Are There Differences Between Touring and Regular Suspension

I've owned both, and if you appreciate a good handling car the Touring is well worth it. Body roll is greatly reduced, the suspension is noticeable stiffer, and damping is improved. I think when I bought the Touring it was $270 more than a standard version with the same option package.

 

Hello Again, Tenor1

November '06, I traded my '04 Prius for an '07 Touring. I had an opportunity to drive both the Standard and Touring 2007's and found the Touring to be substantially more preferable - as before mentioned, less lean on the turns and an overall 'firmer' ride. In addition to that, the 16" rims (rather than 15" standard) and the argueably better tires (Bridgestone Turanza) were worth the ~$280 difference in price at that time. Actually, by the time I negotiated that upcharge disappeared.

After 7 months, I'm still glad to have the Touring.

CIAO

 

I bought an 07 Prius Navi package, is it possible to put the Touring suspension in without voiding any warrantees? I was wondering why they don't offer the touring package with navi? I love my car but feel i should have got the touring and just bought a garmin.

 

The Prius website shows an $895 difference between the two.
I'm definitely getting the Touring and I don't mind the possible three month wait. Actually I did find one in the color I want with the package (#6) I want in San Fran, so if he knocks down a couple of Gs off MSRP, I'll go pick it up from there.


So you guys who got the 07 Touring, do you still find it necessary to get that bar advertised on this site, which you bolt under the car? Forgot the exact name.. you know what I'm talking about.

 

I'm mystified by the comments that the base model suffers softness or roll to a notable degree because the models I drove and the one I bought really doesn't. It DOES have a softer ride than the Touring edition, and by comparison it rolls a few degrees more when hustling round corners, but it isn't a day-and-night sort of comparison.

I have to say that as a Brit now transplanted to the US, I much prefer more typically stiffer European-type suspension, but the base model is nothing like a 'typical' soft US ride in itself, and is similar in feel to some of the larger saloon cars on the UK market. The touring edition by comparison feels a little more akin to some of the sports cars (in terms of suspension only).

Of the two, I marginally preferred the Touring, though the ride was a little harsh on rather poor surfaces (of which there are no small number in my area) so I opted instead for the base model which deals with potholes, poorly resurfaced areas and patched surfaces rather more comfortably. On a test drive, I threw both around a rather interesting and engaging country road - the Touring had somewhat better precision in corners and felt stiffer, but the difference wasn't great.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusTouring07 @ Jul 17 2007, 04:57 AM) [snapback]480130[/snapback]</div>

3 month wait?!?!

I got mine 8 days after I told the dealership I wanted a Black Touring with pkg. 3... they actually had two Tourings in stock, but one was silver with pkg 3 and the other was black with pkg 6.

 

i had to wait 2 days, because there were only 2 black tourings package 3's in the bay area

no one with other prius cars wave at me or even follow me, personally i think they know its a touring and they are jealous and wish they had one

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZA_Andy @ Jul 17 2007, 06:42 AM) [snapback]480169[/snapback]</div>

Glad to read your comments! I've a regular Prius ordered and I've only test driven the regular one but I wondered about the Touring. A dealer who had driven the Touring said the ride was rough on ordinary roads, although he said it rode well enough just going down the highway. I was interested in the Touring to begin with but after hearing a comment or two about the rough ride (compared to the regular Prius) on less than smooth streets I decided to pass on the Touring. Thanks for the info because it sounds like I made the right choice based on your comments.

 

<_< Hi SAGE...

The Touring Edition *IS* offered with the NAV system, at least in Texas. My 2007 purchased last November is Package 6 which includes the Touring Edition, NAV system, factory leather, backup camera, etc., etc. - the "Whole Nine Yards."

From following PriusChat, I have noted that some distribution areas offer different 'packages,' so that must be why N.Y. does not offer NAV and Touring combined.

 

I think the touring suspension IS only about $270 more. The touring package is $800 + difference if you are comparing it to a non touring model without HID headlights.

When I test drove both cars, I didn't notice a huge difference, but I didn't have any opportunities to go around any corners on only two wheels.

The description of the option as "Specially Tuned Suspension" made me wonder if they simply evaluate all the springs comming out of production and then put the ones with the right specs out of the standard deviation to place on the touring models. The lower profile tires could acount for the greater part of the subtle difference in handling. Does anyone know if there are physical dimentional differences between touring and non touring suspension parts, other than the wheels and tires?

 

After 30k mi with a 2005 and now 11.5k mi with a 2007 Touring, the Touring edition provides a firmer suspension and better ride. Get the Touring.

 

I test drove both and bought the Touring. The ride is substantially firmer.

If you are buying in San Francisco, I would email all around the Bay Area to get pricing on the one you want and then go to a dealership that has the color you want in stock, with the emails in hand.

SF Toyota matched the best online price I could find without much of a struggle. They were also one of the best car dealers I've dealt with in the City ... My last cars were VW, Audi and Mini and SF Toyota blew them away in pricing, attitude, customer service, follow-up, etc. (I was also able to get them to negotiate the cost of adding a sunroof, heated seats and lumbar support.)