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

Awd when?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by phase, Nov 17, 2023.

  1. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    I don't really track mpg. As far as driving, no difference except more rubber to absorb road stuff.
     
  2. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    i thought air suspension lets you lower and raise a car?
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,123
    11,561
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Some do. It's what the cars with adjustable ones use. Though in the past, air suspensions didn't do that. They were used for smoother rides. So an aftermarket one may or may not be adjustable.
     
  4. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    All the research I’ve done says the whole point of air is to raise and lower the car versus getting coil overs that are just static and let your scrape speed bumps over and over
     
  5. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    Well, go ahead then report back. Lol
    After all, you did the research
     
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,123
    11,561
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The wife had a Lincoln Mark VII when we met. it had an air suspension and wasn't adjustable. We traded it in when it was going to cost $2000 to replace a flat 'bag' in it back in the early '90s. Then someone here that bought a much more recent used Prius with obnoxious wheels had an aftermarket system that wasn't adjustable.

    I agree that they are only worth the effort and cost of installing aftermarket to get the adjustable ride height, but that isn't why air suspensions originated. High end models use to them without adjustability just for the smooth ride in the past, and some aftermarket ones are that way.

    Are you saying that air suspensions can't be adjustable?

    The Model S and X have such to allow greater clearance for going over bumps and such at low speeds, and will lower the car at highway speeds to reduce the frontal area. Ram is saying their PHEV, and I assume the BEV, will also have such a system.
     
  7. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
  8. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    First of alll that video shows lowering the car from stock then back. Not raising it.
    But go ahead and spend for it and report back. Lol
    What does being a boomer have to do with anything? Racist...
     
  9. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    You guys were saying air suspensions can’t be adjusted and that it’s for soft ride quality and doesn’t move. I was proving a point
     
  10. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    I never said that
     
  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    22,123
    11,561
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Boomer is a race(n)

    It is actually the other way with their standard system; can raise it but not lower.
    https://www.airliftcompany.com/support/faqs/
    The performance system can raise and lower.
    https://www.airliftperformance.com/
    Non adjustable systems do exist. They've been been around for decades in high end cars. Need to make sure the product considered does what you want.
    That's why Cadillac first started using them in the '50s, and is what the majority of factory systems were used for. Adjustable ones existed before that for leveling trucks when loaded up. The adjustability just wasn't something considered desirable for a consumer car back then. Could also have been impracticable to do with the tech of the time. Adjustable systems are now available as factory equipment on more cars.

    My intent was to just convey that you need to make sure the system you want does what you want.

    You never specifically stated what your issue was with them wanting an air suspension.
     
  12. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    From quick research I’ve done, you can raise 2 inches and drop 2 inches so a total movement of 4 inches. New Prius is around 6 inches of ground
    Clearance. Would be nice to lower it to 4 inches on the interstate but also raise it to 8 inches on pot hole filled dirt BLM roads or deep snow storm snow
     
  13. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    Which one are you getting?
    Post your install and results when you do it!
     
  14. phase

    phase Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2023
    94
    38
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    no idea. i have to go check around. i still want something cheap. i dont care about ride quality or '' auto adjusting'' and special other features. i just want to raise and lower the car on command with reliability
     
  15. Dyjital

    Dyjital Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2017
    84
    54
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    Your AWD engages not just for acceleration, it also engages for vectoring (I think that's the right word) to help the vehicle go around the corners. VSC Vehicle Stability Control

    You can also disable the Traction Control and Stability Control and the rear will engage freely.. you can do fun cookies in parking lots full of snow.

    So says my lifted 23' XLE AWD
     
  16. Blackat

    Blackat Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2023
    279
    187
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    Limited AWD-e
    How did you lift it?
     
  17. Dyjital

    Dyjital Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2017
    84
    54
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    PRIUS 2023+

    Prius OffRoad.
    It took me with a lift and auto experience 2.5 hours to install the lift then it went in for an alignment.
     
  18. Winston Smith

    Winston Smith Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2020
    30
    15
    0
    Location:
    OH
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The literature I've read indicates that AWD-e in the prior generation Prius was an induction motor, but that the current system uses a permanent magnet motor in the rear. I have no independent knowledge either way, and just because Toyota literature says something doesn't mean it is correct.

    I'm curious about the handling benefit of AWD-e in reducing torque to the front wheels at low speeds. The old 7hp set up was supposed to provide some drive when needed up to 43 mph, so I would expect the newer 40hp rear drive to work up to that speed as well. You'd think there would be video of someone with a new AWD-e Prius with TC turned off ripping around in the snow. The closest I've found is testing of the Corolla Cross hybrid, which I understand to have roughly the same drive train.