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Fit and finish

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Vintage Pep, Apr 1, 2016.

  1. Vintage Pep

    Vintage Pep Member

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    I have a 2016 blizzard pearl prius two and it's my first prius. I'm really enjoying the smooth ride, thrift gas, radio, leds and such. But i have to say some of the interior parts seem rather cheap. And there are some pretty noticeable gaps in the interior. There is a substantial gap on the top dash piece to the left of the split screens. On both ends

    Also on the door panels toward the side mirrors. Looks like the padding on both sides is sticking out.

    When I look at the interior of my wife's 2014 passat se the finish looks impeccable. but some of the prius interior well............ leaves somethings or fit to be desired.

    Anyone else notice these gaps or is it just this prius. Anyways not a deal breaker but thought for a 2016 i was hoping for more. I checked out a 2015 prius 3 before getting this one and there didn't seem to be as many gaps on the dash pieces. Or floating bridge.

    Anyone else have thoughts on this?? Many thanks.
     

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  2. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Welcome to the Prius family. So how is the resale value on your Passat? ;)
     
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  3. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Man, that don't look too good. :eek: Is that for real?

    I haven't noticed any interior fit or finish flaws. But I do believe the quality of the materials could be better. I'm not expecting perfection, and there are things I really like about my Three model. But there's also a few areas that are disappointing, especially given all the "hype" about the new Global Platform.

    I promised not to bore people again with my tire noise issue. So I'll move on to a new rant... Cabin noise! Seriously. My new Prius is louder than the Toyota pickup I once owned! And it's louder than the Nissan and Hondas I owned. And it's more noisy than my old '05 Camry I owned. My 2016 Prius has more cabin noise than my dad's ancient 1984 Camry! :mad:

    The more I drive the freeways, the more the noise is bugging the hell outa me. Wind noise! Engine noise! Other vehicle noise! It was so bad yesterday, it sounded like the rear window was not fully up; or maybe the door was ajar! There seems to be very little sound insulation in my car. (I wonder if I got stuck with a pre-production test model?) I cannot relax, or enjoy the drive with all that irritating noise filling the cabin. I may end up selling this Prius before the year is up. My nerves are already shot.

    All you guys who drive Gens 1, 2, and 3s, say the 2016 is a much quieter vehicle. Excuse me, but have you had your hearing checked?! You must be so accustomed to the noise of those previous models, that the new Gen4 actually sounds quiet to you. ;)


    Merged


    I watched every YouTube review of the new Prius. And read just about every online drive test review. Buried in the fine print, it says: "Toyota paid for the reviewer's lodging, meals, and transportation to this event."

    Do you really think they will mention anything negative about the car? Very little, if at all.
     
    #3 Coast Cruiser, Apr 1, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
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  4. JohnF

    JohnF Active Member

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    Oh I don't know about that. A certain amount of clever snark seems to have become the norm among so many automobile journalisti when scribbling their reviews of the Prius. Pathetic that these supposed experts have such difficulty changing with the times, grasping the appeal of fuel-efficient vehicles, and seeing past "stomp-and-go", and "look cool". I subscribed to Road & Track for many years until all the posturing finally wore me out.
     
    #4 JohnF, Apr 1, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2016
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  5. thunderstruck

    thunderstruck Active Member

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    Maybe you could complain to your dealer and test drive another one on the same route and see how it compares. Is there a consensus on which tires (if any) that come with the car are quietest? I had one car where I was aware of this, courtesy of a forum, and stipulated the dealer exchange tires with another car before I took delivery. When I buy, I'll tell the dealer to swap tires with another car on the lot if there's a better choice to be made.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Danny was impressed on his test drive. Maybe his test drive vehicle was a ringer, extra insulation? Or their quality control is slipping.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    take it back to the dealer, show the the fitment problems, and look at some others on the lot. if yours is defective, ask them to fix it.
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 1, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2016
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  8. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    There's a difference in being snarky, and providing honest constructive criticism. In fact, I never saw any snark in the reviews that I viewed, or read. The worse thing most said (if you can call it "worse") is that the new Prius is still not very sporty, the handling is still pretty average, and is still fairly slow to accelerate. And they praised all the good features. I think I viewed 3 dozen video reviews. There was no haters... but it seems very strange to me, that only 2 guys made note of the cabin noise.

    I'm certainly no hater. My entire family are long-term Toyota owners. I've had 3, and now a 4th with the new Prius. But unfortunately, I just find the cabin noise in my Gen4 to be unreasonably loud. Certainly louder than my previous three Toyotas. And to me, thats just unacceptable.


