Dreaded flat tire and I dont like it a bit :(

Yes, I forgot that stupid hook-through-hole joint. Awkward indeed...

 

All our Honda scissor jacks had a U-shaped bent plate at the cranking junction, a two hole design, similar to this picture:



The jack that came with our Prius is single hole style, similar to this:



Having the hook go through two holes makes it much more stable. Poor design decision on Toyota's part.

 

Honda does many things better Mendel , accept FE.. Prius kicks butt in the later department. H

 

Yes, even with our Civic Hybrid.

Then there was our '91 Accord. I'm not sure if it was brake drag, failing oxygen sensor or what, but it's mpg was abysmal towards the end. I basically pumped in the gas and tried not to look.

 

With blowout on a dirt/gravel road in the northern Yukon, it took me about 10-15 minutes to get the right rear wheel jacked up (DW's estimate--I was busy). Very unsatisfied with linkage and on dirt or gravel that narrow base of the scissors jack gives no stability at all. Very uncomfortable experience.

 

^ Put a small square of plywood or pine in the underfloor tray, say 6" square. It'll help on loose dirt. A couple of wheel chocks is a good idea too.

 

Great idea. I like it.

 

I'll never understand the logic of a spareless car without run-flat tires.

 

The car manufacturers don't care if you get out somewhere and get stranded. I will not buy a car without a spare. I just bought a new Avalon and at my age I don't think it will be a problem for me. Probably be my last car.

 

I'm inclined to agree. I think Toyota built it's reputation as a top automaker in the world by not exploiting it's customers. However, the MBA-type weasels who want to squander some of that goodwill for a little extra cash, always seem to get their way to some degree.

 

I think you are right.

 

The plug-in hybrid battery has encroached on the spare's real estate, and the cost cutting was in not redesigning that area so that a spare could be accommodated.

Maybe they could go to truck-style spare: raise the sheet metal that was under the spare, and have the spare under slung. That would make the plug-in's body markedly different than the hybrid, maybe necessitating some production line changes, more $'s. But nothing insurmountable.

 

Has anyone experimented with the filler-foam that comes with the car? How well does it work?

 

I'd trade a longer wheelbase for a spare tire. It might make it ride better as well.

 

From what I heard, experimenting will cost you your TPMS sensor.

 

Lots of discussion re the "slime" and pros and cons in at least one other thread. IIRC, for most it would be better to be towed to a dealer for repair or replacement.

 

Since I bought a junkyard-sourced new Corolla donut, I did let my neighbor with a flat tire on his Oldsmobile use my Toyota OEM slime bottle last month along with my OEM Prius electric pump one morning. Another neighbor contributed a tire plug kit. It all worked great. 5 minutes and the guy was on his way.

 

If you or your neighbor go to replace the slime bottle, I understand it is very expensive if bought through Toyota.

 

i would like a spare on the deck where i have mine now, and fill the rest of the space with removable batteries so you can have more ev around town and less ev, but a spare if needed for longer trips.

 

Just had a kinda scary thought: