1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Special Under Carriage Reinforcement?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by inferno, May 6, 2016.

  1. inferno

    inferno Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    1,072
    405
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I was told by a salesperson that the underneath is extra reinforced versus the 3rd gen because the 4th gen has a better chance of bottoming out. Is this true? Or are Toyota salespeople still not up to snuff with the Prii...
     
    ETP likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,671
    49,845
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    this is why toyota salespeople will never be able to sell prime.
     
    ETP and alanclarkeau like this.
  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    What, you're doubting the integrity of a car salesman ?
    :rolleyes:
    They never lie, do they ? :cautious:
     
    ETP, JohnF and alanclarkeau like this.
  4. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    223
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    First thing I ask a car sales persons " WHAT DO YOU DRIVE? " and why that one? Most sales people have very little knowledge about the products they are selling! do your home work first b4 you go shopping!
     
    ETP likes this.
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The gen 4 frames has 60% stiffer resistance to bending. This has nothing to do with bottoming out. Salesmen are only lying when their lips move.
     
    ETP and kithmo like this.
  6. 'LectroFuel

    'LectroFuel Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    880
    673
    0
    Location:
    San Juan Capistrano, CA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    My 2016 doesn't bottom out. My 2005 does though. He probably lied... shocker.:cool:
     
    ETP likes this.
  7. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2016
    791
    402
    0
    Location:
    Sausalito
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Four
    Why would a car bottom out?

    The gen 4 jumps and gets air borne easier than the gen 3?
    Gen 4 does more off road driving?

    Seriously,
    Look for some undercarriage photos for comparison.
    Maybe the gen 4 has some additional cross bracing (such as the aftermarket sells) to stiffen the chassis.

    Let us know your findings.
     
    ETP likes this.
  8. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    486
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    The extra bracing is hidden behind the flux capacitor, makes everything seem more posh.

    The gen4 is .9" lower to the ground, which is why it might touch objects more often, extra body bracing is available, just like the gen2, more so than the gen3, there's a thread about cusco braces and strut bars.
     
    ETP likes this.
  9. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2014
    534
    551
    13
    Location:
    The Middle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Ground clearance is only .2" lower than Gen 3, though (5.3" to 5.1").
     
    ETP and JohnF like this.
  10. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    2,802
    1,170
    0
    Location:
    Auburdale FL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    What is weird is my Touring does not scrape the driveway like the Gen 2 and Gen 3 does. Gen 3 was a non touring so maybe that is the difference for the Gen 3.