WOOHOO

Prius kicking bootie as usual!!

the 6% is probably the same people that complain that the engine stalls when they come to a stop LOL

the unhappy 6% are the excutitives for the big 3. they only claim they wouldnt buy another one just to keep up appearances.

I read the Consumer Reports' car issue yesterday (over a nice corned beef sandwich and a bowl of matzoh ball soup at the Roxy Deli.)

A couple of things worth mentioning:

• Re: CR's rating of "Most Satisfying" car:, I wonder how they figure this. Does the total number of responses for a particular model count, i.e., if only two people send in returns for a particular model, and both say they'd buy again, does CR publish give that car a 100% satisfaction rating?
  
  I ask this because I noticed that the #2 "most satisfied" car in the Small Cars category (right after the Prius) is the Scion xB -- a car with a design so different that it makes the Prius look conservative. I wondered how many entries for xBs had been sent in. (Until mid-2004, I think they were only sold in California.)
  
• In the overview of their reviews (page 31), they list their Quick Picks of the best models for 2005. They also list "the best of the best" -- cars that had very good or excellent ratings in their major ratings areas.
  
  The Prius didn't qualify for "best of the best". It won in 3 of the areas: reliability, fuel economy, and owner satisfaction; but it din't win in the safety area.
  
  Specifically, it gives "accident avoidance" a "fair" rating (white circle), and says "N/A" for crash protection. Huh?
  
  Elsewhere (page 29), they show that the Prius very good or excellent ratings on the NHTSA tests, so I have no idea where they get "N/A" for crash protection.
  
  As to "accident avoidance", they mention the steering in the "Lows" (faults) section for the Prius (a rating I disagree with, but which I've heard complaints about from others, so I'll let it go).
  
  The other fault they list is "Multi-Function Display". I wonder if they're considering this a hazard -- i.e., that it's distracting and could lead to an accident, because the driver's watching the MFD, not the road.
  
  Again, I disagree, but I could see the point. I've switched my MFD off, but that's me; I'm sure it makes no difference for most drivers.
  
  But while the Prius may not be the safest cars on the road, it's certainly a very safe ride (particularly if you bought it with side airbags and VSC.)
  
• This year, the Prius fell into 3 different categories, not 1 -- because it ends up being listed in 3 separte categories (Small Cars, Family Sedans, and Fuel-Efficient Cars).
  
  It should have been 4 -- they forgot to put it in Wagons & Hatchbacks. :tomato:
  
• Finally, CR's had a big article at the front of this issue, pushing electronic stability control (ESC) in cars. They feel that this is something cars should come standard with, like seatbelts. ("If ESC is available on vehicles you're considering, order it".)
  
  FYI, Toyota's VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) == ESC. (Mentions this on page 9.) It's available for the Prius -- I got it for mine. I'm an "average joe" driver, and the extra safety appealed to me.
  • 
    I've decided to resubscribe to CR this year, just so I could fill out the report and tell them how much I like my Prius. Maybe we'll win 2 years in a row!

I have only one question do they deliver to Olympia??

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bookrats\";p=\"69991)</div>

They didn't get any crash protection info (in time for publication). That's what N/A means - Not Available. CR is very cautious (usually) and prefers to let new data trickle in rather than rush to judgment.

I agree that the minus of the MFD is baffling and unexplained. CR can get all upset about something that is a design standard. They still hate rear seat headrests that can be lowered to improve rear visibility when there are no rear seat passengers.

This is the same magazine that rated Wendy's Frosty (an ice cream dessert) the worst shake they had ever had. So considering the source, they got a lot right about the Prius.

It's the water – and a lot more.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimofdg\";p=\"70296)</div>

They didn't get any crash protection info (in time for publication). That's what N/A means - Not Available. CR is very cautious (usually) and prefers to let new data trickle in rather than rush to judgment.[/b][/quote]

The reason I'm confused is that (a) the government crash test info for the '04 Prius is out there -- I assume that's what CR uses -- and (B) the CR issue last year that reviewed the '04 Prius in-depth displayed (I thought) the government crash test results.

Are the safety ratings displayed in this issue of CR using information other than the US Government crash test data?

Re: Consumer Reports Survey: 94% of Prius owners would buy a

Jeff:

WRT crash test results, I think CR only uses NHTSA and IIHS data. The EU has already tested the 2004 Prius under their NCAP and gave it an outstanding score for offset frontal and side impact (With side curtain airbags fitted).

Re: Consumer Reports Survey: 94% of Prius owners would buy a

Jeff:

If you want offset crash data for the 2004 Prius:

http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_rat...p?id1=3&id2=193

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jimofdg\";p=\"70296)</div>

Sometimes the MFD can be a PITA.

Like if you want to turn the AC off, but leave the system on auto, you have to go into the screen and change it by hand. And even simple things, like having a passenger put in a destination in the nav system is impossible to do while driving.