Dumped the 07 Prius after 5 weeks

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusmaybe @ Jun 8 2007, 03:44 PM) [snapback]458332[/snapback]</div>

Very well said. It's laughable when people expect the Prius to handle like a $60k Mercedes or BMW. It simply can't for what you're paying, and it isn't designed to anyway, so what the heck are people complaining about??

I've driven but not owned a Mercedes daily over a few weeks, and I've owned two Honda Civics as well as an older VW. The Civics handled far better than the Prius, but they are lighter weight and lower. Our Prius handles like my parents 1997 Camry XLE V6, only better than that.

I don't get the handling gripe. I second whoever said it, their Prius must have been defective, bad alignment, etc. Our 07 handles great, but I'm also not an aggressive driver at all. If you want great sportscar handling, don't get a Toyota, they aren't made for that. Get a Scoobydoo or a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.

-wiiprii

 

Perhaps people complaining about being buffeted around by the wind need to be like me.....fat!! Sure, I get moved about in my lane when it's real windy, but I don't have a problem compensating for it. I have never experienced being blown into another lane in my few months of Prius ownership.

 

I have a 06 with 37000 miles most of which are at 75 to 80 on the highway, driven all over the place from Ohio to Louisiana. No BT plate; car is 100% stock. Never a problem with being blown off the road. Perhaps it was your driving or being unfamiliar with the car. The car is no different than any other car of the same size.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wiiprii @ Jun 8 2007, 06:50 PM) [snapback]458334[/snapback]</div>

Toyota should make Lexus IS Hybrid. Gap between Prius and 450h is way too big. No need for this 'V8 performance from V6', but give people decent chassis and luxury options.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jun 8 2007, 03:30 PM) [snapback]458327[/snapback]</div>

A "step forward" or not in what respect? A "modern" car like the Civic, Accord, or Camry doesn't come close to the Prius in terms of technological sophistication. The differences I noticed between my Prius and my VW Jetta (which was a dream to drive) are that the Jetta felt much more massive given its greater weight and 17" top line Michelins. After driving the Prius for several months, the Jetta's steering feels more like manual steering by comparison -- I couldn't believe how spoiled I've become in the Prius!

Overall, I would rate the Prius as a "better" car than the Jetta for my particular needs -- getting from Point A to Point B in as clean and efficient a manner as possible, while comfortably accommodating four people. A Honda Insight will not comfortably accommodate 4 people, and a Hybrid Civic is not as clean and efficient as the Prius. I think the Prius is the most efficient, best overall mid-size vehicle that is a jack of all trades but master of none.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusBoyAZ @ Jun 9 2007, 01:37 PM) [snapback]458783[/snapback]</div>

Have you by any chance, owned a Prius alongside a Civic Hybrid to know enough about what you are saying?

What do you think someone like me thinks about the stuff you just said?

Man, its times like this that I feel ashamed of having a Prius. It is a super car, but the community sometimes scores way below the quality of vehicle. I'm gonna quit reading as I am actually afraid of this BS rubbing off on me ...

Cheers;

MSantos

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MSantos @ Jun 9 2007, 05:21 PM) [snapback]458843[/snapback]</div>

Did anyone else read this and go, "huh?"
I thought what AZ said made perfect sense.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MSantos @ Jun 9 2007, 03:21 PM) [snapback]458843[/snapback]</div>

The Civic is an awesome car, and IMA has proven itself to be a very effective system. Regardless, HSD is lightyears ahead of IMA from a conceptual standpoint.

IMA is evolutionary, not revolutionary. That doesn't mean that it's not a highly effective, well-designed system - it is. But it's not a revolutionary new approach to how to design a powertrain. HSD is.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusBoyAZ @ Jun 9 2007, 02:37 PM) [snapback]458783[/snapback]</div>

Handling, it is a step forward in handling. That is what this thread is about, handling. We are not comparing the wonders of the hybrids systems, we are talking about handling.

I have driven a Civic Hybrid on mountain roads and it handles far better than the Prius. I also managed 49 mpg which is equal to what my Prius has done. I have a Jetta TDI Wagon and it handles far better than the Prius and gets equal mileage as well.

If you look at fueleconomy.gov you will find that the Honda Civic is rated at 9 by the EPA for air pollution while the Prius only manages a 8 so the Civic is cleaner.

Oh and the Insight will not accommodate 4 people at all since it is only a 2 seater.

A agree that the Prius is a good all around car, it will take you from A to B. I am disappointed that Toyota didn't feel it necessary so spend a couple hundred more dollars to improve the handling to at least average. To me, the Prius handles worse than the average new car today which doesn't say a lot for Toyota's technological leader. They spend all this time and money on the hybrid drive, pushing the envelope but miss it big on some very basic technology. What does it say to the world when Toyota's own Yaris handles better than the Prius. The Yaris is a basic $11K economy car.


I just thought of something. This might just be a geographical thing. I live in East Tennessee where it is rare for a road to go for a 1/4 mile without a curve and most will have lot more that one. Now to me, handling is very important in a car because I'm going around corners all the time. If I lived back in Michigan where I grew up and starting driving, the roads are laid out in 1 mile grids. There are no corners that aren't 90 degrees or clover leafs to get on and off highways. If I was still back there driving straight all the time, except to slow down to turn 90 degrees, maybe I would care if my car handled are not. Or, most likely, I would think it handled just fine.

So there it is, geography. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jun 9 2007, 11:28 PM) [snapback]459043[/snapback]</div>

Thank you for helping point out the inacuracies of the previous post and what I referred to as BS.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jun 9 2007, 10:28 PM) [snapback]459043[/snapback]</div>

From what I've seen, most people w/the HCH get lower real world gas mileage than a Prius. The Civic Hybrid has lower combined EPA ratings (both on the 2007+ and pre-2007 tests). Consumer Reports at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/bu...s-206/index.htm gave the Prius 44 mpg overall vs. 37 for the HCH. The HCH is also slower in acceleration than the Prius and made it on the slowest vehicles list at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/be...leration_ov.htm. The Prius was not there.

