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New Prius Likes and Dislikes

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Black2006, Mar 23, 2006.

  1. Black2006

    Black2006 Member

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    Have had a new black #8 for over a week now and here are my thoughts:

    Overall, I love it. Never thought I would say this about a Toyota (or a Lexus:), but the Prius is quirky, nicely designed and it has its green heart in the right place.

    Likes:

    My dog fits in the back without taking the seats down and likes it because of the large glass area.

    The seats are basically comfortable (I am a fairly slim 6"1') and the driving position is generally good. Wish it had a memory option though.

    The ride is much, much less like an econo-box than I anticipated and the performance is fine, although the engine emits a somewhat vacuum cleaner-like sound if you listen to it from the outside. The materials are also of better quality that I expected.

    It puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.


    The bad:

    The navigation system and bluetooth restrictions that Toyota enforces are plain idiotic. If i dial my office through speed dial, I have to fumble to find the phone because Toyota will not let me input an extension while driving. Don't know what bright bulb decided that this is safer than than just letting me punch the numbers on screen.

    Similarly for the navigation controls. If you are on the freeway and realize that you are lost and your passenger wants to input a destination, you are out of luck.

    The most absurd "feature" is that the radio will not show the message screen with track information fed by the station while moving, but it has some over-zealous Toyota's lawyer's message about blocking it to ensure your safety.

    Also, the screen's colors and graphics are a not very good '80s design. Esthetically it looks like Windows 98, when the car's vibe is sleeker, more like Mac OS X.

    Finally, what's with the placement of the hand-brake? I thought only a few GM remnants put it in the foot-well. One wonders how one's left leg would feel if one was in an accident and met with this chunk of metal?

    Still like the car though....
     
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Your concerns (complaints) about the motion shut-down is very well documented. Nobody likes it, especially the lawyers who are just waiting for someone to get in an accident and sue Toyota for allowing them to drive dangerously. Seriously, that's the only reason we can think of for the motion defeat. In a way, we the American people have brought it upon ourselves. Toyota doesn't want even one person to sue them for fiddling around with that MFD while driving and getting into an accident. So they override it for all of us. Punching in office extensions is one downside to that. There are tricks and a few people have installed wire-based defeats.

    I appreciate the center console more than I do a hand brake. Here in Northern Illinois, there aren't too many places where you need to apply the parking brake. So when there's a hand brake in a car, it's often completely ignored. So I like that I have the center console - and the hidden drawer - with the brake on the floor.

    I know that it's tempting to compare something to everything else in the world. I would love a sunroof, for example. Heated seats would be nice as would hydraulics and a cruise control that steered with radar-controlled anticipatory braking. But the car is what it is. I'm was tickled to get 6 CDs, NAV, and Bluetooth. Not to mention that it's a hybrid. And as an afterthought, I'm jealous of the 2006s with all their new things including the hi-res MFD, leather option, and the ability to turn off those annoying beeps. So you do have it better than some of us.
     
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    footbrakes aren't as uncommon as you think. It frees up space in the centre console anyway and much more intuitive than Ford's who apparently wants and arm and leg to operate the brake. I don't think the footbrake would be of concern in a collision since it's up and away.
     
  4. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    Hello, fellow Prius twin!! :D What color interior did you get??
     
  5. Jonnycat26

    Jonnycat26 New Member

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    I think the footbrake becomes a bigger issue when you're tall. I find my left leg kinda bunched up against the side of the door and dead pedal because I don't want to go near the foot brake and there's nowhere else for my leg to go. If the wheel extended out it wouldn't be so much of an issue, but with the way it is now a handbrake would make the car more 'tall friendly'.

    I don't believe anyone other than Toyota locks out the nav while driving. To blame it on the "american people" is misleading. It's Toyota being big brotherish.
     
  6. Emma

    Emma New Member

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    This is the first car I've owned with a foot operated emergency brake. Of course, it's also the first non-manual transmission car I've owned, too. I'm not thrilled with the placement of the emergency brake, but it certainly wasn't a deal-breaking issue.

    And I don't mind that those with NAV and integrated phone (I have the bluetooth option, but choose not to use it) features do not work while the car is in motion. But then again, I'm one of those militant "get-off-the-damned-phone-when-you're-driving" people. :p I've been nearly killed by those types while riding my bicycle too many times to think it's not an issue.

    And on the upside, this is the first car I've owned where I don't have to sit on a pillow to see over the steering wheel (yes, I'm short). It's also the biggest car I've ever owned.
     
  7. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    In a way? I'd say "certainly" we've brought it upon ouselves. We are no longer a society of "what is best to do" - it is now "what's in it for me?"

    I would say that HOV decals are one indication of that. What's best to do is to actually CARPOOL to get the privelege of the HOV lanes. What's in it for me is driving solo in a lane intended for high occupant vehicles. Oooh, but I didn't mean to climb all the way up here on my box...

    Congrats on the shiny new car! Lots to love, and a few quirks to work around. A lot like being married.
     
