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

Wife gets sick...

Discussion in 'Prius v Accessories and Modifications' started by WaterDragon, Oct 12, 2016.

  1. WaterDragon

    WaterDragon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    18
    10
    0
    Location:
    Palo Alto, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My wife gets sick riding in our 2013 Prius V Three. :( She now wishes we had gotten a used BMW 3 Series instead.

    I love it as a "family" car, and she had no problem in the test drive, but now that we have had it for awhile, she can't stand it anymore. If my wife can't ride in it then it isn't so good for the family! So I would like to "fix" the ride for her, as I really like the size and MPG on this car.

    My plan is to start with braces and sway bars to see how far that gets me in terms of firming up the handling and removing the body sway in the corners, and then move into tires and rims and then shocks if I need to.

    I am thinking to add:
    Cusco Front Sway Bar
    Cusco Rear Sway Bar

    Cusco Strut Tower Brace & Strut Bar
    Cusco Front Lower Arm Bar

    Cusco Front Chassis Brace
    Cusco Center Cahssis Brace
    Cusco Rear Chassis Brace

    Anything else I should be considering in a first pass at solving the problem?

    Can anybody comment on the Cusco Adjustable Coil Overs? I don't really want to lower the car a lot, as I like to go camping with a bunch of heavy gear, but I am open to any solutions, as I really don't want to get a BMW! Hahah!

    Any tire suggestions for better handling without ruining the ride?

    Thanks!
     
  2. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,854
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Doesn't make any sense. Could just be an excuse because she wants the beamer, that simple.

    Toyota and Lexus vehicles in general are very soft and mushy. They soften everything from the suspension to the steering wheel feedback. This is usually better for people who get sick in vehicles from motion sickness since you aren't moving as much. By contrast a BMW for the US market (not true outside of the US) is tuned to be what 'Muricans think is sporty, meaning stiff suspension and jarring bumpiness. You can feel a pea sized rock on the road. This causes the whole thing to bounce and jiggle aggressively but all the time. I would think this is worse than a Toyota.

    If she just wants a BMW for the sake of having a BMW, no amount of sway bars and braces will help because body roll and stiffness isn't the problem.

    If you just want a harsher ride (ala BMW) bump up the tire PSIs to 42+ psi. That should jolt her out of sickness if that's what it is...
     
    djasonw, douglasjre and Bluegrassman like this.
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    A new car is way cheaper than a new wife. Get the BMW.
     
    Bluegrassman, DonDNH and Sooner Al like this.
  4. WaterDragon

    WaterDragon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    18
    10
    0
    Location:
    Palo Alto, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Hahah! Maybe I should just get her the BMW, but since she has given me permission to spend money modding the Prius I am inclined to do that FIRST, and then get her another car if she isn't satisfied, that way I end up with a nicely modded Prius either way.
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    The v Five, right out of the box, with 215/50R17 shoes, exhibits none of the issues you seem to be interested in solving.

    There have been various reports of 'wandering', 'weathervaning', body roll, etc. on both hatchback and wagon, but we have not experienced them.

    The v Five runs like a train on tracks on the highway, winds, trucks, no matter.

    Before I modded up the chassis stiffness (assuming those add-ons actually work -- see some of "Mike-500" 's comments) I would look at tires/rims and alignment. If you're sensing fishtailing (yaw variation), for example, I would check rear toe-in and bushings, first.
     
    djasonw likes this.
  6. IMkenNY

    IMkenNY Im just being nosy

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    477
    302
    6
    Location:
    Tropical Buffalo NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Similarly, I was constantly feeling ill while riding in my wife's bmw 3 series.

    I discovered it wasn't the BMWs fault at all but the presence of my mothernlaw in the back seat :)
     
  7. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    1,612
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Franklin TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I agree with Air_boss. I'm not sure if yours is the five, or not. But my v is a five and it is a VERY flat and stable ride. It is the least "mushy" riding Toyota product I've ever ridden in. It almost rides to harsh for my taste.

    Also. A very important point, ALL v models have pitch and bounce control. Making the vehicle never sway and bounce.

    Just this past weekend I experienced this working, I was driving down a for familiar country road, going pretty fast I went over a small little hill, this is where all my cars in the past would always make your stomach jump. Not in the v at all! Smooth and flat. Good Toyota!

    Anyway I just wanted to put that out there
     
  8. Jimi1976

    Jimi1976 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    242
    124
    0
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Sway bars and braces will stiffen things up a bit. I wouldn't waste your money on rims.....but rather get stiffer struts and King springs.
    It is also possible the CVT is what she is reacting too....in which case, none of your mods will correct.
     
