Belly Scrapes

airportkid · 12-19-2005, 02:02 PM

Three months and 4000 miles into owning this fabulous car I did it again: scraped the belly on a the crown of a driveway that climbs up out of a parking lot and then drops abruptly down to meet the level road. I did it the first time about a month ago on another similar driveway. That first time I blamed the driveway: it did seem a bit steep. But having now had it happen twice in such a short time I have to wonder. In all the 400,000 miles I owned three Civics I never scraped the belly, nor in all the 140,000 miles I managed to get out of a low slung Saturn. But I've done it twice in 4000 miles and 3 months with the Prius.

Anyone else out there winced when pulling up over the crown of a steep driveway and scraped the belly? Is the 14 inch wheel with the stock Integrity actually too small by half an inch or so?

Mark Baird
Alameda CA

DocVijay · 12-19-2005, 02:22 PM

The Prius IS a very low car. Just one of the trade offs in the name of aerodynamics.

Spunky · 12-19-2005, 03:07 PM

Maybe this would make a good poll question.

Haven't had a problem with bottoming out. But I never speed in or out of parking lots, either.

galaxee · 12-19-2005, 03:35 PM

bottomed out twice in 8k miles. last week i hit a bad one and knocked the skid plates off. this car is very low, it has to be on your mind as you drive or you'll hit things..

**Tideland Prius** · 12-19-2005, 09:41 PM

Yup..

bottomed out over humps with a full load of people in the back.

DocVijay · 12-19-2005, 10:22 PM

This is why I'm wary of getting the TRD coilovers. I don't want to lower this low car any more. I do drive over some speedbumps daily, and don't want to get stuck.

Salsawonder · 12-19-2005, 10:29 PM

Surprised the heck out of me the first time it happened. I was turning around in this driveway and the belly just dragged across the surface. I have been driving a truck for so many years and the Prius seats are higher then some cars but the car itself definitely sits lower than you think. I also drag that front bib sometimes coming out of driveways or up some of our steeper streets here.

windstrings · 12-19-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by airportkid@Dec 19 2005, 12:02 PM
Three months and 4000 miles into owning this fabulous car I did it again: scraped the belly on a the crown of a driveway that climbs up out of a parking lot and then drops abruptly down to meet the level road. I did it the first time about a month ago on another similar driveway. That first time I blamed the driveway: it did seem a bit steep. But having now had it happen twice in such a short time I have to wonder. In all the 400,000 miles I owned three Civics I never scraped the belly, nor in all the 140,000 miles I managed to get out of a low slung Saturn. But I've done it twice in 4000 miles and 3 months with the Prius.

Anyone else out there winced when pulling up over the crown of a steep driveway and scraped the belly? Is the 14 inch wheel with the stock Integrity actually too small by half an inch or so?

Mark Baird
Alameda CA

[snapback]175712[/snapback]

tires are 185/65R15, 14 inch would be even lower.
Aerodynamics seem to always be best on cars that are really low... its a catch 22.

You could have a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Cabriolet and have even less clearance?
http://www.theautochannel.com/newcardb/ccc...ars&titleid=326

DocVijay · 12-20-2005, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by windstrings@Dec 19 2005, 11:22 PM
You could have a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Cabriolet and have even less clearance?
http://www.theautochannel.com/newcardb/ccc...ars&titleid=326

[snapback]175992[/snapback]

OK, sure, are you offering a trade?

windstrings · 12-20-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DocVijay@Dec 19 2005, 10:24 PM
OK, sure, are you offering a trade?

[snapback]176028[/snapback]

Ah..well let me think?..... humm... well if I could ah..... NO!

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12-19-2005, 02:02 PM	#1
airportkid Will Fly For Food Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area CA Posts: 1,307 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Three months and 4000 miles into owning this fabulous car I did it again: scraped the belly on a the crown of a driveway that climbs up out of a parking lot and then drops abruptly down to meet the level road. I did it the first time about a month ago on another similar driveway. That first time I blamed the driveway: it did seem a bit steep. But having now had it happen twice in such a short time I have to wonder. In all the 400,000 miles I owned three Civics I never scraped the belly, nor in all the 140,000 miles I managed to get out of a low slung Saturn. But I've done it twice in 4000 miles and 3 months with the Prius. Anyone else out there winced when pulling up over the crown of a steep driveway and scraped the belly? Is the 14 inch wheel with the stock Integrity actually too small by half an inch or so? Mark Baird Alameda CA

12-19-2005, 02:22 PM	#2
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	The Prius IS a very low car. Just one of the trade offs in the name of aerodynamics.

12-19-2005, 03:07 PM	#3
Spunky Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 469 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Maybe this would make a good poll question. Haven't had a problem with bottoming out. But I never speed in or out of parking lots, either.

12-19-2005, 03:35 PM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,033 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	bottomed out twice in 8k miles. last week i hit a bad one and knocked the skid plates off. this car is very low, it has to be on your mind as you drive or you'll hit things..

12-19-2005, 09:41 PM	#5
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,785 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Yup.. bottomed out over humps with a full load of people in the back.

12-19-2005, 10:22 PM	#6
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	This is why I'm wary of getting the TRD coilovers. I don't want to lower this low car any more. I do drive over some speedbumps daily, and don't want to get stuck.

12-19-2005, 10:29 PM	#7
Salsawonder Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Mesa California Posts: 1,296 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Surprised the heck out of me the first time it happened. I was turning around in this driveway and the belly just dragged across the surface. I have been driving a truck for so many years and the Prius seats are higher then some cars but the car itself definitely sits lower than you think. I also drag that front bib sometimes coming out of driveways or up some of our steeper streets here.