  8. cmwade77

    cmwade77 New Member

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    But the 06's (I am guessing that's what I saw today) are ugly, they look like boxes on wheels.
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I'm guessing it wasn't an '06 you saw. The '06s look exactly like the '05s except for some subtle trim changes.
     
  10. cmwade77

    cmwade77 New Member

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    Being able to dive in the Carpool lane is worth a lot when you live in So. Cal. means being able to save about 30-45 minutes off of a commute that is impossible to carpool for, as no one lives & works near me.
     
  11. cmwade77

    cmwade77 New Member

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    Ok, then what was it, it said it was a Prius, but didn't have the typical window at the back (the window was all one piece and didn't go below the spoiler (I think that's what it's called) and it looked very boxy.
     
  12. hockeybrat

    hockeybrat Member

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    A Gen 1 Prius, perhaps?

    Here is a picture of the 2006 Prius - [​IMG]
     
  13. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    Perhaps it was an Aztek? They have a similar body style but more boxy than the 04-06 Prius.

    [Broken External Image]:http://www.texaschapbookpress.com/magellanslog46/aztek.jpg

    The 1st gen Priuses look more like regular 4-door sedans (like a cross between an Echo-Corolla-Tercel IMO).
     
  14. Darwin23

    Darwin23 New Member

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    wow. that aztek really does look like a prius.
     
  15. cmwade77

    cmwade77 New Member

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    Not an Aztec, it was a Prius, msut have been a 1st gen prius, ugly thing, in my opinion.
     
  16. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    THAT is an Azten. THIS is gen I Prius

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Emma

    Emma New Member

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  18. brasche

    brasche Member

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    Our Prius has been real love/hate for us. Coming from more high end cars (BMW 735i, Acura NSX) the Prius seems lacking in many ways.

    We bought our Prius because it's environmentally friendly and for the technology (we're both in IT). We anticipated that the Prius wouldn't please like our gas guzzlers, but we were not prepared for the shock. Strangely, our complaints have nothing to do with the Hybrid drive.

    Dislikes:

    1) Uncomfortable/unsupportive seats
    2) No forward/back headrest adjustment
    3) No seat hight adjustment
    4) No memory seats
    5) No memory mirrors
    4) Irritating NAV voice
    5) Over chatty NAV
    6) No Nav voice choices
    7) Horrible handling
    8) Unstable in cross winds
    9) Only 12 station presets (so why 14 ways to set your Nav destination?)
    10) Disabled Nav features when driving
    11) Disabled phone features when driving (disabled anything!)
    12) Radio doesn't update what's playing on the non-selected stations
    13) Very poor voice recognition (no training)
    14) Context limited voice recognition (why?)
    15) Hard plastic interior
    16) Mediocre leather
    17) Oversensitive accelerator
    18) Totally numb steering
    19) Somewhat over sensitive and numb braking
    20) Jerky braking during gentle stops
    21) Rear spoiler interferes with auto-dimming mirror sensor
    22) Won't accepting reverse command immediately after starting
    23) No Plug
    24) Low capacity battery

    Likes:

    1) Low Pollution
    2) Engineering, drive system
    3) Quiet interior
    4) Interior space/flexibility
    5) Instrument display
    6) Storage spaces
    7) AUX input
    8) MP3 capable CD player
    9) In-dash CD changer
    10) Keyless entry/start (IMHO, the most pleasing techno feature)


    In my opinion, Toyota did a great job with the drive system, and now needs to focus on the handling and amenities.

    There is no excuse for making the Prius such a boat. A more rigid body, progressive rate springs, better compression and rebound dampening would be a big improvement. A little more caster would go a long way in making the steering more communicative. Better brake by wire programming would complete the handling improvements. Maybe Toyota should offer a sport option package (#9?) for those that prefer a more controlled ride. The Prius could be as fun to drive as a Miata.

    Thinking about the amenities, why is the start button in such an awkward place? Has anyone seen the right-hand-drive placement?, it's much better. Can we have a softer and warmer interior?, please. Only Audi interiors are more austere. Also, Toyota really needs to think multiple drivers! Our old 1988 735i has 8 way power seats with 3 memory settings including power mirror memory, that's 18 years ago! Toyota should also consider multi-driver radio settings. FM1 and FM2 are great for his and hers choices, but why just 6 stations? Can I trade a few stations for phone numbers/destinations. How about FM3 for when you're traveling? Our 1994 NSX has a seek and remember that doesn't overwrite the current settings and is made especially for when traveling. Think of this, a keyless entry system knows it's your fob and automatically sets the seat, mirrors, radio, climate, and phone book. This may seem wishful, but with all the over-the-top Nav options, too many of the really useful things have been overlooked.

    Don't get me started on the pitiful EV capacity.

    OK, I'm over it for now. Being an high performance car driver and computer programmer I probably expect too much.
     
  19. MyPria

    MyPria New Member

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    Brasche,

    Why didn't you spare yourself the agony and buy another BMW?
     
  20. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    No, no. You worry about the other stuff. The EV capacity is MY baby. :)