  9. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    485
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    My wife has an X1, 7" of clearence, 32 mpg, for winters and trips, summers she drives the '11, gen3, so she can bring a dog, (leave the air on when doing errands) best of both worlds.

    She's planning on turning the Prius into a Tessla 3, put down the money, methinks she will reconsider when she sees the size, but, it's her choice;)

    I have a gen4 and a ram ecodiesel, winter are rough here.
     
  10. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    223
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Prius have a very comfortable ride! I think the issue is much deeper! That maybe she don't like the car period. And you wanted something a sportier, with more room and offers lot of mpg! I suggest to look into tires! First! Tires has every thing to do with traction grip, ride and rolling resistance ! There are tires that offer a little of all of these ! You can do all the performace suspension body bracing without the right tires it won't amount to much!
     
  11. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    223
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    What is a pitch and bounce controller?
     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,477
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Are you sure she's not running a low grade fever or perhaps has a virus? The FIRST thing to do is to check air pressure in the tires and put them back to factory. The second would be a good suspension checkup by the dealer to ensure no broken parts or worn out struts (unlikely in most cases under 200k miles). The third would be to change tires to something like MIchelins.

    As stated above, stiffening the ride will be counterproductive and just make you less satisfied with the v due to the significant extra expenditures that you can't get back if you sell. Fyi, my 2012 v3 (virtually the same as your 2013 v3) rides better than any BMW, small truck, or standard Prius that I have owned or ridden in. Not saying better handling than a BMW doing country switchback roads at 90 mph, but regular driving in a decent car. The pitch and bounce control uses the engine computer controls to counteract excessive undesired motion. My two cents...
     
    Aaron Vitolins likes this.
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,477
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
  14. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    221
    162
    0
    Location:
    Bucks County, PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    As others has mentioned, I don't think the braces and sway bars are the way to go. I have a 2013 V 5 with the17" wheels. The ride is pretty stable. I think a set of 17" wheels and lower profile tires would make the most improvement in the handling and stability.

    My daughter has a tendency to get car sick in some cars but is ok with with our Prius.
     
    xpcman likes this.
  15. WaterDragon

    WaterDragon Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    18
    10
    0
    Location:
    Palo Alto, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks all. I am sold on bumping up to 17" rims with lower profile tires. I looked at the 18" rims but there don't seem to be any good tire choices at that size.

    I will also consider the rear sway bar and center brace Rude person's thought were "worth it" in other threads.

    I have also seen that Cusco has a new "Street A" adjustable set of coil overs, (with a super cool stepper motor so you can adjust from the drivers seat) and I might try those if these mods don't solve the problem so I can experiment a bit with different stiffness to see if she feels better about it.
     
  16. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    223
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
  17. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2015
    223
    69
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Rear sway bar is a must! I didn't believe the rear sway would do much because it's not attach to the body only stiffen up the torsion bar! But I found after installing a trd rear sway high speed tracking improved very much! Before around 75- 90!mph the prius need constance correction going straight! Now at even 90+ mph it tracks fairly straight. Fyi. I have cusco frt sway, frt lower brace, front power brace, center brace rear brace trd rear sway, RSR springs, went from 17" to 16" wheels michelin premiere A/S tires! It's a stiffer ride! Vs stock! But it's really handles! It won't be like our c7 / mx5 .
     
  18. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    3,902
    1,064
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    What's the deal with auto-correct-by-website of Mike -- 500 to "Rude person"?
     
  19. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,477
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    It sounds like your wife wants the BMW regardless and you want the stiffeners and 17" tires and rims regardless. You really should find a 2012-14 v5 with the 17" low profile tires and test drive it. If she does not like the v3 with higher profile tires, I predict she will really dislike it stiffened up. The higher profile 16" tires with factory pressures absorb bumps and vibrations and don't really cause straight line problems at high speeds (85mph limit on our tollways and you still might get passed). The car can suffer slightly from high velocity cross winds at Texas autobahn speeds. High speed cornering is what you gain with heavy duty stiffening. Again just my two cents...(in an effort to save you thousands).

    ps: The 17" wheels will throw off your speed and distance calibration. Factory final drive ratios went from 3.27:1 on a standard Prius to 3.70:1 on the Prius v which is the significant reason for lower mpg but better load capacity.
     
    #19 rjparker, Oct 13, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2016
  20. Jimi1976

    Jimi1976 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2013
    242
    124
    0
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Skip the mods and just get a Tesla.

    But yes....new wheels will throw off speedo

    Sway bars will be huge
     
    #20 Jimi1976, Oct 13, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2016