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Wheels and Steering and Shocks, Oh My!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Prius Team, Mar 31, 2009.

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  1. yam

    yam Junior Member

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    Is there any news on when the 15" wheel models will start getting the tighter EPS tuning?
     
    #81 yam, Jul 20, 2009
  2. Fussion101

    Fussion101 Junior Member

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    bump. Will it likely start with the 2011 MY? Has there been an answer to whether its a hardware or software upgrade?
     
    #82 Fussion101, Jul 23, 2009
  3. indianagreg

    indianagreg Member

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    Bump. Any one from Prius Team care to update us, please?

    Thanks,

    Greg
     
    #83 indianagreg, Aug 23, 2009
  4. indianagreg

    indianagreg Member

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    Just a quick note of thanks to Prius Team for an update of sorts (PM) :) They are working on getting us an update on the EPS, but it might take some time as the answer is not yet available.

    Greg
     
    #84 indianagreg, Aug 27, 2009
  5. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    Ok, there's good news and bad news.

    The good news is we have an update. The bad news is it's not much.

    What we know is that our technical groups are still working on a potential retuning of the 15" wheel EPS system. However, we have not yet made a change. In fact, we have not as yet received enough customer feedback (good or bad) on whether it's actually necessary to make a change. I will tell you here in Marketing, I have a list of product change recommendations, in priority order, and this is not on that list.

    So, the bottom line is, we don't know yet. We may not know for some time. The tuning may or may not get changed.

    I wish I had more info, but it is what it is. As we mentioned in the first post, "none of the above is set in stone", so I do hope you were not counting on this.

    We'll let you know more as it becomes available.

    Thanks

    Doug Coleman
    Prius Product Manager
    Toyota Motor Sales, USA
     
    #85 Prius Team, Aug 28, 2009
  6. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    I hope the option is available soon. It isn't going take much for me to start looking for a wrecked V so I can scrounge a steering unit out of it. The non V's definitely need a tighter steering feel.
     
    #86 ALS, Aug 28, 2009
  7. Sphyrna

    Sphyrna Priusite

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    This one change alone would completely change the nature of the car and the driving impression for the better. I can't see why Toyota wouldn't understand this. There are over 80 posts on this thread, I'd say a GREAT number of people are concerned about this!

    Making an update for early owners is very much on our minds, what will it take to get Toyota to move on this? Is there a 'formal' way to communicate this fact to whoever decides these things?
     
    #87 Sphyrna, Aug 28, 2009
  8. nola_Prius

    nola_Prius New Member

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    Can you show us that list?
     
    #88 nola_Prius, Aug 28, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    3.75 turns lock to lock was a big deterent for me when I was looking.

    After enough test driving, I ended up deciding I could live with it and buying a Prius for its other virtues but would probably have bought months sooner if it had more responsive steering.
     
    #89 energyandair, Aug 29, 2009
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Did you try the Touring? It has 2.75 lock-to-lock and it's noticeably different (about ¼-½ less on a right turn).
     
    #90 Tideland Prius, Aug 29, 2009
  11. Sphyrna

    Sphyrna Priusite

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    You mean the V? That's a pretty steep price jump for the steering isn't it?
     
    #91 Sphyrna, Aug 29, 2009
  12. Dakine50

    Dakine50 Member

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    Imho I would be totally shocked if Toyota offered a reprogramming of the current steering in the non V equipped models. Mainly because the car is doing very well sales wise. It's a business and it's about making money.

    On the other hand, if the cars were sitting on the dealer lots you bet Toyota would be revising a bunch of things due to customer complaints/bad press as soon as they could to boost sales.

    My guess is nothing will be changed until the MY2011 rolls out if at all. Another reason to keep it as is....it "pushes people to buy the top model" which puts more money in Toyota's pocket.

    Don't get me wrong, I also would like a tighter, more responsive steering feel! When I first test drove the car it was very noticable to me that it took ALOT of turning to make the car turn.:eek: What the heck is wrong with this car! I dismissed it as being a "Prius thing" and moved on.
     
