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What I don't like about my Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by booger, Dec 18, 2010.

  1. booger

    booger New Member

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    The traction control, this is a worthless feature IMO and should be able to be disabled.

    The factory tires, 30k miles is horrible.

    It isn't great in the cold, the heat barely works below -10F.

    The red triangle light comes on for me to get the headlights in alignment, they are and that shouldn't be a problem with self-adjusting lights.

    I live in a partially constant state of fear about the hybrid battery failing and having to pay for a new one; the cold temps can't help.

    I disabled it but the beeping inside the car when in reverse.

    Stories about jumping the battery voiding the warranty.

    The brakes quit working for a quick second when braking over rough surfaces, I cannot believe Toyota hasn't done something about this.

    The cd player has a blank screen (that works with the computer display) it would be nice to have track, time or radio station on there.

    Why is there a light when it is below 34F? It hasn't been above 34F in MN in probably more than a month. Seems pointless.



    There are plenty of things I like, but there is a lot of room for improvement IMO.
     
  2. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Booger,

    You really should not let the marketing FUD (look up FUD on wikipedia) regarding the hybrid battery concern you. This is similar to being concerned that the 300 HP pocket watch, otherwise known as an automatic transmission in a standard car is going to fail.

    The brakes do not fail, they switch. One brake system requires more pedal for the same braking force than the other. Be ready for them to switch below at 7 mph, or when where is a rough road ahead. Just push harder when you feel them switch. Its just that simple. In tradional cars, we learn practically subconciously to lift pressure to avoid brakes locking up as one comes to a stop. You need to unlearn that and do the reverse.

    At -10 F, most cars need grill blocking. You see it on trucks all the time. You need to do that on the Prius too. Search "Grill Blocking" here on Prius Chat. There are litterly several hundred pages on what to do.

    If you have 30 K miles on your factory tires, there is probably not enough thread left for winter driving. Go get some new tires. This is standard on all cars. Is this the first car you have owned? Or is it the first car you have owned in winter driving conditions?

    In coastal areas, where one gets winter conditions, one can come around a curve and onto a icey road, when the temp is as warm as 37 F, which when the little light comes on. Being a Japanese car, this is a standard thing.

    Oh, and if you really need a replacement battery, there are many around for modest cost. Google Autobeyours.com . Or, I can send you the one out of my 2006, that was in a crash for a modest compensation.

    Its wise not to jump a Prius with another car, but to use a jump box, with reverse polarity protection. Most autostores have these. As only the computers need to be booted by the jump box (versus actually cranking the engine in traditional cars) this is eminately practical. You can do a car to Prius jump in an emergency, but yea, if you reverse the polarity, you will do major damage.

    Which reminds me of the 1970 something Ford Granada my mom sold to one of my brother's friends. The battery went bad a year later, and he jumped it on the side of the road, and blew out a bunch of the electrics and electronics hooking up the cables backwards. Such, that the car was not worth repairing. Which begs the question - Is that anything really new ???
     
  3. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Many of us abandoned the factory tires years ago. The upgrade to high-traction tires on my 2004 worked so well, I didn't see the need for snows. Definitely consider getting something better.
    .
     
  4. booger

    booger New Member

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    I "get" all of these things you guys posted. I do the grill blocking...well I'll get around to that tomorrow (which helps with heat and mileage) did it last year and will do it every winter from now on.

    I replaced the factory tires BALD at 36k. The Kuhmo ones I replaced them with are at 77k and doing well. I just don't like the factory ones and am voicing my displeasure with them.

    I still think the brake issue sucks, I don't like it. It really does feel like you have no braking power and then when you push harder, it finally kicks in and you stop much faster.


    Oh yes I forgot the most annoying dislike:

    The bladder gas tank - last time I filled up on blinking/warning empty I got a whopping 3.5 gallons before the pump clicked. I forced another .75 gallons in, but that is ridiculous. The most I've gotten in it was 9.2 gallons, that is quite the difference (and inconvenient). I know the reasoning behind it, saves fumes and gas, but really how much of a difference does that make?

    I've also had my car not start up with "ready" right away and have since turned the lights and heat off prior to shutting the car off. There were a couple times I thought it wouldn't be starting up, nearly always when it is cold out.
     
  5. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    As of this writing, there are over 1.2 million posts on this board. Of those 1.2 million posts, not one is "You know what I really love? The factory-installed tires that came with my Prius!"
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Remember that the Prius is the testbed for hybrid technology. The bladder was designed to reduce emissions. They improved on that with the pressurized gas tanks of the HiHy and RXh when they were launched two years later as 2006 models and they somehow figurd out how to maintain that AT-PZEV rating without the use of bladder or pressurized tanks in the TCH and 2010 Prius.

    Every little thing counts I suppose. How much drag does the curved roof save? Not much apparently when we asked about the difference btwn the 2010 standard curved roof and the 2010 with the solar panel moonroof.

    Ditto the aerodynamic wheel covers and underbody spats and covers.

    But with all 4 of these things put together, the difference must be enough for Toyota to say "yeah, it's worth the extra cost"

    As for not starting up, might wanna check the 12V battery

    That depends on the CD played. Most store-bought CD do not have CD-Text embedded in their files.

    If you're playing an MP3 CD and you burned the CD with CD-Text enabled, it will show the information (assuming that your mp3 files have been filled out properly).

    The light was taken from some European cars. It's to warn of potential black ice on the road even if the temperature is above freezing. It would be nice if it turned off once it's below -5°C or something.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think i have ever loved tires, but i have nevr had a problem with the factories. not on my 04 and not on my 08. would i replace them with the same thing? no, michelin energy savers. but toyota can't put evryones favorite tire on each car.:)
     
  8. booger

    booger New Member

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    I was going to laugh and agree but then....
    I've read plenty of posts here and this is the first I've read that is even mildly satisfied with the factory tires.

    I don't really care about the feel or the handling (that much) tires should last 40k miles MINIMUM. It isn't like the Prius is a race car. I bought it for the awesome mileage not the ability to take turns at 50 mph or for the luxury feel.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    exactly. my 04 made it to 50K, before it needed new tires. (my daughter drove the final 15K) i'm only at 24,000 on my 08, but the tires look like new. and your right, i don't drive it like a race car either.:)
     
  10. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    If I owned a car where I had this many dislikes......I would unload it ASAP......do your self a favor....get rid of it.
     
  11. GuamKelly

    GuamKelly Member

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  12. direstraits71

    direstraits71 Member

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  13. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    The reverse beep is annoying, but I'm not make a special trip to the dealer to get it taken care of, I'll have them do it at the first 5k service. The lack of thigh support in the driver's seat, but I see a remedy for that - add a washer or two under the front seat mounts - looks like an easy fix. I wish it had auto-on/off headlights instead of just auto-off. I was complaining about the lack of dimming in my auto-dimming rear view mirror, when I noticed last night it was really working well.