Touring Edition

Two dealers in my location (northern Virginia) have told me that the Touring Edition is not available in this region. Why is that?

ambruek,

Welcome to PriusChat.

From time to time your question comes up. Some while back a member
who works/worked for a dealership in Virginia Beach reported that at
some time in the past, the dealers in the Region acting in concert
decided not to bring the Touring model into the Region. They felt that the
Touring would not sell well given its higher price above the non-Touring
model.

Hey, I'm not kidding. I went on the Internet and found the car I wanted
in Rhode Island.

I'm afraid that unless a dealer relents and ships in a car from another
region you'll have to do the same... sorry.

May I also point out that the 2010 Prius will not come in a Touring version. Some models will come with 17" wheels and a larger turning circle, but Touring is an adjective from the past for the 2010 Prius. All models will have the same, improved, suspension.

actually no, models with 17" wheels will have different suspension and steering ratio, as confirmed already by numerous magazines.

So if you want sportier Prius, one with 17" wheels is the one.

You must have missed the recent post from the Prius Team that they have decided that all U.S. Prius models will get the firmer suspension. The steering ratio will be different as you point out.

I don't remember which thread that post was in, maybe the sticky driving impression thread.

Roy

In the other thread, PriusTeam wasn't sure whether necessary adjustments to steering ratio etc. could all be done in software. Pat Sparks thought there would be a mechanical gearing that would be different. Not a gear head, so can't say one way or the other. Based on the 15 v. 17 wheel thread, it seemed the "offset" for the wheels was also different, which I assumed was easily adjustable.

There is no "touring" edition for 2010. Toyota was very clear about this when we were in Detroit. As others have pointed out, there is a version with 17" wheels, but it's not called "touring".

Tom

At least not in the U.S. Wasn't Canada using that phrase? Japan specs (in translation) referred to tuned suspension in certain models, but can't remmber what the translation called those editions.

Could be. In the U.S. the suspension is tuned the same way for all 2010 models.

Tom

Maybe they'll intro the Touring model at a later date, like they did for the Gen II.

i did, thanks... it seems steering will be significantly different still... 3.75 ratio is something Avalon style, while 2.75 is tighter than MR-S i believe .

But it is good info, good that everyone will get "better" suspension.