My Test Drive Today

usbseawolf2000 · 05-21-2006, 01:00 AM

Most of them covered my impression of 06 as well. I test drove 04 and 05 but when tax credit of $3,150 and HOV access open up, I went in for 06. The interior quality change really pushed me over the edge to get it.

What I did not pick up from the test drive was the power response and control at low speed. During traffic jams, you can really control the speed very well.

Dennis

**Tideland Prius** · 05-21-2006, 02:43 AM

nice write up!

Might I suggest a few things

a) definitely get a windshield sunshade. A black dashboard is, well, not good. Also, I'm worried about overheating the screen. But that's just me.

No mute for the sound system but pressing and holding MODE on the steering wheel turns it off.

Jeannie · 05-21-2006, 11:17 AM

I've got the MFD hood - search for Prius Hood on eBay - and it's definitely great for sunny days.

B Rad · 05-21-2006, 11:39 AM

Jack, it was great to read your post. I live in the northern part of AZ. and have driven the route you took many times so your report was much appreciated as I to am concicering a new Prius. Could you post your experiences with your Phoenix dealer after you make your puchase, I will gladly drive a couple hundred miles to buy from a no BS dealer....

Begreen · 05-21-2006, 01:01 PM

Good post Jack, very objective. The Prius has some quirks that bug me, but then I realize what an incredible engineering feat this car is. The fact that it manages so many systems so well is truly phenomenal.

hawkjm73 · 05-21-2006, 02:21 PM

Congratulations! I love to hear of new Prius owners ( or owners to be

) in the valley. I got mine from Avondale Toyota and was pleased with the experiance. That's a whopper of a dive from Chandler, though. But, I guess if you'll take the round-about to Flagstaff for a test drive, Avondale is no big deal. Wasn't it great to see all the green battery bars pile up on the way down the hill into Verde Valley? My biggest sugestions are tint, a windshield sunscreen, and a nose deflector/bra. Arizona allows 35% on the fronts and whatever you want on the rest. I used 5% on all the rear windows and am very happy with it. Also, try for a model with side airbags. They bump the car up from acceptible to good in side impacts. Otherwise, the nav system is very good around the valley, so if your willing to pay the price for it, I definetly recomend it.

P.S. I think the most commonly used plural for Prius is Prii (pronounced PrEE-i), as fits for a Latin word with such an ending.

Jack Straw · 05-27-2006, 12:34 AM

Bill Merchant · 05-27-2006, 12:53 AM

So what package did you ask for? If you didn't ask for a package with side airbags, go to the IIHS site (search) and look at the video. You want side airbags!

Jack Straw · 05-27-2006, 01:01 AM

05-21-2006, 12:09 AM	#1
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 137 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	zzz

05-21-2006, 02:21 PM	#7
hawkjm73 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 246 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Congratulations! I love to hear of new Prius owners ( or owners to be ) in the valley. I got mine from Avondale Toyota and was pleased with the experiance. That's a whopper of a dive from Chandler, though. But, I guess if you'll take the round-about to Flagstaff for a test drive, Avondale is no big deal. Wasn't it great to see all the green battery bars pile up on the way down the hill into Verde Valley? My biggest sugestions are tint, a windshield sunscreen, and a nose deflector/bra. Arizona allows 35% on the fronts and whatever you want on the rest. I used 5% on all the rear windows and am very happy with it. Also, try for a model with side airbags. They bump the car up from acceptible to good in side impacts. Otherwise, the nav system is very good around the valley, so if your willing to pay the price for it, I definetly recomend it. P.S. I think the most commonly used plural for Prius is Prii (pronounced PrEE-i), as fits for a Latin word with such an ending. __________________ Jenny 2005 - Seaside Pearl mods - Coastal hitch, trailer wiring, bug deflector, Can-View, rear-view camera, mudflaps, Goodyear Confortreds Carputer - in development, needs touch-screen fine tuning and permanent wiring -Sony Vaio 900MHz laptop -MFD display and touch-screen input AZ Hov plate - on order

05-27-2006, 12:34 AM	#8
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 137 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	zzz

05-27-2006, 01:01 AM	#10
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 137 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	zzz

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05-21-2006, 01:00 AM	#2
usbseawolf2000 Pro Efficient Technologies Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,583 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	Most of them covered my impression of 06 as well. I test drove 04 and 05 but when tax credit of $3,150 and HOV access open up, I went in for 06. The interior quality change really pushed me over the edge to get it. What I did not pick up from the test drive was the power response and control at low speed. During traffic jams, you can really control the speed very well. Dennis

05-21-2006, 02:43 AM	#3
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,769 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	nice write up! Might I suggest a few things a) definitely get a windshield sunshade. A black dashboard is, well, not good. Also, I'm worried about overheating the screen. But that's just me. No mute for the sound system but pressing and holding MODE on the steering wheel turns it off.

05-21-2006, 11:17 AM	#4
Jeannie Proud Prius Granny Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 1,382 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I've got the MFD hood - search for Prius Hood on eBay - and it's definitely great for sunny days.

05-21-2006, 11:39 AM	#5
B Rad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 295 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Jack, it was great to read your post. I live in the northern part of AZ. and have driven the route you took many times so your report was much appreciated as I to am concicering a new Prius. Could you post your experiences with your Phoenix dealer after you make your puchase, I will gladly drive a couple hundred miles to buy from a no BS dealer....

05-21-2006, 01:01 PM	#6
Begreen Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western WA state Posts: 625 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Good post Jack, very objective. The Prius has some quirks that bug me, but then I realize what an incredible engineering feat this car is. The fact that it manages so many systems so well is truly phenomenal.

05-27-2006, 12:53 AM	#9
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 3,950 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 6 Times in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 51	So what package did you ask for? If you didn't ask for a package with side airbags, go to the IIHS site (search) and look at the video. You want side airbags!