toyota rolling road test

got an email from toyota a few days ago, rolling road test coming to a mall down the street. 'be sure to print out the email and bring it with you for a free gift.' i get there, there are 12 guys standing around a demo set up. looks like they came in from the local unemployment office. signs all around them say, take a test drive and get a $10. gift certificate to barnes and noble. they are begging people to come in, but not many takers. i hand them my email and they sign me in. i'm thinking, if they are giving ten bucks to people walking by, i wonder what i'll get for bringing my email? answer: ten bucks. anyway, they swipe your license, put a wrist band on you and scan that. we get in the car (they have to ride with you) and he asks me if i've ever driven a hybrid. i tell him i have an 08 and he says, "oh, what's that like?" we make a loop around the parking lot, and that's it. he couldn't answer any of my questions. he's telling me how they drove up from connecticut and you need the power mode on the highway "if you know what i mean" the whole thing was a clueless waste of time. i must say, as some others have, i really don't like the flying bridge. the cupholders and sliding console cover are ridiculous. the display information was better, couldn't tell much else from the 2 minute 10 mph test drive. on the way out, they give you a survey. 'now that you've driven a toyota, will you buy one? now that you've driven a toyota, will you recommend one to a friend? wow, how many hours of meetings did it take to come up with that brilliant survey?

 

ya, one guy told me he used to set up off road test tracks for tundra's. definately not hybrid enthusiasts.

 

a water bottle? man, i got ripped off! does it fit in the door?

 

you're probably right, it's not the place for current owners. who else would sign up for their email news tho? it's just confusing.

 

it's amazing what a nightmare it is to find something to drink water out of is these days. first, it was the water, now, it's the container. what next?

 

i don't understand the progression from the genII to III. they should have left the cupholders where they were, filled in the space in front of them with a nice tray or something and still added storage underneath. i can't imagine how many man hours went into that nightmare. i'm hoping the phev has a completely new design.

 

i know, it's no big deal. i'll buy it either way, depending on what's available at that time. leaf, volt, hyundai, ford , whatever. but i still believe, it's not an improvement on gII.

 

that's a beautiful design, and hard to improve on. i hate to see change for change's sake. did you have the double trayed center console?

 

that's a terrible tease. too bad it wasn't the free gift!:rockon:

 

unfortunately, they got rid of it in the mid 2000's? now, it's the same as the genII pri with cheap lift out tray. their interiors seem to be regresing for some reason. i test drove an altima around 2000 that had an adjustable height console. that was cool!