2010 Prius Driving Impressions DISCUSSION Thread

I can easily get the presets if I press button 1 2 3 etc...
Yes I set some in just to test it. I actually never listen to the radio. Well i do if my wife is in the store and I'm in the car but I don't use it while driving.
I believe the OP was asking if you could jump directly to the presets from the buttons on the steering wheel and as far as I can tell you can't. You can get to any station you want but not directly to a preset. You have to push the button on the radio itself. Or you can seek or manually tune it from the steering wheel. Maybe I misunderstood his question?

 

Steering wheel up/down will do a seek if you hold it down for 1 or 2 seconds. Maybe try a quicker press, or like a priori said, make sure you actually have some presets set up.

 

Here's how it works in my car. I have presets for FM and SAT. If I'm listening to a CD, for example, I press/release the mode button until I get to the audio source I want. If FM, it plays the last station I was listening to, and I can use the up & down buttons on the steering wheel to move between presets (sequentially--can't jump from preset 1 to 4, for example). Same in SAT radio. And in CD, it moves between tracks.

 

Thanks, that's what I thought. I was just trying to answer the OP's question.

 

Steve Cebu, to glide better you need to come almost off the gas, not off the gas. If you come off the gas it regens your momentum back through the MGs to the pack, mimicking engine braking in a non-hybrid. Try the gliding by shifting to N for a glide or two. When your go pedal gets the same result in D, you've got it.

Mastery of this should increase MPG quite a bit, given the conversion losses of regen.

The other thing is, what psi was in the tires? Take your gauge next time. No car will glide well without adequate pressure.

 

Had another thought ... back windows seem a bit smaller ... will be interesting to see what my dog thinks of that. I will report back after I get my car

 

Friend and I sat in the 2010 Prius for about a minute and we both thought it "seemed" smaller up front than the 09. I know it isn't and that there is a lot more going on with the center console...but I was a bit disappointed. Keep in mind, there was still plastic on the back seats, it was like 100 degrees inside, I had my 21 month old squirming, and had just had surgery 2 days before. So it is a bit of a blur but I was so excited to show my friend (she is contemplating getting prius) and her "It looks so small" was really a downer for me.

But then I looked around and thought "hmm...it does...a little."
Would love feedback, esp. from those that have the Gen II cause she thought that one was bigger. Weird? Could have just been that the Gen II was rented for a weekend and we really got the feel for it.

Either way I'm still getting mine in like 2 weeks and I'll take her for a drive and see what she thinks.

 

From the pictures and videos that I've seen of the inside of the 2010, it has seemed smaller "feeling" than my 2009. I know that it's not really, based on the given dimensions.

Maybe the seats on the one you sat in were pushed a little far back? That could make the back seat area look smaller.

I think the rest is just due to the "floating console". I've haven't liked large consoles in cars for many years now for that reason. Even though there may be plenty of room in there, the floating console might make it "feel" smaller.

 

Thanks for the tips. I can feel the glide has a drag on it probably from the regenerative braking. Neutral makes it coast a lot more.
I will give your suggestions a try tomorrow.
I have no idea what the pressure is in the tires. My tire gauge seems to be siezed up and I don't trust my little air compressor gauge. Ideally what should the tire pressures be F/R?
I'll pick up a nice new gauge at a Parts store tomorrow.
Lot to learn but it's a fun car.

 

apparently yes you are. i have both and the steering wheel controls for audio are unchanged, just has a few extra modes is all.

 

Yes, you can get directly to the presets by using the buttons on the steering wheel. If the stereo isn't on, push the Mode button on the steering wheel. Pressing it again moves you between AM/FM/SAT/CD/AUX. When you come to the chosen mode, use the up/down arrow buttons to move through the presets. Really, stream's response below is exactly the way to do it.

Thanks!

 

Lauren,

I can see that someone might think the 2010 is smaller, but, then again, I can understand how someone might say the opposite. The interior measurements are pretty reliable, but the only way to really decide for yourself is to set the cars side-by-side and go back and forth between them. One issue to note: The 2010 front seats have 2" additional travel, so you should compare back seat room with the front seats both fully forward and fully back. Also, get in front, set the driver's seat for your own comfort (in each car) and then get in the back seat to see what might feel or look different.

I think you'll really enjoy the 2010. It not only IS a bit bigger inside, it is MUCH quieter and sturdier -- and gets WAY better gas mileage.

 

Thanks yes I discovered that you have to quick tap the buttons on the wheel and it works perfectly. If you press and hold it will go into Seek mode.
That's what I was doing wrong. :tape:

 

Doing wrong? No! You just discovered how to do "Seek" from the buttons on the steering wheel.

