Introduction

m2dougherty · 03-06-2008, 11:22 AM

Hi,

We are currently working on finding our Prius. I have been reading some disturbing articles at consumeraffairs.com.

I was aware of the TRAC/tire problems and I read your suggestions on this list last night.

Today I read about unintended acceleration that Toyota blames on the carpeting and /or mats. I also read a bit about stalling problems.

I am a bit spooked now.

I'll research these other problem here later today.

Great to meet you all,

Michele

Jack66 · 03-06-2008, 11:39 AM

You will find good and bad on PC concerning the Prius -- that is a good thing. No one seems to hold back if they have likes, dislikes, or problems with their Prius.

The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires is an ongoing discussion and you will quickly note why particular regions or drivers have no problems with OEM tires or why they prefer to quickly change them out. Personally, I live in northern Viginia and have no problems with the OEM tires.

Your post will probably lead many curious and helpful PCers to the consumeraffairs.com website to see what it says about Prii if they aren't already familiar with it. I am not familiar with what it says and will go to the site to do my own research before giving you uninformed opinions. If PCers think the site has a bias then they will quickly point that out to you since a good many organizations seem to have an anti-Prius agendas that just confuse people that don't own one already.

I'm sure your concern will be clearer after visiting consumeraffairs.com, but could you be more specific with your unintended acceleration and stalling questions?

patrickindallas · 03-06-2008, 11:50 AM

Better tires are known to fix any traction problems.

I haven't heard anything about unintended acceleration or stalling.

I've had my Prius for 1 year and have not had ANY problems.

Get it. You won't regret it!

john1701a · 03-06-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2dougherty

I am a bit spooked now.

If it wasn't for comments like that, I'd probably forget some of those rare events dealt with long ago. Thanks?

Makes you wonder how long that info not relevant to new Prius will float around still.

.

Jack66 · 03-06-2008, 12:22 PM

Michele, you can easily search Priuschat by googling the topic with "priuschat.com" added afterwords so it specifically searches the PC website. Here is one thread on unintentional acceleration: Uncontrolled Acceleration

I am on my lunch break so I looked at the website you mentioned. Of particular interest was the first article that came up after just searching for "Prius." The first four concerns listed in the article are covered very well (and I might say debunked) in many threads to include one call "Prius Myths..." My personal opinion is that the author had an anti-prius bias or just didn't do their research. Some of the other articles seemed more objective. The toxic waste from batteries topic is interesting to me because many of the PC members are tree-huggers

(the nicest and most objective tree-huggers you could ever want to meet) and they would be denouncing the Prius if they found any truth to the toxic waste claim. I am not a tree-hugger (more like a bush or beer-hugger) and the research done by the PC members more than satisfied my curiousity.

This particular article mentioned insurance being more expensive for the Prius. My own experience would debunk that claim. When I first bought my Prius and traded in my older Ford Focus that was completely paid off I worried a little bit that my insurance would go up drastically. I needn't have worried. My insurance premiums remained about the same. I am insured through USAA and they liked the Prius. A side note, I didn't get the Lo-Jac theft-retrieval system from the dealer and drove away wondering if my new Prius would get stolen from the unattended commuter lot the next day. It was another unnecessary concern as I later found out. Look up the statistics for auto thefts or there is a thread or two on this site and you will see that the Prius has one of the lowest theft rates of any car in the country. The insurance companies seem to like that for some reason.

I'll tackle one more of the concerns mentioned in the article before my lunch nreak ends -- reliability of the two engines. I am an engineer/statistician and believe in the same law used in the article, "two engines means more things that can go wrong." While the article's author is correct that more components equals higher complexity, he/she doesn't take into account an important piece of reliability theory -- combined rates of failure for multiple components. Both components of toyota's HSD, the electric motor and the Atkinson-cycle internal combustion engine, are extremely reliable with lower-than-normal rates of failure. Other threads on PC go into the details so I won't go into them in this post. Feel free to look up the statistics on PC or other objective websites.

