Prius Plugin's lack of spare tire.

I thought I would miss my optical drive when I purchased my ultrabook. Occasionally, I did. But overall, I have been able to live without it. There were a few rare occurrences that it was frustrating having to make a USB copy of a disc.

I feel the same way about the spare. The other day I got in my car and got the low tire pressure light. How convenient! If this was my previous car, I might've driven off with a flat tire which I have done twice, one time shredding the tires on the freeway. I walked around my car and could not visually or physically discern which tire was flat. I don't carry a gauge with me. I drove the 50 miles home and my compressor eventually found the guilty tire at 25 PSI.

The experience showed me I don't need a dedicated spare or run flat tires. I have TPMS to notify me of low pressure and this is the third time on 3 vehicles that this has happened and I couldn't tell which tire was low. My commute has complete cell coverage to call for a tow should I need it. There was only one time I went on a road trip that I borrowed a spare from another car. It took up valuable trunk space and was inconvenient. But it was only once.

I'm beginning to warm up to this idea of no spare. It opens up an arguably low usage area for a larger battery while maintaining a flat load floor. Supposedly I get a bit better fuel economy. Now if only Toyota or anyone really would offer a nicely packaged spare tire kit with tie downs that I can easily throw in the trunk for long distance trips. That's where I would fault Toyota as they do not offer an OEM solution. Even Apple sells an external USB optical drive add on.

 

Absolute BS. Same tires on any Prius plug in or not. Don't quote me on it but I don't think anyone has been able to invent a run flat tire that is also LRR.

 

21.6 seats up per Toyota.com and edmunds, same as prius

 

Definitely BS. One must be very careful about sales people who always claim to know everything. When I walked into the dealership and asked about the PiP, "I'll get you our expert". The "expert" then said the plug-in has 4 models the 2, 3, 4 and V. Well... you get the idea.

 

Chelsyn: How long ago was it when we all talked about this? A good source for spare doughnut is cars, parting out and immigrant auto sales, Russians, Romanians. I picked up a never used for $50.00

 

I purchased a spare at a salvage yard for $75.00. Make sure they sell you the correct one. I do not have the specs in front of me, but I am sure someone can post them.

The spare is in my garage. Not a good place for it if my wife gets a flat.

We have AAA. 100 mile tow range.

If the tow truck driver says it can be repaired, I guess we will just tow it to a tire repair shop. If the tire is damaged and can not be repaired, we will probably tow it to a tire store and get the same tire.

 

Not on the PIPA, but on the PIPU (u = unobtanium model)

Mike

 

You gotta show me the measurements - I have most of the them somewhere:
Vol in the small compartment
Vol under Tonneau Cover
Vol over Tonneau Cover

P.S.- Around 2010 in the USA we went to a new cargo space called "EPA Cargo Volume" and Prius cargo space quote in US market went from 14.4-ft3 (Gen2) to 21.6-ft3 (Gen3). Believe Leaf is 25+ ft3 by EPA Cargo Space. Other countries have not inflated the Cargo volume like we have, so if you compare Gen2 and Gen3 Prius in say Canada you get the expected +1-ft more for Gen3 vs. Gen2. I'll be first to admit I don't understand it, so please advise.

 

I went to the local salvage yard and got a donut spare for $50, then I stopped on the way home at Auto Zone for the 5 steel lugnuts. When I got home I put a big breaker bar and the correct socket for the steel lugnuts in the rear storage compartment. For everyday commutes- I don't bring the donut- but for long trips- I toss it in the back and feel good about having it back there.

 

Feel good al the time Rob, one never knows.

 

I've had 2 flat tires in less than a year - driving on roads, tires seem flimsy. I used the fillip goop and not only did it not fix the flat I had to pay $500 to have the pressure sensor in the tire valve replaced!!!!! Now waiting for road side service to tow me to the dealer - service which did not show up as scheduled. I will never buy a Prius ever again. The design is flawed and the sales person did not explain this when I bought it.

 

So you will never buy a Prius again because you had 2 flat tires, the fillip goop did not work, the tow truck did not arrive on time and you had a salesperson who didn't tell you something.

I bought two Prius's. The sales person did not tell me everything. In fact I knew more than the salesperson. Did this bother me. No. I thought he would know everything about the car but when he didn't I still bought the car because of the good reviews , the fuel economy, styling, etc.

Tow truck. They don't always show up on time. Sometimes it is not their fault. There could be a traffic jam, it could take longer to service the stranded car, etc.

Fillip goop. It will not repair all tire damage.

$500.00 to have the pressure sensor in the tire valve replaced. Post a copy of the bill. I cant imagine anyone charging $500.00 to replace this.

You will never buy a Prius again. The design is flawed. Based on the facts you provided, I would have to say these are the weakest excuses I have heard for not ever buying a Prius again.

 

So what happened on the first flat? I assume you used the goop on the second one and had to pay the $500 on the second one?

Mike

 

TPMS sensor replacement on a Cadillac is around $125 at the dealer. Hard to imagine a part for a Toyota costing more. As for carrying a spare, I too purchased a never-used donut in the proper size and used the tie down strap in the cargo area to secure it. Yes, it cuts into the cargo space a bit, but about all I carry there most of the time is groceries. I don't want to have to use the goop and hope it works, and then have the expense of replacing the sensor. Besides, I thought Toyota said in the owners manual that the goop won't damage the sensor. If that is true, they ought to pay for it under warranty, or call the dealer out on abusing the customer by selling them a new one.
While I have AAA with 100 mile towing, I don't always have time to wait for them. I would rather change the tire and be on my way. Same thing goes for Toyota's roadside service that we get for the first three years of ownership.

 

. I like this, because it is so totally outrageous. However, the whole story is possible and plausible. Please post that $500 receipt, you may have a adjustment coming to you from Toyota Motors. Most of the time, car salesmen know nothing especially about the Prius.
My favorite game is asking them questions and listening to their incredible replies.

 

A tire store will pop in an aftermarket TPMS for around $70.00

 

Sounds more logical.

 

Here you go.

 

This brings to mind a question: are all TPMS sensors and receivers identical? My understanding with the Cadillac I mentioned was that the technician had to use a handheld computer to "talk" to the receiver and get it to accept the sensor at each wheel. So if you are buying a sensor on eBay, how would you know it would work with a particular car's system? Same thing would be true for one in a tire store- would it work with any manufacturer's monitoring unit? Just wondering, and maybe someone on the forum knows.

 

I got a donut spare too, can you use the lug nuts that come off of the tire you replace or do you need other lug nuts?

I put the spare tire on one day to see if it fit and it was fine. Didn't drive it though. Why would you have to buy extra lug nuts?