4th generation coming 2015!

This is a problem with you, not the car. Did it make it up the hill? Could you have gone faster? Did you use full throttle?

Yes, yes, and no, I'll wager.

 

Full throttle? To go up a somewhat steep freeway grade? Never. I'd rather do 50 something MPH than hear the 98 HP gas engine wailing in the cabin.

 

Funny how a Porsche owner when he fills up at the gas pump wishes his car was more like a Prius, and when a Prius driver is driving on the Freeway wishes his car was more like a Porsche.

What will the Gen 4 be? A complete surprise and all for the better.

 

Pilot error issue there. Put in in cruise control and no issues keeping up.

 

I've gone full-throttle or nearly so for 7 minutes up the Eisenhower tunnel approach (7% grade, 7 miles long, starting at about 9,000 feet, ending above 11,000 feet) with no issues at all, all the while maintaining the speed limit of 60mph with a fully-loaded 04. I've even left it in cruise like that. I don't see what the problem is with using the vehicle.

 

I don't remember 2004 Prius that well, but with this 3rd gen I'd want ear plugs using full throttle.

 

Are you kidding? Have you ever driven a car with an actual loud exhaust note?

It's a little, tiny engine, with a good muffler. Try out a big-block with straight headers. Try a super-charged boat with dry stacks.

When I'm in my 04 at full-throttle, with the radio blaring and my kids screaming in the back, ordinary diesel pickup trucks I'm passing drown all that right out inside my car!

 

I went over that grade again last night at 62 mph and the engine sound wasn't bad at all. I haven't had loud cars that I can remember, but I've had some loud bikes. YZF-600R with Yoshi exhaust was up there in dBs.

For commuting after long day at work, the more quiet the better. I'll look into sound insulation. I also called Toyo corporate to suggest more sound proofing for 4th gen. ...

I think more resistance to tire noise on rough pavement would delight a lot of customers and hopefully it wouldn't add much weight.

 

Quoting my own post here, I am with cycledrum on this. I had a Lexus, an '07 Camry, there is absolutely no substitute for a quiet car.

This comment yesterday about quiet wheels in the new Acura RLX in an effort to reduce noise. A Look at the 2014 Chevy Impala - Episode 1095 - YouTube

 

Quieter is usually better but even my 04 isn't loud and there's no reason not to use full power when necessary. I find I rarely need more than half, but occasionally I need more, but that's here at high altitude in the Rocky Mountains.

 

Just curious if anybody on here shares my dilemma....My 2010 will hit 200,000 miles this month, I'm hopeful but doubtful it will last until the new one is readily available. Buying another 3rd gen just doesn't have me a bit excited.

 

Wow, that's a lot of driving. My 04 is at 106,000.

 

Buy a 1 year old Camry hybrid base model to tide you over if needed.

 

Again reading apples and oranges discussions about more traditionally designed 3 box sedans against the Prius. Camry is an excellent traditional sedan design that doesn't equal the Prius in MPG. The hybrid Camry LE is advertised at EPA 43/39 MPG and the extra sumptuous XLE 40/38. There are plenty of cheap non hybrid cars around today that will pretty much equal those MPG figures, so the expense for a hybrid Camry would take years get back in savings, if ever.

Sure Camry hybrid is quieter than Prius on the road, but the Prius isn't that noisy to begin with. Those who value efficiency over perceived "luxury" will buy a car that matches their requirements. For those looking for a more luxurious hybrid car, many choices exist within Toyota alone, from the fairly pedestrian Camry to the up level Lexus line of cars. Would hate to hear the comparisons between Lexus ESh, GSh or even LSh against the humble Camry. Other manufacturers also offer hybrids of this type. Still, none match Prius Hatchback efficiency for the price.

There's a basic problem with this type of discussion. Anyone with any knowledge of simple physics will probably understand the limitations that Prius engineers had to observer and work within, in order to build a car that does what the Prius is intended to do at price that can be afforded. Our very own Prius averages 52 to 54 MPG. That is substantially better than any hybrid of this size, price and utility.

I also seriously doubt this car is really the best effort that Toyota engineers could have made. Why didn't they design and build the Prius using carbon fiber, titanium and aluminum alloys instead of cheap heavy steel. It would be hundreds of pounds lighter. Then they could have added soft touch materials on all interior surfaces and added sound insulation to quiet everything down to whisper levels. Of course, this Prius would be so expensive, that most of us would not be driving one today.

I sure wish that Toyota had given us a Prius with soft touch door and dash materials and sound isolation found in premium cars. Economic and weight considerations probably had a lot to do with all the crappy plastic surfaces we all ended up living with in our Prii. But it will do.

Griping about Prius because it's not a Camry is superfluous. If you don't like the Prius, compared to some other hybrid, then sell it or trade it in for a car that will live up to expectation. The minute someone comes up with a more efficient car that I can still afford, I might look at it. Might even be the next Prius! Right at this very moment, I don't feel the desire to get a different car to drive. Very happy with my choice!

 

There is not one conventional gas midsize sedan that will get even 30 mpg city. All new accord with DI and CVT can scratch 26 city/36 Hwy, that's it. Altima is the same.

Yes, it takes about 75k miles earn back the $3,460 extra cost of hybrid LE over non LE. But to suggest that a conventional Altima, Accord, Fusion, Sonata, Optima or Camry can 'pretty much equal' 41 MPG is off. Smart ForTwo can average about 37 mpg, but I won't tell you what I think of it.

41 MPG is 37% better than 30 MPG.
40 MPG is 33% over 30 MPG

50 MPG is 22% better than 41 MPG.

 

VERY NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! VERY NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You got me G-4 prius

 

Those are 155/55/19

If they would make a version around 840 to 850 RPM in 155/xx/15 I'd put them on my 2005 or any Gen II Prius I might buy down the road using the stock rims.

If they would make a version around 830 RPM I'd put them on a Gen III Prius if I buy one down the road (as a used car, again using the 155/xx/15 version)

I'd consider getting new rims if the only way to get this style tire was to go for a 155/xx/17 or 155/xx/19.

but all of that is only if they outdo LRR tires of the 195mm width in MPG by a 30% like they are talking about.

 

And 2 of those cheap non hybrids with similar MPG drinking Premium Gas are: Compare Side-by-Side

 

I suppose we will all just have to wait and see. But from the above profile ..... I don't care for it. But then, I am pretty confident the final product will be quite a bit different than the depiction. Hopefully better.

Toyota markets an attractive automobile across the board. I cannot imagine conservative Toyota venturing out that far with one of their successful vehicles. If that is their plan, I suspect they have mis-judged the potential market for the G4. I can imagine, however, that Toyota would market a sleek, sporty vehicle using the same technology, but with a different badge.

One point to consider regarding AWD: If the G4 Prius retains the same ground clearance as the G3, AWD will not be a tremendous advantage. Have you ever driven a 4 wheel-drive truck with a plow up front? Bogs down pretty quickly. The snow does not have to be very deep before it accumulates on the blade and becomes impossible to push. Even a 4 wheel-drive truck requires ground clearance.

 

The problem is not always deep snow. I would like to be able to get up my steep driveway when it is glazed with ICE. AWD would be a big help.

JeffD