What feature do you wish your Prius had?

OK, since I asked the question, I'll start:

1. Dual visors for the driver so you could have one on the left and one in front of you. This would keep me from having to switch it back and forth on winding roads.

2. Doors that would automatically lock when you sat down or at least when you powered on the car.

The one I forgot to get... VSC

The auto door lock is available as a modification from "Coastal Dave". Go to his web site.

http://coastaletech.com/auto_door_lock.htm

The part is $65 dollars and supposedly easy to do yourself.

One thing I'd like on the car is a running MPG that does not reset to zero on every gas fill up. That way we could have a permanent total.

Memory seats and mirrors! My wife also loves the car, ergo she drives it....OFTEN!

There is so much RIGHT with this car it's tough to mention shortcomings. In no particular order...

Leather interior (not after market)
Daytime running lights for U.S. (but not using the HID) and auto-on headlights
A tilt steering wheel that actually tilts ;-)
A longer (adjustable) sun visor
A better audio system
Moonroof
AUX audio and video inputs to the stereo & MFD
Side mirrors that tilt downward in reverse
A "fuel consummed" readout.

Coastal Dave is making a little device that will let us know when the friction brakes are being used versus using the regenerative brakes alone. I wish this came with the car.

I'd also like a little light telling me that the gas engine has come on, or maybe the light would go off when the gas engine came on. Maybe, a tachometer for the gas engine would do the same thing.

An iPod slot in the dash (with adapter for my mini), so I could plug it in and use the steering wheel controls to run it...

I wish my Prius had a padded window sill. Sometimes I like to rest my elbow on the sill (top part of the door, where the window comes out of) and that hard plastic is very uncomfortable.

I wish we had some of the features that I see on foreign spec vehicles such as:
1. Rear disk brakes
2. Body side mouldings
3. Side marker lights/ DRLs
4. Turn signal mirrors
5. 16 or 17 inch wheels
6. Heated and electric adjustable seats
These features Toyota could easily offer in the USA but due to marketing policy, they have decided that we don't need or won't pay for these items. Or maybe it is a strategy that allows them to offer model year upgrades at minimal R&D/ development cost. Who knows, but I wish they were available in this market. One thing I would like to see that I have not seen in any market would be an ability to select a mode on the multi function display that would show operating parameters such as coolant temp, RPM, oil pressure and info that the sensors throughout the vehicle are sending to the ECM. Glass cockpits in aviation use this technology, and the info is all there, just not shown/available in real time to us.

The elbow pad for the left window sill would be a great idea. I wonder if there is an aftermarket producer of them?

A CD player that plays MP3 CD's. This is so common now, I can't believe Toyota didn't include it.

1. Forward aiming EMP to disable large SUVs in your way
2. Submarine mode
3. More batteries
4. Crystalline Solar Cel roof to help recharge #3
5. Back Massage built into the seat
6. Wet Bar
7. FLIR (true stealth mode a-la Jackie Chan's car in Canonball Run)
8. Spikes, Oil Slick, and Smoke Screen

That's not too much to ask, is it?

Wish list for my US model:
1. EV button with electric only mode
2. Self parking feature...even if it takes too long for the US consumer, it would be a kill-em-dead demonstration for the neighbors.
Wish list for all else:
1. Rearward looking camera that displays on the LCD when shifted to reverse
2. Front proximity sensors (since we can't see the bumper)
3. ACC - Smart Cruise Control that deactivates or even brakes when too close to the car in front.
4. Interactive NAV - linked to traffic reports like on Acura...displays red line if traffic is 20~40mph ahead, green? if 40~60mph and normal blue if traffic is at 60mph or above. This will allow a detour in time.
5. "I agree" warning for the NAV only displaying when attempting to make changes while moving, then all NAV changes permissable.
6. 16" tires and sportier suspension
7. Roofline change to allow sunroof options
8. Front seat adjustment 2" more to the rear for us tall folks.
9. Better voice recognition and more voice commands (Acura has 600 commands to our 300)
10. Prius owners given first choice at the Highlander Hybrid.


And one general request applicable to any car: On-line access to our Toyota maintenance records will allowable entries for self-maintenance

backup rear camera...
2. 6 way adj seat.
3. cup holder that will hold 1 leter drink bottle

My Prius is still making it's way across the ocean, but I know what I'd like:

1) Separate climate controls for the driver & passanger seat. My husband's always hot and I'm always cold. The Volvo has this feature, so obviously, the technology is there.

And of the suggestions above:

2) massage chair

3) iPod slot

Oh ... and something from the old days ... a "wing" window. It let in just the right amount of breeze. I don't know why they stopped making them.

I've seen trucks with them.... maybe a truck stop..

Bob Andersen

1) Automatic lights (like the manual says we have)
2) Automatic volume adjustment (like the manual says we have)
3) Proximity sensor - front and rear