'The Truth About Cars' Rips 2010 Prius a New One

Review: 2010 Toyota Prius | The Truth About Cars

The author drives a M3 and a 565, what else you can expect from him.

:lol Obviously not one of the targetted audience for the Prius. I wish he would have come out with what he really felt instead of beating 'round the bush.

This is another one of those articles that sounds like the author hated the car before he even drove it. The author owns a HCH though, so I guess this is to be expected.

That review is laughable. What a jerk.

True enough. I don't know that from his point of view he hated the Prius before even driving it. He'd already seen one and, likely, driven the Gen2. What I get from the article is that he doesn't like the unconventional.

He claims not to be the Neanderthal gearhead, so I suppose he'll simply cop to "gearhead." You won't find many people who love cars for the Vroom, Vroom and tight handling who will like the Prius -- except if they are looking for a second car to give them great gas mileage.

There are just two things that really are upsetting about the article:

1. The smugness of the conventional mentality doesn't allow a person to enjoy owning AND driving a Prius -- by the author's definition, such people cannot be rational. The constant reference to cost, to hybrid premium, is really sickening. How does he justify the money he spends on a BMW? Because he likes the car? Because it says to the world: "I'm a real auto enthusiast and can afford this car!"? Hmm. Change a few words and it is just what he complains about when describing Prius buyers.
2. The absolute disdain will keep people from even looking at the car. I know that reviewers are supposed to be helping people make good decisions and avoid mistakes, but this article is written so as to have fun with the words. It is a well-written piece. It is fun to read and the words are well-chosen. Still, the author is making a living by demeaning people who are looking for change and looking to find personal transportation that doesn't hog the freeways and waste limited resources.

Oh well. To each his/her own. I suppose the Prius will be just another DeLorean, confined to the waste heap of auto failures. I just hope I can hold on to mine before the Smithsonian grabs one for a display.

And that one was not my fault!!!:flock:

Yep, this guy sure has something up his yingyang about Prius. It's nice we live in Freedom of Speech Land to get other points of view no matter how whacky they may appear to be.

However, I find these reviews much more credible and are received by HUGE audiences:


Toyota Prius :: MotorMouths

We own a Porsche 911 (997), Lexus LS430, and a 2004 Prius. The Porsche and Lexus are arguably 2 of the finest cars in their respective classes. If I had to give up all my cars for just one, the 2004 Prius (soon to be replaced with a 2010 Gen III) would be the one I would keep.

Just another opinion as that of any rambling car test guy for what it's worth.

If you are thinking about a Prius try one and decide for yourself.

I am one of those few. I converted from this:





to the Prius and never looked back. :rockon:

So the Prius is a quiet, efficient appliance, but not a "real" car. In that case, I'll take the appliance and macho man can have the car.

Trust me I have no problem with using or attempting to use sarcasm and humor in communication. There are some funny lines within this piece. The problem is it's being presented as a serious review at a place called "The Truth About Cars". Hey, if you don't like The Prius, it's an easy target. As a review? It's such a shotgun blast I can't seriously take anything from it.

In one breath, the 17 inch tires make the driving experience "worse" but in another breath it's so quiet and serene that it makes him fall asleep?

That's one criticism that get's leveled at The Prius from time to time I just don't understand. Isn't smooth, quiet and serene normally a good thing? People have the freedom to seek from their automobile the driving experience they want, but why is it that so many assume road gripping feedback and cervical straining cornering equals superior experience?

The Prius doesn't pretend to be a sports car. If it feels different in some aspects of driving it's because it IS different. The Prius is a different machine. Some people can't seem to handle that reality.

I find The Prius driving experience tuned well for the majority of urban and suburban driving. No it's not the best choice for Autobahn or twisting mountain roads. Even though the comprimise in that area is lessening.

That's a shotgun blast of a review, that makes the ultimate piece as a whole something nobody should take serious.

I find these negative reviews refreshing, if only for the comedic value of the responses posted here. Many people get so defensive about bad reviews, you'd think they designed the car. If you like the Gen III, great. You don't have to justify your decision. This site offers a lot of useful information, but the pro-Prius kool-aid can get a bit nauseating at times.

The mileage is fantastic - as the author of that review acknowledges - but the Prius also has definite shortcomings. Just from sitting in one, I can admit that the rear-vis is terrible, the MFD is a bit distant and monochrome, and the "green" plastics feel cheap. Even with all the high-tech gadgetry, the interior is not what I would expect for a mid-size car priced in the high 20s.

He is just trying to cause a stir to get his article sold to somebody. All media is biased and this article is no exception. We should not car what other people think. The only thing that matters is what we think. In my mind the entire media is made up of a bunch of losers.

Dan

Actually, it's too bad he didn't like the Prius. I love his writing style!

"driving experience designed by faeries..." ound:

You will notice that all the responses on that site that are also negative start off with, "I've never driven/owned/ridden in..."

"The 2010 Prius’ ergonomics were designed for only two kinds of creatures: those who like to sit five inches back from the front windshield and orangutans. Everyone else will find that the steering wheel, adjustable now for tilt and reach, is still too far away for a proper seat position."

I'll agree with him here. Tilt goes from high to higher. Put your arm on the aptly named armrest and you can't reach the wheel with it anymore. Long trips are going to be uncomfortable.

"There is an Unbelievable Lightness of Steering"

Also very true!

HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

:bounce:ound::dance: :nod::bump2::roll: :biggrin1: :lol: :der:

Best comedy I've read in ages!

At 6'3" my arms are rather ape like so I have no issues but I could see how some shorter armed people would. That was pretty funny I admit.

Long trips are fine for me. Once or twice a year I "sprint" up to Vancouver BC to see my friend Hyo silver and my sister.

Mine was in the low $30s (Prius V with Navi), and even though I agree that the dash plastic looks a little cheap, it makes for a tight ride, that has no squeaks, and a vast improvement from my Ford. I love this car.

So what! I still believe in the old adage of my RAF flight instructor when referring to aircraft control ... "you handle it gently, the way a virgin handles a penis!"