 

My impressions after buying the car in Kansas City, then driving home. Bought a Pkg V Blizzard Pearl w/Misty Gray, Nav, mats, applique, and remote start. For comparisons sake, I traded in a 2008 Touring Pkg #6 in Black w/Dark Gray interior ...

-- The car feels larger than the Gen 2 ... significantly even though it's not. It's much steadier at Interstate speeds and feels like a much more substantial, solid car.

-- Love the Blizzard Pearl ... they had a Black in Package V there as well, and it made me glad I made the switch from Black this time around. Like the Misty Gray interior a lot ... goes well with the Blizzard even though I feared I would've wished I'd picked one in Bisque. I can see why the Misty Gray is called Aqua in other countries though ... ALMOST has a tinge of blue tone, but not quite.

-- Really like the interior layout a great deal. Love that everything is separated from the central screen -- i.e. separate climate control, etc.

-- The function of the voice commands is MUCH better. I really like the Navigation overall even though it doesn't seem to be quite as clear or have quite as much "pop" as my 2008 Nav screen (not a big deal though). Voice commands were, dare I say, EASY! (I'm sure this opinion will vary as I mess with it a bit more)

-- Love the BT audio connection ... love that the "hiss" is gone when playing my iPod on "AUX" while it's charging and that having the actual iPod volume turned up doesn't overwhelm the stereo like it did in the Gen 2. My contacts from my Storm liinked up in about 5 seconds ... impressive! Overall the audio system is improved over the Gen 2, but it's not overwhelmingly great. I will have my back seats down almost all the time b/c of my dog and the speakers in the back must be blocked moreso than in the Gen 2.

-- Love the auto up and down for all the windows.

-- Road noise is much improved and the Gen 3 is SO much more steady on the highway/Interstate than the Gen 2.

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Some things I don't especially like as of now:

-- Wish the engine power (in orange) on the energy monitor was a bit more visible. I guess I just watch the instant fuel economy to see if the engine is off anyhow, but I still wish I could see it a bit clearer during the daylight.

-- Regarding XM ... I wish the preset screen could be seen WHILE viewing the text content of the channel (especially song/artist).

-- Noticed when my nephew moved his seat back to drive it pressed hard against the headrests of the rear seat when they are down. Glad they go back further than in Gen 2 though.

-- Wish you could pop the middle console open w/o sliding it back first ... again the console presses against the back seat a bit when they're down and you slide it all the way back.

-- A bit larger door pockets would be nice, but I like the thinly carpeted storage space under the bridge console. Still don't understand the seat heaters being down there, but oh well.

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Overall I have to say I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be at this point. Like I said, it feels like a much more substantial car AND gets better fuel economy. The fit and finish seem really nice as well. Car feels bigger than it is ... and that's a positive to me at least. Color me VERY impressed all-around ... VERY impressed!

Seems like I can stay in battery power only MUCH easier than the Gen 2 and as reported I can get it to stay in battery power only at a higher speed. I expect to get 60 mpg in town fairly easy. So far I drove around Kansas City here and there (a lot of short trips) and had 31 mpg when I left there this afternoon. After pulling into my garage after going 75 mph for 150 miles and 70 mph for 60 miles ... I have 46.4 mpg.

I need to figure out how to reset the MPG and trip meter (shouldn't be hard) ... getting ready to dig into the book tonight.

Need to get the windows tinted ASAP!

 

Congratulations! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
I agree with you about the red arrows they tend to wash out in the daytime. Brighter would be better.
Post some pics when you get the chance.

 

one thing i noticed today. it appears that the Pri stays in EV mode much longer than before and without trying. i had done the "walk for life" thing which is basically a relay race cancer fund raiser type of thing where you basically walk about 18 hours straight (hence the "relay") not really a race because there is no prize for first place but there is a honor given to the team that raises the most funds for the cause...

anyway, i had spent the night since i was nice enough (or stupid enough, depending on the point of view) to walk from 2 AM to 6 AM. so i had camping gear, some of which i borrowed. well today when driving home from returning said equipment, its basically 25 mph drive nearly 2 miles and as i was driving along, i was coasting up to a light that i knew is red (one of those weighted ones that dont change until you are stopped at it) so thought i would jump into EV mode.

well hit the EVO button and got prompt that ev mode was unavailable because of low battery. i switched screens and sure enough i was at 2 bars. something that would have been difficult to do in a classic.

 

My commute this AM was much, much better fuel economy-wise than in my '08 ... city driving with the Gen 3 is going to result in REALLY great fuel economy I get the feeling. Combine the rapid warm up with the increased threshold for battery only power and an EV button and I'm really excited for some complete city driving tanks!