    #92 Dakine50, Aug 29, 2009
  13. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    Interesting to know.
    I wasn't sure if its steering was 2.75 like the US model V or not.
    The Canadian literature doesn't seem to say, I couldn't find out on the Toyota Canada site, and the only reasonably accessible dealer did not know and did not have any Touring model we could check out.
     
    #93 energyandair, Aug 29, 2009
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It's not in the U.S. literature either. We only knew because Prius Team told us.

    In Canada, it's the Touring and it's not a steep jump at all.

    $27,500 is our base model

    $29,610 is our Premium model (JBL, bluetooth, auto-dimming mirror, 3-dr SKS)

    $30,110 is our Premium w/ Solar Panel

    $30,345 is our Touring (LEDs/17"/fogs)

    $36,565 (that's the biggest jump) is the Technology Package that adds to the Premium w/Solar, leather, heated seats, power driver's lumbar support, DRCC, IPA etc etc. Everything else that's missing except LKA. We don't get LKA at all (or LEDs with the Tech Pack)
     
    #94 Tideland Prius, Aug 29, 2009
  15. Prius Team

    Prius Team Toyota Marketing USA

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    No one person decides this. It is a collective group of people from various departments that studies lots of different data, including customer feedback.

    I'll have to think about that. This is a topic that is very much right on the line, if not over, of what I can share publicly. I want to share it with you, personally, but the company at large does not necessarily agree.

    Just want to make this clear. Any change to a non-V steering will NOT affect the lock-to-lock ratio. It will affect the feel of the car in terms of assist and damping. That is our understanding.

    Doug Coleman
    Prius Product Manager
    Toyota Motor Sales, USA
     
    #95 Prius Team, Aug 31, 2009
    3 people like this.
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Guess that's better than nothing! The feel is definitely better than the '05 Prius (and this is me coming straight from a smart with regular power steering and quite direct steering feel actually). If you can make it feel sportier without isolating those that want a wheel they can turn with a finger (is that even possible or are they mutually exclusive?), that'll satisfy most buyers, I think!
     
    #96 Tideland Prius, Aug 31, 2009
  17. talonts

    talonts VFAQman

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    It's possible, just maybe not all the time, or it will take going to a BMW variable assist type setup.

    When my 90 Talon is running, I get a massively responsive steering with killer road feel, yet can turn it with one finger...as long as I'm moving over 10mph or so. Below that, it takes both hands and some serious muscle. I pulled the PS rack a loooong time ago and installed a manual rack to gain room in the engine compartment and drop the parasitic PS hp loss.

    They COULD get that responsiveness AND easy parking lot steering if they'd work on a *very* variable assist rate. Of course, they can't go too low on the rack rate, or it would get "twitchy" for most people (personally, I like having it respond as fast as possible).

    This thread kind of sucks for me - it's making it a LOT more difficult for choices if/when I look at buying a 3G. I want it all - low LTL, low ratio, high road feel. I'd rather have 15 or 16" tires with a low LTL (AND the sunroof with LEDs...) AND low turning radius, but it looks like Toyota is making that very difficult/impossible to get.
     
    #97 talonts, Sep 18, 2009
  18. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    You'll have no problem trading a set of 17" 2010 wheels for a set of 15" plus some cash.
     
    #98 cpatch, Sep 18, 2009
  19. Pohaku

    Pohaku Member

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    Wasn't the lack of responsive steering an issue in the very recent Consumer Reports review? Presumptively, the Prius would have received a higher rating if the steering was more responsive. Another reason for an upgrade.:D
     
    #99 Pohaku, Sep 18, 2009
  20. varun singh

    varun singh Member

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    Quick question, I just purchased used 2011 Prius, its Model 4 but it came with 17 inch Toyota wheels.
    I am not sure if this upgrade was done at dealer or came as factory spec.
    What steering ratio can I expect here or is there a way to find the steering ratio, I do have a OBD2 reader if that would help me to find out the steering ratio, any replies will be appreciated.

    Thanks,
     
    #100 varun singh, May 30, 2015
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