wheels need to be aligned?

Shouldn't affect the ride quality, only tire war, mileage, etc. He'd be aware of it too. An out of balance tire would do it, but again, he knows what that is...it's a general ride issue.

fuzzy1 · 08-09-2009, 08:20 PM

Have they checked tire pressure, to make sure it is not too high for their comfort? Many seem to arrive with 40 psi.

Many of us with 15" tires want the higher pressure for efficiency reasons, but there is a comfort tradeoff, and that will be more pronounced with the 17"s.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-09-2009, 10:33 PM

Odd. I never found the 17" ones too stiff.

32kcolors · 08-09-2009, 10:48 PM

On rough roads, the ride is harsh. On smooth roads, it rides like a Lexus.

eldiee · 08-09-2009, 10:50 PM

We Have owned our 2010 V for about 6 weeks and 2000+ miles and it came with 40psi from the dealer and we have not observed any ride problems. Some thing is strange with this situation.

jay_man2 · 08-09-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 32kcolors

On rough roads, the ride is harsh. On smooth roads, it rides like a Lexus.

Unless it's a GX470, which has a trucky, bouncy SUV ride even on smooth roads.

**Tideland Prius** · 08-09-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 32kcolors

On rough roads, the ride is harsh. On smooth roads, it rides like a Lexus.

Not to sound snarky or anything, but wouldn't most, if not all cars ride smooth like a Lexus on smooth roads?

08-09-2009, 07:57 PM	#1
endo Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: OC Posts: 4 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: N/A Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	2010 Prius V...terrible ride. 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.

08-09-2009, 08:00 PM	#2
LoraJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 470 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Navigation Thanks: 28 Thanked 54 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 3	Re: 2010 Prius V...terrible ride. Maybe the wheels need to be aligned?

08-09-2009, 08:20 PM	#5
fuzzy1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Western Washington Posts: 1,539 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 76 Thanked 169 Times in 139 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2010 Prius V...terrible ride. Have they checked tire pressure, to make sure it is not too high for their comfort? Many seem to arrive with 40 psi. Many of us with 15" tires want the higher pressure for efficiency reasons, but there is a comfort tradeoff, and that will be more pronounced with the 17"s.

08-09-2009, 10:33 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 21,190 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 369 Thanked 526 Times in 353 Posts Friends: 26	Re: 2010 Prius V...terrible ride. Odd. I never found the 17" ones too stiff.

08-09-2009, 10:48 PM	#7
32kcolors Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 1,218 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 51 Thanked 117 Times in 91 Posts Friends: 4	Re: 2010 Prius V...terrible ride. On rough roads, the ride is harsh. On smooth roads, it rides like a Lexus.

08-09-2009, 10:50 PM	#8
eldiee Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Iowa on Mississippi River Bluffs Posts: 76 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 69 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2010 Prius V...terrible ride. We Have owned our 2010 V for about 6 weeks and 2000+ miles and it came with 40psi from the dealer and we have not observed any ride problems. Some thing is strange with this situation.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/66889-2010-prius-v-terrible-ride.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Gen III 2010 Prius Main Forum - PriusChat Forums	This thread	Refback	08-12-2009 02:38 PM

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Terrible Experience with ENSIGN Toyota in Utah	hans_fh	Gen II Prius Main Forum	18	07-18-2009 04:05 PM
2010 PRIUS CONCEPT PHOTOSHOOT. Nice images of your ride!	priuslaw	Gen III 2010 Prius Main Forum	4	07-02-2009 02:11 AM
October 2008 US auto sales were again terrible	cwerdna	Other Cars	5	11-04-2008 10:06 PM
The Prius is TERRIBLE!	xxxlmpg	Gen II Prius Main Forum	21	05-08-2006 07:24 PM
I just feel terrible	RikRotorhead	Gen II Prius Fuel Economy	46	01-17-2006 07:28 PM