Prius models

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Feb 26 2007, 05:01 PM) [snapback]396936[/snapback]</div>

Put slightly differently, they share the same powertrain so their horsepower, etc. are the same. But the touring edition with its suspension alterations and wider, lower profile tires provides better handling but at the expense of a rougher ride.

for me...the rougher ride was worth it for better handling so I purchased the touring edition.

 

Also, the Touring is supposed to get up to 10% poorer mileage from what others have reported. So instead of, for example, 50 MPG, you might get just over 45 MPG. This is based on reports from Europe and Japan.

I'll leave it to US owners to contradict this. I'm sure some will.

 

<_< For over 2 years I owned a 2004 'standard' Prius which I traded for a 2007 Touring Edition in November 2006. With a bit over 2,000 miles on the odometer, it's too soon to evaluate the MPG differences. Many Prius owners believe it takes 5,000 to 8,000 miles for a new Prius to really 'limber up.' At this point MPGs appear to be 10% to 15% poorer, bearing in mind the 'not yet broken in' condition of the new Prius.

As for the 'rougher' ride mentioned above, I have found that true *IF* I maintain higher tire pressures [40/38 psi] that I did in the 2004; however, if I maintain the Toyota recommended pressures, I actually find the ride better - albeit at the cost of MPGs. I do feel better with 'more rubber on the road' [bigger tire footprint] providing more traction and better performance in the turns.

My 2¢ worth...

 

anytime you have lower wider tires, your mileage will suffer so the 10% declined in mileage is plausible

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Feb 27 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]397284[/snapback]</div>

Braking / Stopping should be better. You will be able to stop in shorter distance since there are more tires to grab the road.

Dennis

 

I did post that with some trepidation. Some Prius owners are a little "gun shy" when it comes to saying anything "bad" about the car. I suspect they get that way because they have to defend themselves so often from the FUD propagated by the "experts", and sometimes funded by the oil companies.

I test drove the "standard" Prius last summer, and found it "unsure" on the road re handling. Nothing dangerous, just kind of unsure of itself. I'm planning on getting some 16" wheels once I get my Prius (Touring not available in Canada), and putting Nokian WR tires on them. We have six month winters here, so good tires are kind of needed.

I strongly recommend the original poster give each model a good test drive. As Charles has posted elsewhere, it's a good buy to get the Touring if you eventually want better handling, as it's only a few hundred dollars more than a similarly equipped "standard" model. It will cost me at least $1500 to buy new 16" wheels and tires. And I still will not have the stiffer suspension - that's $2000+ for the TRD parts.

Finally, thankyou Charles for not overreacting to my comments.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Feb 28 2007, 05:18 PM) [snapback]398143[/snapback]</div>

I'm still considering importing as an option. Now that the Can $ has dropped back to the $0.85 area, the savings aren't as big, but it's still around $5000. Much more if I add in the extra cost of the 16" wheels and the TRD suspension.

While "available" from Sigma, the "stock" 16" wheels are rather over priced compared to really nice quality light weight wheels from, say, Volk Racing. They have 16 lb 16" wheels that are pretty nice.