Took my first Test drive

[Hostage46]

After a week or so of research I ran over the the local Toyota dealer for look. As expected they only had one car on the lot, an '05 package 3 marked "fleet car not for sale" with 24K miles. My initial impressions:

It truly is a mid-size car, my 6'3" buddly who came along sat in the back was comfortable. Overall It felt comparable to my old Accord, the hatchback and space underneath was excellent.

Storage in the dash was a suprise, I didn't expect it.

Seats were fine for me, again my point of reference is the old Accord, fore, aft and tilt is all I have now, and frankly all need.

Ergonomics, pleasantly suprised the pictures I saw didn't do justice to the way the speedo and other guages are presented. It has a HUD feel where you can see what's needed in your field of view.

MFD was fun to noodle with, I drove it for maybe 10 min around the dealership on city streets and was able to go on the battery alone once the battery was up a bit. I can see how a hood would be a good thing.

I liked the switches in the wheel, much more content then you normally see, from a safety perspectice you really don't need to take your eyes off the road or hands off the wheel.

This car was equipped with the JBL stereo, I'm no audiophile but it sounded very nice.

The drive was nimble, nice and tight, acceleration was acceptable, not like the TL I've been considering, but high performance is defined by more then speed and time to 60 My fears that I'll be crushed by the texas state car, the Yukon Denali, were unfounded.

I would have liked to see the nav/BT in action, I'm working with another local dealer who says he'll have one in to drive next week. I'd also like to see the leather.

Odly, this car had a foot activated emergency brake as well as the button. Is that something the dealer added or is it standard?

The salesman was pretty clueless, in his defense, someone grabbed him and said "take these guys for a spin", I suspect if I was selling Toyotas, I'd focus on other cars as these ones seem to sell themselves.

Anyway, I'm excited and will being the process to pull the trigger.

Dan

[ghostofjk]

Not sure what button you refer to, but no, that's the stock emergency brake. Push it down once to engage, push again to disengage. Putting it there freed up valuable space between the front seats for the console/plugs.

If you test-drive one again, check out the "mid-range" acceleration (say, 30-70 MPH) by merging with freeway traffic or passing another car. You can also sense its torque by putting your foot into it going up a steep hill. Surprising, since it's not so swift off the line.

[finman]

"Oddly, this car had a foot activated emergency brake as well as the button. Is that something the dealer added or is it standard?"

The "P" button is the park button. Standard on ALL Prii, here and abroad. Press that after coming to a stop and that disengages drive, putting you in park "gear". Then power off with the "power" button. Hasn't anything to do with the foot e-brake.

Or skip the "P" button and when you're done driving, just press the "power" button and it engages park gear and powers off in one fell swoop!

I agree on the e-brake placement, love having that center console and not a handbrake there.

Two years plus and 42,000 miles plus later, I still think this car rocks.

[Hostage46]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ghostofjk @ May 26 2006, 04:21 PM) [snapback]261481[/snapback]</div>

Not sure what button you refer to, but no, that's the stock emergency brake. Push it down once to engage, push again to disengage. Putting it there freed up valuable space between the front seats for the console/plugs.

If you test-drive one again, check out the "mid-range" acceleration (say, 30-70 MPH) by merging with freeway traffic or passing another car. You can also sense its torque by putting your foot into it going up a steep hill. Surprising, since it's not so swift off the line.
[/b]

It was tame off the line, I'll have go on the highway... good suggestion.

So it's a standard mechanical ebrake, the button is more like "P" or park?

[Manksgloob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Hostage46 @ May 26 2006, 04:37 PM) [snapback]261489[/snapback]</div>

It was tame off the line, I'll have go on the highway... good suggestion.

So it's a standard mechanical ebrake, the button is more like "P" or park?
[/b]

That is correct.

[aaf709]

One thing I was able to do was to rent one for two weeks. It gave me a chance to drive without a salesperson breathing down my neck. In addtion I was able to see how it would be during a normal commute, plus a trip into the mountains with my parents.

And on the subject of brakes, the "B" position on the shift lever is like a "jake brake" in that it's useful for going down a long hill (like shifting into a lower gear).

[kdmorse]

And if you do take it on the highway - don't be shy about putting the pedal all the way to the floor. Some folks take their test drives very gingerly, and then complain about poor acceleration. Want to see it move - stomp on the gas.

-Ken

[subarutoo]

Every time I press on the foot parking brake, I feel like I'm driving an American rental car, any brand. The foot E-brake doesn't belong in a "world" car like the Prius. Does anybody remember floor mounted headlight high beam switches? Shhh...don't tell Toyota. The E-brake should be between the seats, as God intended. I turned 57 today, and this is the first car I have ever owned with a foot operated parking brake, though I've driven lots of rental cars.

I'm a stick shift guy, but actually like the P-button for park, but I don't know how many times I've grabbed the wiper stalk to shift gears. At least my windshield is pretty clean.

[Jack Straw]

zzz

[daronspicher]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(subarutoo @ May 27 2006, 12:47 AM) [snapback]261672[/snapback]</div>

Every time I press on the foot parking brake, I feel like I'm driving an American rental car, any brand. The foot E-brake doesn't belong in a "world" car like the Prius. Does anybody remember floor mounted headlight high beam switches? Shhh...don't tell Toyota. The E-brake should be between the seats, as God intended. I turned 57 today, and this is the first car I have ever owned with a foot operated parking brake, though I've driven lots of rental cars.

I'm a stick shift guy, but actually like the P-button for park, but I don't know how many times I've grabbed the wiper stalk to shift gears. At least my windshield is pretty clean.
[/b]

This is my 5th vehicle, 3rd new one.... Every time the parking brake has been right there in that spot, so to me it doesn't seem so strange. I guess if you're used to it in the center console, that's fine... I'm just not sure why anyone would have any trouble adjusting to the new position of the thing no matter where they put it. I never use the parking brake unless I'm doing some major mechanical thing on the vehicle, so I guess for me the parking brake could be a lever under the hood somewhere.

79 F150
89 F150
96 Explorer
99 F250
06 Pruis

Who want's to play duck-duck-goose with my list concerning fuel mpg? :P