Prius-my opinion- My feelings after 4-5k miles (negative) sorry.

When going with a new style of car:

• Rent one for a week - this allows you to toss it around and find out if you like it enough or not. Sad to say, rental is not always an option.
• Buy used - this avoids the new car 'tax' so if you decide it isn't for you, it is just a slightly more used car, not a new car that became used.

The original poster 'did the experiment' and has shared his results. I suspect he has noticed that many Prius owners don't share his driving profile but then that is OK. Others that have a need for speed, have a 'toy car' for that purpose . . . having the right tool for the right job.

So good luck on your next car. If you can wait until gas prices spike again, it will tend to soften the Prius loss and give opportunities for a a softer price on the 'speed car.' But if not, well good luck!

Bob Wilson

 

BS. If you physically saw a car shaking from the outside at highway speeds, from the inside the shaking would be so extreme that the driver would be unable to control the vehicle.

We live in like the Prius capitol of the world...and none of the Prius' here shake visibly from the outside, and mine is smooth at 90MPH and its almost 7 years old.

So either you are lying, or its your imagination.

Do yourself a favor, and grow a pair with the dealer next time you buy a car. You have the money, you are in charge. If they don't want to give you a demo overnight they cannot have your money. That simple...has always worked for me.

"Waaaah, the dealer won't let me do it!" I can see your vagina from here.

 

Haha, agree with you on that.

Not that I have the right to judge others though, it strikes me that the OP poster decided to go into a Toyota dealer, and NOT an Audi dealer to buy his current vehicle.

Despite his praise for the Audi, you have to ask yourself why he avoided them. Anyone buying a car weighs the decision carefully as there are so many good cars out there to pick from.

I've never owned, or driven an Audi, but I have owned a couple of S class MB's and Volvos, BMW and even a couple of Buicks and my first car was a 67 Dodge Dart. Now that car waws a piece of work, but it was a fun car while it lasted.

The Prius is different than all of my previous cars in many ways. Over all, I love it and I spent a long time reading comments here on Prius chat before I ever took out a Gen II for a long test drive under mixed road conditions. I knew details about the coming Gen III's from reading information here and on the net, but waited until I could actually sit in one in my dealer before ordering the ATP version here, Solar roof, heated leather, NAV, DRCC etc. as packages vary from Canada to the US. I am 6' 3" and was worried that the centre console new to the Gen III would impact on comfort. It didn't and the seats were improved. Only then did I make the deal.

Thankfully when my car arrived after my order, (Toyota Canada kept me informed as it was put onto the line, then completed, then moved to the shipping port, and eventually when it was crossing the Pacific etc) it had a very light new car smell, it isn't that healthy for you lol. The solar roof cleans it out everyday anyhow.

But once I started driving it and got over the heavy slow feel, I have learned and adjusted and now find it to be more than quick enough, stable and smooth at highway legal speeds and above.

It is not the fastest, biggest, most luxurious or snazzy looking car that I've ever owned, driven or could afford, but it does almost everything so well that I love it. I say that after more time and miles that the original poster; over 1 year and almost 22,000 miles now.

But again, if the OP didn't do his homework before buying the car and doesn't appreciate what it is all about, I respect his opinions and thank him for generating a somewhat interesting discussion.

 

Because the Audi is/was his Dad's, and his Dad wasn't going to fork out the cash for something like an Audi for him.

Why would someone coming from a $40,000+ Audi (we don't know what model it is/was) buy a Prius II? Especially as brand and "quality" conscious as he claims to be. Wouldn't you buy a IV or V? I wouldn't even consider something lesser than a Prius IV with the solar roof.

Doesn't add up.

 

Yeah, doesn't add up is right.

Time to move on.

 

BTW he lists the car as a II
Must be a bitch to be that old and have your dad buy your car for you.

 

Whats wrong with people who can't accept it that I feel that the car shakes when it goes over 70-80 in the freeway? I feel like it drives like a leaf and shakes when i drive fast. It is a little shake but very visible and u can feel it.

There is nothing wrong with people accepting the fact that you can feel the car shaking at higher speeds. In fact, many are quite willing to believe you and have offered suggestions to help diagnose if there is a problem. (i.e. the free alignment that Toyota does in the first year or 12k miles). But you are dismissive of these suggestions. Why.....

Why do I see every other Prius shake when they drive on the next lane to me at high speeds?

OK, so now we know WHY you are dismissive. You have observed every other Prius shake when they drive next to you at high speeds. The problem is, many people here have driven the Prius at high speeds and haven't noted a shaking problem. You might be very tuned into your car and its performance, but it is a bit of a stretch to see the same problem on every other Prius. This observation (lets call it an exaggeration) weakens your argument and reduces your credibility.

I guess every Prius has alignment problems then or maybe its suspension? I am sure mine does not have suspension so its probably part of the reason the car shakes at hi speeds, even at the freeway. I'm willing to bet anyone that alignment is fine.

Again, as you lump all the cars (every prius has alignment problems) in one basket, you take away your credibility. Why are you so willing to bet your alignment is fine yet so reluctant to actually schedule an appointment to have it inspected for free? Shouldn't addressing this shaking issue be a concern/priority to you? Aren't you concerned about your safety, the safety of your passengers, and others on the road?

