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

What accessories:What would make the Prius a perfect Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ctbering, Sep 7, 2008.

  1. ctbering

    ctbering Rambling Man

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    1,650
    123
    5
    Location:
    Chicago Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I am trying to pick upgrades for my 2008 Prius based on safety features or accessories I need.
    While members of this group like the Prius so much I have read many threads about either safety additions or accessories that make their cars more road worthy.
    For example, I am surprised Toyota installs such poor quality of tires. I am also surprised there are rather inexpensive accessories that make the car a better handling vehicle or that some owners believe the Prius may be vulnerable in the under-carriage damage.
    Is this a case of Toyota cutting corners on protecting very sophisticated engineering?
    I am just wondering what members feel the most important safety upgrades or accessories would make the Prius, the ideal Prius. I am not looking whether it should have more horsepower or better turning radius, etc..
     
    #1 ctbering, Sep 7, 2008
  2. fcc

    fcc New Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2008
    245
    4
    0
    Location:
    Nashua NH
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    seems like you could have solved a lot of these issues by getting a touring model.
    better handling in my mind, can stop in less distance, wide tires for better traction, etc..

    the best addition i have made to my car was a box of square tissue in the center
    compt. fits perfectly ;-)
     
    #2 fcc, Sep 8, 2008
  3. Joekc

    Joekc Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2007
    265
    16
    8
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Tissues also fit perfectly (out of the box) in the "secret" compartment at the bottom of the center armrest.
     
    #3 Joekc, Sep 8, 2008
  4. thepolarcrew

    thepolarcrew Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    4,426
    271
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    My next one might be the touring. Had a hard enough time getting the base #2 with out waiting until next year.

    I have started the mod process, door moldings and mudflaps. Have a tire that wants to keep going down, need to look at it as soon as I can pry it out of the wife's hands.

    As far as cutting corners, I couldn't say one way or another. As for tires, I know when they build a line of anything that needs a lot of rubber, sometimes you get what you get. Will see how long they last. Have run BF Goodrich on alot of my vehicles with good luck, not sure about resistance properties though.

    Would like to have seen an instrument cluster, oil pressure, engine temp, rpms etc. and less glare on windshield from illumination at night.

    I would liked to have seen a small mess inner screen in the front grille to protect from rocks, does the touring have this.

    Am looking at the stiffening plate and to strut tower support or bar.

    Looked underneath and not really sure it needs the skid plate unless you are driving rough back roads or off roading.
     
    #4 thepolarcrew, Sep 8, 2008
  5. Dozzer

    Dozzer Prius Noob

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2008
    189
    5
    0
    Location:
    Swansea, UK
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Auto heated folding wing mirrors would be nice...

    One click auto up and down windows on all four doors with anti-pinch would also be nice...

    Changes to the MFD display graphics.. the width of the yellow mpg bars should vary with speed.
    Even better.. maybe a line graph updated at 30sec/60sec/2min/5min intervals so you can "drill down" (zoom in and out) also scrollable. And it remembers it when powered off and on.

    More info on MFD.. it's there so use it... like Engine revs, engine on/off indicator on the engine graphic (on = yellow off= green etc) Maybe a complete screen devoted to the engine.. for temps, rpm etc.
     
    #5 Dozzer, Sep 8, 2008
  6. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
    313
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    -A usb connector for any mp3 player ( turn it into a harddrive to acces the music )
     
    #6 Flying White Dutchman, Sep 8, 2008
  7. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
    389
    105
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Glare on the windshield is drastically reduced by dimming the dash lights. Beyond that, I fear that all your MFD gizmo suggestions would be too distracting to me - I have trouble chewing gum and walking at the same time:)
     
    #7 Whiteyprius, Sep 8, 2008
  8. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Since the OP asked about most important safety features, beyond the rear camera and Bluetooth, I would suggest getting the Bluetooth defeat mod so that you don't have to fidget with the small buttons on your phone if you need to dial while the car is in motion.

    As for accessories, none of them are really important safety features IMO. They're just nice to haves.

    I'd love to have a USB port as well as an input port for the MFD to plug in an aftermarket GPS device.
     
    #8 zenMachine, Sep 8, 2008
  9. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Seems none of you have hit on the first mod any Prius driven by a guy would want ...

    A Blonde, large breasts, green eyes, short skirt, rich beyond the dreams of Averous!!!

    Anything else is just 2nd!!

    You gals can choose ONE of the following options ..
    1 - Brad Pitt
    2 - George Clooney
    3 - Tommy Lee

    73 de Pat KK6PD
     
    #9 KK6PD, Sep 8, 2008
  10. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2007
    1,555
    81
    0
    Location:
    Akron, OH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Was going to say I already have that feature except you added the rich part.:)
     
    #10 morpheusx, Sep 8, 2008
  11. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Mans got to have his standards!!

    KK6PD
     
    #11 KK6PD, Sep 8, 2008
  12. ctbering

    ctbering Rambling Man

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    1,650
    123
    5
    Location:
    Chicago Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Seems you missed the point. If Touring model was the be all, Touring members would not have ordered any accessories, yet they have, some have ordered many accessories. I was just trying to prioritize accessories (or necessities) for my STANDARD PRIUS, there I said it.
    I am one of those Prius drivers that didn't experience the handling difference between the Standard Prius and the Touring like CR reportedly did, although I drove both. I realize some Touring members of this group have experienced improvements in handling. Other members commented that Touring felt like a harsher ride with diminished mileage. Pick your poison.
    I am happy you found a place for your square tissues. I have put that somewhere on my list...
     
    #12 ctbering, Sep 8, 2008
  13. Celtic Blue

    Celtic Blue New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2008
    2,224
    139
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Programmable MFD display to show things like aux. 12V charge, coolant temps, engine rpm, tire pressure (this might be limited to a % offset from initialization), or other goodies. (Bonus points for allowing user input limits for display prompts.)
     
    #13 Celtic Blue, Sep 9, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)