    (One of the Toyota sponsored events, was in Malibu, Ca. A couple of the reviewers stated that Toyota pays their air fare, lodging, and meals, and that they joyfully go to all these new car roll-outs.)

    merged

    Absolutely, Mendel. Maybe not a "ringer", but I would bet that the vehicles provided to the media at these roll-out events, are carefully gone over by Toyota. That's why I like Consumer Reports. They buy their cars from the dealer lot and test them. I haven't seen their latest review on the 2016, but I heard it was positive.

    Makes one wonder, at least it makes ME wonder, if all that hyped extra sound insulation and extra welds, actually made into the build process? Wouldn't it be great to talk with one of the assembly workers? (Not the robots :sneaky:)

    merged

    Agreed. That's the worst interior fit & finish I've ever seen on a Toyota. I wouldn't accept that. I would just ask for a whole new car!


    Merge.....

    Thanks, thunderstruck. No go from the dealer on the tires. But If the car had proper (and better) insulation, it wouldn't matter so much if the tires were a bit noisy. I'm beating a dead horse here; boring everyone. But my freeway drive yesterday, reaffirmed to me just how loud the traffic and wind noise is in the cabin.

    But of course, it's just one man's opinion. All the seasoned veteran Prius drivers in this forum, seem to think the Gen4 is very quiet. If that's the case, I'm sure glad I didn't buy a Gen2!!
     
    #8 Coast Cruiser, Apr 1, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
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  9. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

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    With regard to your photo of the door up by the mirror, It looks like you are missing a plastic component that covers the foam.

    What does yours look like on the passenger side? Here is a photo of mine for comparison:

    image.jpeg

    WRT your first photo, mine looks much the same. To my eye and sensiblities I don't see an issue there given the complexity of curves coming together. A good CAD guy or cabinet maker might think differently :).

    Here is a photo of my car for comparison.
     

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    #9 ATHiker, Apr 1, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
  10. KenzoTH

    KenzoTH Member

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    Sorry for the foam showing. I have the same color Prius two with no foam showing. Show it to the dealer, there may be trim missing there. The other photo by the split screen is more typical. Mine does happen to be tighter, but I tested other higher levels with more irregularity in that seam. Overall, the fit/finish seems pretty good to me, especially compared to my creaky 2010 Prius.
     
  11. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    Its not that bad! I've driven MANY cars that sound much worse on the inside than my car. My 05 is only a little louder than my 16. There is much less road noise than the Hondas I've owned.
     
  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Lectro, I can only comment on what my Prius sounds like. I'm not trying to convince everyone that all 2016's are noisy. I'm only talking about my car, specifically. I owned 2 Honda Civics and the Accord. My Prius is louder than those cars were. And it's louder than my two Camrys were. Just my personal opinion.

    During another freeway drive this morning, I couldn't even have a relaxed conversation with the two passengers in the back seat. I never brought up the noise issue... it was they that kept saying: "Pardon me? Say that again?" Apparently, the cabin is even louder in the back seat. Closer to the hatchback.

    Enjoy your Toyo tires. :D :ROFLMAO: o_O








     
  13. Vintage Pep

    Vintage Pep Member

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    Thanks I think I'll do that. Did you all notice the piece looks like it was cut with a pair of Kindergarden scissor!! But yes I will take it back to the dealer next week.
     
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  14. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

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    You should take it in to Toyota and test drive other Prii and see if its just your car. If it is, then tell the service guy to ride with you in the car and ask him what he thinks. They might install more sound insulation.
     
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  15. Netcub

    Netcub Active Member

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    There are sound meter apps available on Andriod and Apple. I'd suggest trying one on your car, then take the same route with another Prius...
    The 16 I drove was super quiet compared to my 10...
     
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  16. JohnF

    JohnF Active Member

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    I just got a loud noise from mine. From scraping the left edge of the front bumper on a curb. At least the scraping was underneath the bottom edge so it's not visible. And my new car is now "broken in".
     
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  17. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    definitely some trim missing on that door, it makes you wonder what other bits of trim or insulation could be missing elsewhere.
     
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  18. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    Me too, John. I have to remember to go slower over familiar dips, driveways, and bumps... that in the past were no problem. I've scraped *something* under there, 3 times now.
     
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  19. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

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    I hate to sound like a pessimist, but I would sure like to talk to an assembly line worker.

    I was wondering, are the airbags in our new Pruis safe? Did they ever get that huge mess fixed? I haven't heard anything further. Did Toyota find a new company to make airbags?
     
  20. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Airbags....?? Your Prius is a 2016....