It is easy to sit behind the keyboard and complain. But you are killing your credibility by all or nothing style statements with nothing to back it up but your opinion. (To clarify, I'm not talking about your car shaking, I'm talking about your opinion that every other Prius driving next to you at speed is shaking)

The unfortunate part is that so many of your current complaints should have been detected during your due diligence. Not likely the handling issue (which is far and away your most vocal complaint) but the quality of materials, the steering wheel, etc.

 

Then sell it.

I'm sorry, but I just don't get the consumer that clearly has not done his homework PRIOR to buying the product.

Everything you mentioned falls into one of two categories: (1) Things that are completely subjective (e.g., "I don't like the smell of the car's interior"); or (2) Design characteristics of the car that should have been self-evident to anyone who either test drove, or read things about the car.

Completely disagree. I just completed a 500 mile trip through the windy mountains, going at speeds well in excess of 60mph, and the car seemed very solid at 75-85 mph.

Try adjusting your seat? I was very comfortable (and I'm a big guy) after my 500 mile trip.

You are aware that the Audi, even the current ones, have issues with the engine and tranny. Co-worker just had his engine replaced @28K miles (under warrenty, thank you) on his A4.

So much for Audi "quality". Sorry, but Audi's are not known for their quality. They never have been. After all, they are (essentially) a VW, with more luxuries and HP.

Sorry, but the problem, while braking, is NOT "sudden acceleration". This shows me you lack some clarity, and understanding of cars.

WOW! Is this the first new car you've owned? Six months and the smell hasn't gone away? Give me a break.

Weight, weight and weight. Do you get the relationship between a car's weight, and the MPG's? Seems you don't.

Say what? New flash - the steering wheel is just fine.

Seems to me you had no idea what you were buying. Sorry, but you didn't do your homework. YOU get a "F" on this project. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people (on this site) that appear to have little knowledge of the product they bought. Do your homework - first - before you buy. A 5 minute test drive would tell you the Prius is no sports sedan. It was never designed to be.

Then have your dealership turn it off. Geez, stop your whinning.

OK, this comment tells me this post is a JOKE. Why? Because Normal cars" don't have "regen braking". Of course the brakes are going to feel and act differently from a "normal car".

 

Then why buy an Audi over a well optioned Volkswagen?

If all you care about is handling and engine performance then why on earth would you buy a Prius?!? The whole point of the Prius is excellent gas mileage in a tech laden package that makes a statement about your environmental and technological inclinations. Why wouldn't you want the V with the better wheels and sportier steering tuning? It just doesn't add up.

If you wanted good economy in a sporty package VW has several excellent options. Go buy one of those and join the VWVortex forums. Lots of priveleged and entitled twerps over there that think their shit doesn't smell, you'll feel right at home.

So I'm bitter when I own two cars in the same price class as an Audi...that makes perfect sense!

LOL, nothing to be jealous about here my friend. Both my Dad and Granddad are no longer with us, so they don't own anything. Absolutely zero interest in an Audi, attractive and good performing cars, but too many quirks and oddities for me. Unlike you just because something doesn't suit my taste I don't feel the need to badmouth it and belittle those who'se tastes it does suit to make myself feel good. Audi makes a very capable and well performing car, just not my thing.

I could buy any Audi made...no interest. I couldn't care less whether you believe me or not.

 

ya but his daddy got more money then you. LMAOROTF

 

He probably does...how will I ever survive? LOL

 

This poster is an idiot. I could buy a Infiniti G37 right now cash with 328 horsepower if i wanted sporty braking and sporty handling and a 5 second 0-60 time. But i like my 50 mpg better, so ill forgo the interior aesthetics. the $15,000 i saved could buy me enough gas to drive my prius for over the lifetime of the car.

But i mean seriously. If the OP doesn't like the car, why did he buy it in the first place? was it just a whim? Just go sell the damn car if you don't like it. Why are you on a prius forum telling prius drivers their cars suck? nobodys going to take you seriously even if they were unbiased.

 

Daddy bought it and title is in daddys name.

 

y'all should stop insulting his daddy. You should know better. Look at what happend to saddam after he tried to kill W's daddy.

I think I figured out the shake issue. The suspension is sort of soft like an old Buick or Cadillac. My daddy kind of likes this tuning in his Avalon. But at higher speeds road imperfections, and turns will move the body. Its not dangerous, its not a shake, its a natural part of the suspension. The Lexus ES is tuned like this too, when you go up to a GS or any of the german cars the suspension is more planted. If you are driving slow you probably won't even notice. The heavier wheels and firmer sidewalls of the V retard this a little bit, but its part of the overall character of toyota's suspension tuning.

 

Both my ES's are dead smooth at 100MPH...even the '03 with 150,000 miles. They kind of glide along and float over the imperfections if thats what you mean, but it can't really be described as a "shake".

Thats a really good point, we should be more careful.

For the record, justaguy, I think you're Daddy is a-okay. Its you I find silly.

 

WOW im impressed with that snappy come back... NOT
BTW my father died 25 yrs ago so up yours.