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Underside Scraping while driving?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by AshleyTPriusv, Mar 5, 2016.

  1. AshleyTPriusv

    AshleyTPriusv Junior Member

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    I was wondering if anyone who owns the new 2016 Prius has Scraping issues since the car is closer to the ground?

    Last gen models I know had some Scraping when you went over high curbs or pot holes, etc.
     
  2. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    (1) Avoid high curbs, (2) Avoid pot-holes, (3) Try higher tyre-pressures (48F/46R). (#3 will help improve gas-mileage!) ;)
     
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  3. glennonrp

    glennonrp Active Member

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    I haven't had that happen. I go over speed bumps in the lot at work,too. I was afraid the front would scrape on the driveway at work too, but not so far. I drive it carefully at those times, so that may be helping. But is have not had it scrape so far.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ground clearance is about the same as last gen, maybe slightly less? Most of the time for us (3rd gen) it's a curb or wheel stop in front of the car when pulling into a parking space; you just learn to stop slightly further back. It should be ok on a typical speed bump; I tend to come to a dead-crawl over those, hate them.

    Worst scenario is a steep driveway peak: up the hill from us there's a lot of that. Glad when we bought it was in "lower Eagle Ridge" lol.
     
  5. AshleyTPriusv

    AshleyTPriusv Junior Member

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    I have a steep hill to turn up from a flat road so I'll make sure to take the 2016 Prius for a test drive up that. Hoping it does okay.

    Thanks for the input :)
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Couldn't resist:

    Capture.JPG

    Bottom of the driveway you scrape the ends of the car, which is bad enough. Top of the driveway you risk flattening the the exhaust, and/or getting completely stuck.
     
  7. GrGramps

    GrGramps Active Member

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    Building codes allow this?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Lax enforcement? Up the hill from us there's some laughable ones. Here's an actual case, a "downy":

    288.JPG
     
  9. AshleyTPriusv

    AshleyTPriusv Junior Member

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    Holly cows. The hill is not that steep, its probably a 20-30% angle compared to your first pic which would be a very steep 45% angle.

    For those drive ways you would need to own a SUV or truck or a car which is >6 inches off the ground.
     
  10. AshleyTPriusv

    AshleyTPriusv Junior Member

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    I'll take me time going up and down hills :/
     
  11. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    Where does the rain go ?
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Good question. And we get our share of rain.

    Looks like it's banked in the middle, the edges channel the water, down to culverts, around the house. Everybody up that hill has strong leg muscles, lol.
     
  13. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Hey Mendel Leisk, your Popeye quote reminds me of a favourite I remember from when I was about 12 years old, (Popeye is still my favourite cartoon of all time) Popeye (to Olive Oyl): "…Say, Olive! you're awful pretty!" Olive Oyl: "…well, gee, Popeye, you're pretty awful yourself!" (…rim shot!) (…ah, the beauty of the English language!) :rolleyes: :)
     
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  14. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    Gen 4 ground clearance is .9" lower, so all bumps are now a concern, but....what shocks are being employed, TRD (quality) or KYB (economy),
    tighter shocks will stop the dip that tears things.
     
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  15. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Well that is bad news, along with no E-AWD for the people (me) that have to deal with snow.
    The super sensitve traction control and lack of ground clearance probably is a deal breaker at least for me. Does the Gen 4 have the option to safely disable the TC?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes, think it does.
     
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  17. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    My '16 Prius Three scraped when slowly turning into the Post Office parking lot. Been going there for 40 years, and no other vehicle I've driven has ever scraped.

    I looked undeneath, and it wasn't the white front facia that scraped. It was a black plastic piece that runs the width of the front end. Not sure what that is, or what it covers, but the scrape is a reminder that I need to drive this Prius a bit differently. Maybe go into driveways at a crawl and a slight angle.
     
  18. AshleyTPriusv

    AshleyTPriusv Junior Member

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    My test drive went very smoothly. I went on a dirt road with lots of bumps and a few pot holes and no scrapping happened. I went into my driveway and no scraping I went up a hill with no scrapping however I went up it by taking the on ramp which has a different angle then just going straight up it so I will need to test drive the vehicle one more time before I purchase it to go up the hill straight on.

    As For the Prius driving in snowy condition.... I get plenty of snow down here the worst storm we got here we had driveway banks reaching 6 feet or more. I know ground clearance is an issue with snow falling but if the plows keep the roads clean then there will max be 3-5 inches of snow on the ground. I highly dought the Prius would get stuck in 3-5inch of snow even with the ground clearance being less then 5 inches, it could plow through it (I can handle snow scrapping just not pavement scrapping) Now if there was more snow then that on the road I would just take a different vehicle or a taxi no biggy.
     
  19. KenzoTH

    KenzoTH Member

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    I haven't noticed ground clearance issues different from my 2010 Prius, however, the front lower corners are ever more prone to scraping curbs and parking bumpers, so be forewarned!
     
  20. JMFB

    JMFB New Member

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    I have not had any issues. My previous generation Prius would scrape a little on speed bumps in my neighborhood if I didn't slow to a crawl. My 2016 4 Touring has not scraped yet. Maybe the Touring suspension is more stiff?
     
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