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2010 Prius First Drive - What do you want me to cover?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Danny, Feb 24, 2009.

  1. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

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    What Alarm99 said - especially if you can DISABLE the traction control - like - MOST other cars with traction control out there !!!

    That is the single most gripe I have. Real annoying at Stop signs with snowed roads.

    The wheel threads get clogged up with snow - and you can't spin the front wheels to clean them and regain traction. You end up crawling forward at 1MPH and annoying other drivers too.
     
  2. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    Grab all the tech documents you can, especially the NCF manual if it's available.

    Wayne
     
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Price and date of release.

    Danny I think more important than telling us how the car performs would be to use your presence at this event to educate the media contingent about the Prius. Show the enthusiasm we have for the car, point out the great attraction of hypermiling and beating your last high score.

    Show the passion to the world.
    Take an album of images from PriusChat and leave it around for enquiring minds to find so they can see the things enthusiasts do with Prius. That is images of modifications, loads in Prius, screen shots of 99.9mpg. Print ups of stories of 2000+km on one tank, road trips, Wayne's EBH, DNA tours and others that illustrate the strength of the community around the Prius.

    I just think it more important to expose the public to the real story than to stand before the PriusChat congregation with glowing reports.

    Even promoting the earlier Prius will help Toyota sales of the 3G Prius, if you can get more for your current car, (and 92% of us will buy another Prius,) it makes the next Prius more affordable.

    By the way, I think Danny has worked hard to make PriusChat what it is, and this is a result of that rather than luck. Good on ya bloke.
     
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    You can't, we already know that. Buy the right tyres for where you live or move south.
     
  5. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Danny,

    I'm writing through jealously-clenched teeth (try saying that with YOUR teeth clenched).

    Please look for visibility changes while driving -- particularly the A pillar up front, but also side-view mirrors and out the back.

    Check on handling and see if you believe it is more responsive or "tighter" than the current car.

    Give us a report on the "usability" of the controls on the steering wheel. In particular, I'd like to know if the little "thumb-thingies" are as good as I've imagined they'd be in actual use. Can you do everything without even looking down at the steering wheel?

    Find out whether the heated seats go off at a certain temp. I'd hate to have to reach down that far to turn them off.

    See if you can't bring something that is JUST too big for your hatch and see if it won't fit in the new car. (Of course, you could just bring a tape measure!)

    Test out those seats: High, Low, Front, Back, leg support, etc. AND lumbar!

    For whatever you are able to do, Danny, THANKS!!
     
  6. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Please confirm presence or existence of USB or other ipod, iphone connection options that will give steering wheel control etc., including more details re bluetooth audio streaming. Thanks.
     
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i would just be interested to know if the 2010 drives any different. its bound to feel different in some way or another
     
  8. Vondutch

    Vondutch New Member

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    My test drive question: Drivers' seat height: how low can it go?

    Besides the driving impressions/questions, have a great time!
     
  9. Danny

    Danny Admin/Founder
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    The first event where I'll be able to drive the car actually isn't one of the Prius Connection events, it's a separate media event. We'll be doing a 6 hour ride and drive, and while I doubt we'll be hitting the interstate in the cars, I'm hopeful that we'll be on some 55 mph highways.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Should be able to. These drives usually cover a wide range of roads to give the media a good feel for the car.
     
  11. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    Danny, it's something small, but please see if you can find out exactly under what conditions the LED emits ligh onto the gear selector... Does it light all the time when the parking lights and healights are on, only when in drive with lights on etc. And if possible maybe a picture if it is dark out or dusk as to how bright it shines down onto the blue gear selector.

    Also, please take a look inside the trunk and seeif there is now a cover that can be removed for easy access to change out the bulbs which light the license plate.

    Sorry, nothing which really needs you to drive the car but perhaps 2 things you can check out real quick...

    Thanks as always and have fun!
     
  12. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    3 times: stomp on the go pedal for 0 - 60, then skid to a stop.

    I wanna know if a brid really gets better mpg, or if it is all hype.
     
  13. Vincent

    Vincent Don't Wait Until Tomorrow

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    Please try to find out if they've dropped the Navigation and Telephone lockout features; if not, can you ask if there's a programable work-around to enter information while the new Prius is moving.

    Thanks,
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Take it out at night (hopefully part of the 6 hours will include some dusk or night time driving) and make sure to nab the one with LEDs!!
     
  15. paulccullen

    paulccullen New Member

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    Danny: I have two questions (which others have already mentioned, so I'll second them). They concern items that are, to me, the biggest deficiencies of the current model:

    • Has the rear vision improved (bigger rear window, smaller rear posts)?
    • Has the traction control improved (less slippage on wet pavement)?
    Have fun, I'm envious. :D
     
  16. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I would like you to focus on ....

    Do you feel really comfortable in the car? Can you easily attain a seat and steering wheel position that feels comfortable to you?

    Do you have good forward visibility with no obstruction from the rearview mirror of what you need to be seeing on the road?
     
  17. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Paul and others,

    As others have noted in other threads, the rear vision has improved slightly because the spoiler bar splitting the rear windows is now thinner, so it blocks the view and distracts the eye less.

    However, the huge triangular rear corner blindspots created by the design of the high rear quarter panel and the sloping hatch are still there and are as big as ever.

    As to the traction control, we were told that it's been improved to work more seamlessly. But what that means in the real world remains to be seen. (My guess is that the interval when all power is cut off has been reduced.)
     
  18. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Could someone drive the car strictly as a fuel economy test looking at final MPG, then repeat the route in a 2G with the same technique and compare the MPG?
     
  19. Skwyre7

    Skwyre7 What's the catch?

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    IIRC, Wayne (xcel), from CleanMPG, is going too. I'm sure he'll see what kind of mileage the 3G can put out. I don't know if there will be any kind of 2G vs. 3G course though. But it's a great idea.
     
  20. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    That's a good idea. I think I know a 2G to do that with too.

    Wayne