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

Prius complaints?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Perrault, Mar 29, 2008.

  1. Perrault

    Perrault New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Kentucky!
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I've had my 2008 Prius for a month now and I love it! I was thinking today that although I do love this car, it is not perfect. Just wanted to hear from others about your complaints. Here are mine thus far:

    1. The front seats do not provide the lumbar support that I need.(I'm 6'3")
    2. Sometimes I hear a rattle coming from under the dash just to the left of the steering wheel.
    3. Wind plays havoc on driving this vehicle.
    4. I drive with my left arm resting up on the drivers door. The piece of plastic there doesn't feel as secure as it ought to.
    5. There have been a couple of times that the starting of the ICE wasn't as smooth as usual-no big deal here- I'm being really picky.

    Again, I LOVE THIS CAR! The good points are too numerous to list. I'd like to hear from everyone concerning their pet/peaves.
    Thanks,
     
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I always buy a Mars Bar when I fill up with petrol. I miss my fortnightly Mars Bar and I am losing weight.

    It's the only one I can think of, sorry.









    I don't really buy a Mars Bar every time I fill up, I made that bit up.
     
  3. jrmason

    jrmason New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2008
    30
    0
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere above the equator
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Hi

    I've had my Prius for a couple of weeks now and I'd really like to have a telescopic steering wheel! Other than that I really like this car!

    Jon
     
  4. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2005
    3,862
    18
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Watch out; if it's like the 2004-2005, that's only painted. If you use suntan lotion, it'll take the paint off.
     
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,037
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    1. Try this: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/41386-great-back-support-your-seats.html
    2. The hard surfaces bounce sounds around and can obscure the source. Try opening and closing the all various cupholders and so on, or re-seating the little trays inside the glovebox and center console.
    3. Your reflexes should adjust to this in a few weeks.

    I wish that defrost would not default to outside air when turning the car ON. Also an adjustment for the steering wheel lights would be good.
     
  6. NYPrius1

    NYPrius1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2007
    1,181
    125
    0
    Location:
    Middletown, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    On Long Drives 5 or more hours . The front seats do not provide the lumbar support that I need.
    Also would love to move seat higher and lower.
    That's about it.
     
  7. Spectra

    Spectra Amphi-Prius

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2008
    3,123
    17
    1
    Location:
    S NJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hey what ever happened to "vent windows"? They really do provide a great breeze when you don't need the AC.

    We have those little triangular front-side windows. My girl-friend says we should put goldfish in there. :fish:
     
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    They went out with good aerodynamics. It's more efficient to move air with a fan than to pay for the increased drag.

    Tom
     
  9. BKgrey08

    BKgrey08 Enviro Engineer

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2008
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Although I've only had my '08 for 4-1/2 months, I've driven over 10k miles in various weather and these are my complaints:
    (1) Wind & larger vehicles slap this car around. Having cargo in the back to weigh it down helps. I've noticed NO IMPROVEMENT with installing that BT 'stiffening' plate. Might consider the other BT add-ons.
    (2) Having the traction control shut the tires when I was skidding actually was dangerous when I was in snowy weather. Bad enough we don't have lower drive gears, don't shut down the wheels too! Also if I hit a bump while braking, the car will actually accelerate slightly before catching itself. You have to be careful about that!
    (3) Fog lights are not independent of the main lights. Does that even make sense?
    (4) Front defroster can be slow. I hear this is a Toyota issue, in general.
    (5) Aux plug inside the arm rest is a poor placement decision.

    This is lenghty, but don't think I don't absolutely love my car! I love my Prius more than anyone I know! (My girlfriend gets jealous sometimes).
     
  10. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you tell us what you mean? one or the other but both?
     
  11. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2007
    715
    20
    0
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    None from me the car met all my expectations and more. I was hoping for telescoping steering wheels but the driving position is so comfortable that I don't miss it.
     
  12. Husker4theSpurs

    Husker4theSpurs Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2007
    656
    127
    0
    Location:
    Papillion, Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A

    Is it really true that the fog lights do not operate separately from the main headlights?
     
  13. kazie60

    kazie60 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2007
    56
    3
    0
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have owned my Spectra Blue Touring 2008 for a little over a week. My major complaint is the lack of comfort in the seats. I get a neck/shoulder ache as if there is great stress in that area. And I need more thigh support. I am considering getting someone to put washers in under the seat to see if tilting the seat up a bit will offer more support.

    The car itself is so much fun and I am learning so much every day. I understand that the fog lights work with the lower beam but not the brights which is understandable in fog.
     
  14. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

    Joined:
    May 21, 2007
    6,038
    707
    0
    Location:
    Tumwater, WA USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    RE: Being tossed about in the wind.

    Better tires.
    BT plate (but, not as much as better tires)

    The OEM tires have lousy dry/wet traction. Seriously. You will be amazed at what decent tires will do for this issue.
     
  15. nefnef

    nefnef New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I find all the air-conditioning and heating settings to be harder than non-digital controls. I like my old manual dials, easier to do with my eyes on the road. Why does the AC always come on?
     
  16. N3FOL

    N3FOL Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2007
    891
    16
    0
    Location:
    Stewartstown, PA.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have no significant complaints on my Prius. I wish I had DRL for now. When the weather warms up, I am seriously thinking of doing the fog lamp mod so I can turn it on w/out turning ON my HID's. :rolleyes:
     
  17. pbpuzzle

    pbpuzzle New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2008
    35
    0
    0
    Location:
    NC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I miss the "auto on" headlights my Chevy truck had. But no big deal. When I think I might forget to turn my headlights on, I just leave the switch in the on position. Does this cause any damage?
     
  18. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Yes. In the U.S. it is illegal to run fog lights without headlamps. Don't blame Toyota for this one.

    Tom
     
  19. Husker4theSpurs

    Husker4theSpurs Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2007
    656
    127
    0
    Location:
    Papillion, Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Can the fog lights be off while the headlights are on?
     
  20. JRMurray

    JRMurray Magnetic Gray is the only way!

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2007
    54
    0
    0
    Location:
    Surrey, BC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    This seems to be a common question...

    I guess the key is not to think that AC is for cooling exclusively; it is for both cooling and heating. If it is 32 degrees Fahrenheit outside and you set the AC for 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the system will heat the cabin until it's 70 degrees and then maintain that temperature. Conversely, if it is 90 degrees outside and you set the AC for 70, the system will cool the cabin until it's 70 degrees and then maintain that temperature.

    To maintain the temperature, the AC will cool or heat, whatever is necessary. This is why you may find sometimes that the AC will do something unexpected, such as blow cold air when it's actually cold outside. For example, it may be around 50 outside but the interior of the car, after having been parked all day in the sun, is 75. The AC would then come on for a little while to cool the cabin to 70, even though it is a little cool outside.

    I don't have my Prius yet (hopefully today), but it seems that the AC system on the Prius is no different from that of my current car, a Mercedes-Benz C230. On that car, I set the temperature and then forget about it; the car automatically adjusts either way. One more thing about this system that I assume is the same in the Prius: it will blow air (hot or cool) at whatever speed it thinks is necessary. On really hot days, it will blow cool air quite strongly until the cabin has cooled sufficiently.