Jack66 · 03-06-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1701a

If it wasn't for comments like that, I'd probably forget some of those rare events dealt with long ago. Thanks?

Makes you wonder how long that info not relevant to new Prius will float around still.

.

The article Michele looked at referenced a first generation Prius. The article mentions a 2001 Prius owner from TX and her complaints were back in 2003.

Jack66 · 03-06-2008, 12:27 PM

Michele, my lunch break is over. Good luck with your research.

I consider myself to be an informed Prius buyer and I am stupendously happy with my Prius. If I had to buy another car it would be a Prius. I just wish Toyota or Honda would make a Prius minivan.

m2dougherty · 03-06-2008, 12:48 PM

Yes, I would love a hybrid minivan.

I did some research on this list about the problems I read on consumeraffairs. Someone mentioned the NHTSA as a more reliable source of vehicle problems.

My long suffering husband has been "encouraging" me to choice a new car as my Hond Accord is 16 years old now.

I've loved her but some of her parts are corroding away.

When I started to look around at vehicles I was surprised to see how little mileage has improved over the last 16 years.

I tried the Honda Fit but it is just a bit too "skateboard" for me.

I've always looked at the Prius and been curious. A neighbor has one and is very happy with it.

I'll check the NHTSA site just in case.

Thanks,

Michele

Rae Vynn · 03-06-2008, 12:51 PM

Consumer affairs is a web site that is sponsored (owned) by lawyers.
Consumer Reports has given the Prius excellent ratings.
Please, do poke about the sites more, and check out more sites.
Nothing really beats a test drive, though

NorCal Rusty · 03-06-2008, 02:58 PM

I don't know about sudden acceleration. My wife keeps saying "drive the speed limit"! Which I say, "I am a hypermiller now no time for speeding"!
Two weeks ago I was driving like all the others not driving a Prius, fast to stop signs,idle...idle, now fast to the next light...idle..idle....come on move I got places to go! I had to get to the gas pumps to fill up before the prices would go up cause I only got 18mpg! Now I cruise and enjoy the benefits of getting great gas mileage in a car that morphs from the outside to the inside! I love my Prius!

03-06-2008, 11:22 AM	#1
m2dougherty Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nahant,ma Posts: 6 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Introduction Hi, We are currently working on finding our Prius. I have been reading some disturbing articles at consumeraffairs.com. I was aware of the TRAC/tire problems and I read your suggestions on this list last night. Today I read about unintended acceleration that Toyota blames on the carpeting and /or mats. I also read a bit about stalling problems. I am a bit spooked now. I'll research these other problem here later today. Great to meet you all, Michele Last edited by m2dougherty; 03-06-2008 at 11:23 AM. Reason: misspelling

03-06-2008, 11:39 AM	#2
Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 761 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 6 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: Introduction You will find good and bad on PC concerning the Prius -- that is a good thing. No one seems to hold back if they have likes, dislikes, or problems with their Prius. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires is an ongoing discussion and you will quickly note why particular regions or drivers have no problems with OEM tires or why they prefer to quickly change them out. Personally, I live in northern Viginia and have no problems with the OEM tires. Your post will probably lead many curious and helpful PCers to the consumeraffairs.com website to see what it says about Prii if they aren't already familiar with it. I am not familiar with what it says and will go to the site to do my own research before giving you uninformed opinions. If PCers think the site has a bias then they will quickly point that out to you since a good many organizations seem to have an anti-Prius agendas that just confuse people that don't own one already. I'm sure your concern will be clearer after visiting consumeraffairs.com, but could you be more specific with your unintended acceleration and stalling questions?

03-06-2008, 11:50 AM	#3
patrickindallas Shire rat Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 662 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Re: Introduction Better tires are known to fix any traction problems. I haven't heard anything about unintended acceleration or stalling. I've had my Prius for 1 year and have not had ANY problems. Get it. You won't regret it!

