2009 Prius BIGGER and FASTER (Yeah better mileage too)

[thecoook]

I also feel the Bigger/Faster trap is the same one that our American Corporations have fallen into, and that Toyota should avoid. The people that find the Current Prius "slow and boring" are/were the same ones passing me on the highway today like I was standing still while I had the cruise set at 65, the posted limit. My other car is a V12 Jaguar, you can't get much more of a gas guzzler than that, not to mention that when you press the pedal to the metal, you're gonna get to meet anyone in front of you pretty quick. The Prius is not slow to accelerate, what is deceiving is the smoothness of the CV Transmission. Fortunately the big Kitty is only a hobby, and is driven mostly to events. What both my wife and I would like to see are improved front seats, and greater EV mode operation with a plug-in/larger battery pack, with the associated rise in fuel economy. OPEC will drive these things. Once again, to borrow from GM, "It's not just your car, it's your freedom".

[Spectra]

How about -- same Prius, same dimensions & power, but adding a 2-dr hatchback version.

That's what I'd have bought, if it was produced by Toyota.

[I want my PHEV]

I don't want a bigger car. I just want a plug-in. Fine if it gets better MPG on the gas trips, just let me run it as an electric for the short trips.

[Tideland Prius]

Honestly, 55mpg under the new rule s fantastic. You know why?

That means the rest of us can get 70mpg with P&G up from the 60mpg. I can't get the current 46mpg unless I ran up and down the mountain or purposely idle. I get between 50-55mpg in the summer on average depending on how lenient I want to be on the pedals. If it's 55mpg AVERAGE, then most of us here should see 60mpg plus on average.

[Tempus]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Honestly, 55mpg under the new rule s fantastic. You know why?

That means the rest of us can get 70mpg with P&G up from the 60mpg. I can't get the current 46mpg unless I ran up and down the mountain or purposely idle. I get between 50-55mpg in the summer on average depending on how lenient I want to be on the pedals. If it's 55mpg AVERAGE, then most of us here should see 60mpg plus on average.

And if it was the 70mpg AVERAGE I believe they could have achieved, then some of us would have a shot at 100.

As I said. 55mpg may be Good Enough to keep the Prius being the best available, but anyone with two brain cells to rub together will know that if it weren't for Bigger/Faster it would be more. They will know that though it may be the best available, it's not going to be the best possible.

I stand by my prediction that people will notice, will comment, will decide they wanted the mileage, and will judge Toyota's decision in that light.

I predict many more articles like the one I just quoted from the Truth About Cars, and I predict the majority of people will agree with them.

And, unless Toyota is very quick to the market with a more efficient version in the Prius Family, I predict the judgement of history will be thus:

01 Prius = No Guts No Glory

04 Prius = Genius

09 Prius = Sellout

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by Tempus

.

01 Prius = No Guts No Glory

04 Prius = Genius

09 Prius = Sellout

Nope, the GENIUS came first...



.

[burritos]

01 Prius = No Guts No Glory

Design was a bit lacking, but I'm sure the research to develop the engine and to actually put it into production was balls of steel.

04 Prius = Genius

Balls of steel and genius

09 Prius = Sellout

Yup.

20?? Prius PHEV = game changer.

[darelldd]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I really can't believe the complaints about visibility out of the Prius, people must have been driving all glass cars before or go karts.

Seriously? EVERY car I've ever owned before the Prius (and during!) has better visibility. Just hop into a Honda Civic or... well, thousands of other cars, and they'll be better. I'm sure there are worse... but the Prius is the worst in this regard that I've ever owned.

[gitong]

i'm a newbie, please steer me to the correct forum upgrade wheels. don't care loosing mpg lots to spare. pictures will be nice for upgraded prius wheels. 17" 0r maybe even 18". thanks.

[genalex]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I agree with the first part of your post but I can't believe this bit. While you're going around a corner you shouldn't be looking at the curb, you should be looking as far up the road as you can see to prepare for it, the line around the current corner should have been determined seconds earlier. If you are clipping curbs go wider. I could black out the small windows in front of the doors and never miss them.

I really can't believe the complaints about visibility out of the Prius, people must have been driving all glass cars before or go karts.

Maybe you have wider streets down under. Here in NJ, you don't turn wide in local neighborhoods unless you want to play fender tag with the guy coming the other way.

My last glass car was a '96 Camry, before that an all glass '86 Accord.