Since you mention fueleconomy.gov, you'll find that Cali (and CARB state spec) Priuses and HCHs both get 9.5/10 on the air pollution score and the Prius produces fewer greenhouse gases than the HCH.

As for handling, I've never driven a Yaris, but Consumer Reports gave the Yaris listed emergency handling as one of its lows (at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/mo...w-4573-5675.htm, you'll need a subscription to see it) and said "The ride is compliant and routine handling is reasonably responsive, but handling gets sloppy and hard to control at its limits." For the Prius, handling was not one of its lows but steering feel was. They stated for the Prius "Ride and handing are competent, but the steering feels vague."

Toyotas have not generally been known for their handling anyhow. If you want that, you're better off w/a BMW, a RWD/AWD sports car or a Mazda.

BTW, per http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/re...rview/index.htm, the Prius got the highest owner satisfaction rating of all cars. The Prius got a 92% vs. the HCH's 85%. Unfortunately, to see the list at http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/re...orst-models.htm, you need a subscription. The Prius also did great (tied for 1st) at http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/rele....asp?ID=2007069 in the UK. I think it illustrates that it was ok for Toyota to not spend the extra $ to improve handling if w/such a rating.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tyrin @ Jun 9 2007, 12:02 AM) [snapback]458315[/snapback]</div>

I said that I don't like Playstation-like driving. I can handle it, but it drives like a piece of amorphous sh*t.
If you never drove a decent car you can hardly imagine how it feels.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CheapChic @ Apr 7 2007, 06:03 AM) [snapback]419353[/snapback]</div>

You are in for a rude surprise in th Camry then. I have had one for 1 year adn 19000+ miles. It is a wonderful drive, but buffets badly in the wind. I run my tires at high pressure (40 PSI) and that could be part of the problem, but did the same with the Prius I had prior (2007) as well.

Owned the Prius for 4months before trading, had put the BT plate on it. Improved handling in the curves and wind. In fact, I remember it as better in wind than the Camry Hybrid.

Now, I LOVE my Camry, and I bought it because it had improvements in the drive system over the Prius and because my wife would drive it (the Prius was "too strange" . But handling in cross winds wasn't the issue it is with the Camry.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BethlehemPrius @ Apr 7 2007, 10:14 AM) [snapback]419355[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HiLaker @ Jun 8 2007, 05:31 PM) [snapback]458296[/snapback]</div>

I also own a Lexus, which, while not a great handling car is super smooth and vault-like on the road. I have also been professionally trained to drive sports cars on the track. I have plenty of experience driving "decent" cars.

The Prius is a perfectly decent car to drive. I have driven this car on long highway trips, city trips, in mountains up and down 7% grades with trucks. I've driven in in windy tropical storm conditions. Yes it is twitchy, twitchier than something like a Camry but it is certainly not dangerous and is no twitchier in crosswinds than something like a crossover SUV, a Toyota Matrix, etc.

Now given the choice of which to drive somewhere I would always choose the Lexus, its just a much more comfortable car to ride in and drive, but to say the Prius is a dangerously handling car is beyond inaccurate information.

Now, as far as the HCH, I don't care whether its cleaner, more comfortable, or handles better. I would never, ever buy one because in the end its still a Honda Civic. Who wants to drive a Honda Civic? The Prius is a much cooler, more unique, and higher class vehicle to own. I would take a Camry Hybrid or a Highlander Hybrid over the Prius, certainly a Lexus GS, LS, or RX hybrid, but never a Civic. Blech.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SW03ES @ Jun 10 2007, 08:21 PM) [snapback]459215[/snapback]</div>

It is not "dangerous" - just anemic, no fun to drive. After I satisfied my curiosity playing with all these bells anw whistles like smart entry, navigation and EV-mode it become boring, no-fun-to drive car.

Strictly speaking we cannot compare different cars handling if you drive your car in US and I am in Switzerland. Diffrent geometry of the roads warrants diffreent handling requirements,

By the way, Prius satnav is just awful. Nav on my first car (BMW) is very clear and logical, Toyota made is cumbersome, messy and unreliable. I am using sat nav for over 10 years on different cars - Prius is clearly worst I experienced.

Therefore I am glad to have BMW 118d as a second car instead of Prius - 143 horsepower, 0-62 in 8.9 seconds, and 50 MPG. I paid the same price as for Prius 3 years ago...

Most important it is fun to drive... Prius what?!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HiLaker @ Jun 10 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]459133[/snapback]</div>

Playstation? HUH? If the car drove amorphously, we would have already been in an accident in Chicago. It's a highly responsive car. I am skeptical you even drove one.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jhinton @ Jun 10 2007, 01:28 AM) [snapback]459043[/snapback]</div>

I live right down the road from you in Maryville (even closer to the mountains), and have taken the Prius through the Great Smokies more times than I care to admit. I don't have problems with handling (even though my car is 100% stock). It's constant twisties here, but my Prius takes them just fine... I really think there must be quite a big variability in some of these cars' default alignments or something...

(Of course, it doesn't handle like my $90k Acura NSX or anything, but again -- it's 1/3 of the cost!) :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HiLaker @ Jun 11 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]459692[/snapback]</div>

So, let me get this straight. You have had a Prius for 3 years, and you now joined Prius Chat, just to tell us all how horrible it is and that you're trading it in? <_<

I smell...TROLL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paprius4030 @ Apr 7 2007, 09:13 AM) [snapback]419403[/snapback]</div>

ROFLMAO!!!!