03-06-2008, 12:22 PM	#5
Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 761 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 6 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: Introduction Michele, you can easily search Priuschat by googling the topic with "priuschat.com" added afterwords so it specifically searches the PC website. Here is one thread on unintentional acceleration: Uncontrolled Acceleration I am on my lunch break so I looked at the website you mentioned. Of particular interest was the first article that came up after just searching for "Prius." The first four concerns listed in the article are covered very well (and I might say debunked) in many threads to include one call "Prius Myths..." My personal opinion is that the author had an anti-prius bias or just didn't do their research. Some of the other articles seemed more objective. The toxic waste from batteries topic is interesting to me because many of the PC members are tree-huggers (the nicest and most objective tree-huggers you could ever want to meet) and they would be denouncing the Prius if they found any truth to the toxic waste claim. I am not a tree-hugger (more like a bush or beer-hugger) and the research done by the PC members more than satisfied my curiousity. This particular article mentioned insurance being more expensive for the Prius. My own experience would debunk that claim. When I first bought my Prius and traded in my older Ford Focus that was completely paid off I worried a little bit that my insurance would go up drastically. I needn't have worried. My insurance premiums remained about the same. I am insured through USAA and they liked the Prius. A side note, I didn't get the Lo-Jac theft-retrieval system from the dealer and drove away wondering if my new Prius would get stolen from the unattended commuter lot the next day. It was another unnecessary concern as I later found out. Look up the statistics for auto thefts or there is a thread or two on this site and you will see that the Prius has one of the lowest theft rates of any car in the country. The insurance companies seem to like that for some reason. I'll tackle one more of the concerns mentioned in the article before my lunch nreak ends -- reliability of the two engines. I am an engineer/statistician and believe in the same law used in the article, "two engines means more things that can go wrong." While the article's author is correct that more components equals higher complexity, he/she doesn't take into account an important piece of reliability theory -- combined rates of failure for multiple components. Both components of toyota's HSD, the electric motor and the Atkinson-cycle internal combustion engine, are extremely reliable with lower-than-normal rates of failure. Other threads on PC go into the details so I won't go into them in this post. Feel free to look up the statistics on PC or other objective websites.

03-06-2008, 12:27 PM	#7
Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Stafford, Virginia Posts: 761 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 6 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Re: Introduction Michele, my lunch break is over. Good luck with your research. I consider myself to be an informed Prius buyer and I am stupendously happy with my Prius. If I had to buy another car it would be a Prius. I just wish Toyota or Honda would make a Prius minivan.

03-06-2008, 12:48 PM	#8
m2dougherty Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nahant,ma Posts: 6 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Introduction Yes, I would love a hybrid minivan. I did some research on this list about the problems I read on consumeraffairs. Someone mentioned the NHTSA as a more reliable source of vehicle problems. My long suffering husband has been "encouraging" me to choice a new car as my Hond Accord is 16 years old now. I've loved her but some of her parts are corroding away. When I started to look around at vehicles I was surprised to see how little mileage has improved over the last 16 years. I tried the Honda Fit but it is just a bit too "skateboard" for me. I've always looked at the Prius and been curious. A neighbor has one and is very happy with it. I'll check the NHTSA site just in case. Thanks, Michele

03-06-2008, 12:51 PM	#9
Rae Vynn Resident Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 2,299 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 46	Re: Introduction Consumer affairs is a web site that is sponsored (owned) by lawyers. Consumer Reports has given the Prius excellent ratings. Please, do poke about the sites more, and check out more sites. Nothing really beats a test drive, though

03-06-2008, 02:58 PM	#10
NorCal Rusty RatherBWakeboarding Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Napa Posts: 173 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Re: Introduction I don't know about sudden acceleration. My wife keeps saying "drive the speed limit"! Which I say, "I am a hypermiller now no time for speeding"! Two weeks ago I was driving like all the others not driving a Prius, fast to stop signs,idle...idle, now fast to the next light...idle..idle....come on move I got places to go! I had to get to the gas pumps to fill up before the prices would go up cause I only got 18mpg! Now I cruise and enjoy the benefits of getting great gas mileage in a car that morphs from the outside to the inside! I love my Prius!