Low Clearance Issues?

[beavertonprius]

We have not purchased yet, but are hoping to put our order in any day now.

I'm curious if anyone has had issues with the low clearance on the Prius? Obviously, you need to keep it on paved roads, but are there any issues going over speed bumps, etc. or anything else related to this?

All our previous vehicles have been higher off the ground so it makes a bit nervous. Appreciate any feedback and thanks in advance.

[jburns]

Originally Posted by beavertonprius

We have not purchased yet, but are hoping to put our order in any day now.

I'm curious if anyone has had issues with the low clearance on the Prius? Obviously, you need to keep it on paved roads, but are there any issues going over speed bumps, etc. or anything else related to this?

All our previous vehicles have been higher off the ground so it makes a bit nervous. Appreciate any feedback and thanks in advance.

No speed bump issues but you have to be aware of curb height when parking nose in. It is best to get in the habit of always stopping before the nose goes over even the lower curbs so that a high one won't catch you by surprise.

[creativeguy]

Does anyone know of a clear adhesive protector that can be self-installed on the lower spoiler to protect it from curb bumps? My mom has an S2000 and the front lip is all scratched up from hitting curbs and parking space concrete blocks. If I get a Prius, it would be nice to find something inexpensive that won't damage the paint when I remove it.

[Bobsprius]

Originally Posted by creativeguy

Does anyone know of a clear adhesive protector that can be self-installed on the lower spoiler to protect it from curb bumps? My mom has an S2000 and the front lip is all scratched up from hitting curbs and parking space concrete blocks. If I get a Prius, it would be nice to find something inexpensive that won't damage the paint when I remove it.

You can apply the clear Bra I think your referring to. I don't know if you hit it hard though, that it will protect the bumper fascia completely. It will help but I don't believe it will eliminate marks if you hit something hard. I would check with a dealer that installs the product. You can apply them yourself, they are tricky somewhat depending on curves and shapes...but it can be done.

[tumbleweed]

Originally Posted by beavertonprius

We have not purchased yet, but are hoping to put our order in any day now.

I'm curious if anyone has had issues with the low clearance on the Prius? Obviously, you need to keep it on paved roads, but are there any issues going over speed bumps, etc. or anything else related to this?

All our previous vehicles have been higher off the ground so it makes a bit nervous. Appreciate any feedback and thanks in advance.

I have found that curbs in head on parking places can cause problems, but that's true in most newer cars. The Prius has more ground clearance than my BMW did and I am grateful for that.

Unpaved roads are not really a problem as long as you don't go to fast and avoid boulders, ground clearance is listed in the specifications at 5.5 inches. I avoid unpaved roads when I can but sometimes I need to use them and it causes no problems, the biggest danger is rocks thrown up by other cars and trucks going to fast. I have actually pulled over to the side to let some of them by.

Check this out: http://www.meetup.com/PortlandHSD/
We meet once a month usually around the middle of the month on a Saturday. We have lunch and talk about our cars. In the summer we take trips. Bill Merchant, a member of this site is our organizer.

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by jburns

No speed bump issues but you have to be aware of curb height when parking nose in. It is best to get in the habit of always stopping before the nose goes over even the lower curbs so that a high one won't catch you by surprise.

Ditto!..

Don't play the game of easing forward until you "feel" something.

Just stop short and call it good.
When you get out, take a quick look and in time you'll learn how close to get.... always keep a buffer and don't try to get as close as you possibly can. The prius is short enough, there should be no reason you need to park the absolute closest to the curb in front of you.

It only takes one miscalculation to crackup the front.. I don't see the point of chancing it time after time.

[bps]

Protective film on the underside of the bumper won't really help due to the forces involved when you do scrape something. There's a lot of grinding that takes place...

Just stop short when parking. You'll soon get the feel.

And the Prius does just fine on most dirt roads that have been graded and are relatively flat. The ground clearance isn't that bad.

Bryan

[windstrings]

A few times I've had to go slow..at some crazy intersections. but if all else fails, hit the obstacle at an angle if you can.

I've never had a problem in the past 4 years of driving every day.

[IraS]

The clearance seems to be a little higher in the 2010 Prius compared to the 2004 Prius. There is a dip in one street near my house. In the 2004 Prius, the car bottomed out no matter how slowly I drove over the dip. In the 2010 Prius, it usually passes the dip with no problem.

I had a much worse problem with my previous car, a 1998 Eagle Talon. That car was so low that I kept damaging the front bumper every time I pulled into a parking space. It scraped on the curb or on the barrier at the front of the space. I haven't seen any damage like that on either Prius.

[beavertonprius]

My brother, who drives a Mini Cooper, brought up a good point to me tonight and that is my driveway, while flat, has a short, steep incline the first three feet or so. He can't drive the Mini onto the driveway without scraping. I may demo a Prius to my driveway to see if it is the same although I don't know that it would impact my buying decision.