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Stupid things about a great car

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by TheHorsts, Jul 30, 2009.

  1. Texas911

    Texas911 Member

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    Why is the SAT preset only 6 per page on the NAV screen? They should have at least double that, I mean its only software buttons. And what about a numeric pad to skip to a channel on XM? Doesn't Toyota know they have 100 channels to chose from? A voice recognition to a channel would be nice too. Like, you could say "XM channel xxx". That's how it works on my other cars. Also, on the USB screen, you scroll down the numbers go up, but on the steering wheel its backwards.
     
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  2. F512M

    F512M Member

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    Ok, I'll start:

    1) I love the mileage this car has (51 mpg)
    2)
     
  3. Indyking

    Indyking Happy Hyundai owner...

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    Agree for the summer... but your number 1 item is my major frustration with the car in the winter... but here is something else:

    2-I really like the fact no other hybrid in a similar class offer so much cargo room, althoght putting too much weight on it is a drag...
     
  4. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    3) Love the quietness when the engine shutdown when not needed
     
  5. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Ladies and gentlemen, we have a PERFECT ANSWER!!!! :clap2:
     
  6. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

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    That is not the logical prius layout. When you start out in park it is

    R
    P
    D B(L)

    You are pushing forward to get into reverse from Park, then back to Drive. Add to that the lack of park on the shifter (why is there a button?) makes it seem like it was thrown in by someone that just wanted to be different from current shifters. N is activated by left and hold. This looks like a really bad design. It is something that bothered me on my test drive, but doesn't anymore now that I'm used to driving the car.

    I would like a tach as I am still not used to the hsd noises and it would help me understand what is going on. Rpm and temperature might help more than the other displays. This is nice to have not a stupid thing about the car.
     
  7. Econ

    Econ Member

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    they do a lot of short cuts. No bottle holders in the rear doors? I really would like the directional lights on the outside mirrors. I think they have them in Europe.
     
  8. saunj

    saunj New Member

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    Not all. The Prius shifter looks like a console-mounted manual shift for a modern car. I have owned four cars with manual transmission. To get into reverse you pressed down, moved to the right, then back.
     

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  9. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    For those that do not like the Prius shifter, since this is drive-by-wire, why not pull the shifter and swap the R and D wires ?
     
  10. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Not perfect in my opinion. I have a tach (via scanguage) and find it very informative. Yes, the ICE may run under various conditions with or without fuel being used. If you understand the possibilities, then the tach can help you know which option the Prius computer is choosing.

    Below 45 mph, it is rather clear. If the tach is at zero, the vehicle is gliding or on electric power. The tach helps show how quickly a slight letting off of the accelerator can cause the ICE to shut down. In winter, if the coolant temp is below a certain point, you can see how much the ICE is running, even at a traffic light.

    Above 45 mph, the ICE will spin no matter what, but you get to know the rpm when the ICE is spinning passively.

    Bottom line, I find it informative and fun to see the rpm, especially when it is at zero!
     
  11. artieb

    artieb Junior Member

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    couldn't tach be set to show rpm but signal only when engine producing power or when plugs firing/ all vvt off
     
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    There's always OEM's if you don't mind shipping from Europe or Asia. Or, go aftermarket for $98.

    04-09 TOYOTA PRIUS LED SIGNAL BLINKER SIDE MIRROR COVER on eBay!

    They sell Gen III's aftermarket too. Probably less than if you bought 'em under the original invoice.

    ;)

    .
     
  13. Texas911

    Texas911 Member

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    My Porsche's reverse is on the left and then up like the Prius.
     
  14. WingKing

    WingKing New Member

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    I do the same
     
  15. Much More Better

    Much More Better Active Member

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    I didn't read the entire thread so maybe this has already been mentioned. I have the 2010 JBL system, no nav:

    I hate that the display doesn't scroll to show me the entire artist or song title!!!!! For a car that is supposed to be high-tech, that is embarrassing.
     
  16. mjones12

    mjones12 Member

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    Even with the 2012 JBL and the nav system, you sometimes have to press the "text" button to read the entire name.
     
  17. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    My take is that the Prius layout is fine if the Prius is your primary car or only car. But if you drive a number of different vehicles like I do, then it's easy to stop the Prius and then instinctively slide the selector all the way forward to engage PARK, --- but of course you get REVERSE.
     
  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Prius is sold worldwide.

    Worldwide, most other cars don't have PARK, but do have a clutch. Many of us who drive primarily drive clutch cars have found this Prius Liftback pattern to be fairly natural.

    Perhaps we'll see how much feedback Toytoa gets on driver preference for the more traditional 'automatic' shift pattern of the Prius 'c'.
     
  19. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    I drive a manual as well -- often. And I would venture to say that there is not a manual transmission available in the world today that does not have first gear forward. The separate PARK button is unique to Prius and to me is as logical as a non-QWERTY keyboard.
     
  20. Tamara

    Tamara New Member

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    Most manual transmissions have their forward gears laid out like this:

    1 3 5
    2 4

    The position of reverse seems to be dependent on the car or car company. European (or only German?) manufacturers seem to have it up and to the left (near first gear). Japanese cars seem to have reverse down and to the right (sort of below 5th gear). I've read that other cars have reverse up and to the right (near 5th gear).

    At any rate, regardless of where reverse is, first gear is always up and to the left, and I am constantly shifting the Prius into reverse when I mean drive. The prius gear selector is a lot like a gear shifter, and that is just the natural motion for my hand to get a car moving.

    The automatics that I've driven have taken care not to make their selector be like a gear shift - the handle on top is elongated, or there is a button that you have to press, or the gear selector is on the steering column, or something - all very different from a stick shift.

    I drive a third generation prius. How were the selectors in the first two generations? It's hard to believe this is a design that has persisted for several car generations.
     
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