1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

My problem with 2008 prius, help

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by caroleyang, Mar 22, 2008.

  1. caroleyang

    caroleyang New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2008
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    san mateo, ca
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius


    I just bought a 2008 prius package 2 yesterday. However, I don't like it.

    The main problem is that through the front window, i am not able to see the left edge or right edge. Therefore, when i am parking my car, i have no idea how far it is to the right, and it is a little difficult to know the left distance as well.

    Have you anyone had any complain like that? How do you overcome that? I can't imagine how i can park in a limited space or anything. I just feel the car hit things.

    I previously drove a honda civic 2000. It was great in terms of 360 degree view. that is why i am confident when i turn and park.

    I know you would say how come i don't find it from test drive. Because there are too many cars in parking lot, I just ask dealer to drive it to main entry, and i then drive to road. That is why i didn't even consider the issue.

    If anyone is interested in the car, I am willing to sell you for a better price. I just don't know how to handle it well.
     
  2. Skynight

    Skynight New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2007
    67
    0
    0
    Location:
    MIDDLESBORO, KY (SE KY, WHERE KY, TN., AND VA. MEE
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Welcome. Please give it some time. I felt the same way the first time I drove a Prius...after a few days...you don't even think about it.
     
  3. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    4,096
    82
    13
    Location:
    USA | Oregon | Portland area | 97004 |
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Welcome to PriusChat, caroleyang. I think you'll get used to it. I know a guy who mounted a fake cell phone antenna on his front license plate holder so he would know where the front of his car was. And I know another guy who mounted parking "whiskers" by his front wheels so he would know when his wheel was near the curb. There are so many good things about the Prius it would be a shame to sell it for such a small thing.
     
  4. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2007
    5,051
    485
    97
    Location:
    Flushing, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi Carole,

    There are a lot of other cars that have or had the issue of hoods sloping so much that you can't see the front end: mini-vans, Honda Civic from the 1980's, VW Beetles.

    I have been personally familiar with this issue for decades -- I had it with the VW Super Beetle in the 1970's, my 1987 Honda Civic, and now my Prius. I got used to it quickly, even under the most severe conditions: parallel parking in New York City parking spaces that are only 1 to 3 feet longer than my car.

    I think you will get used to it too.

    PS: As Bill mentioned, you can attach an antenna to the front of the car in order to see where the front is. You can use either a telescoping metal antenna, a wooden dowel (or banner/flag pole) cut to the right length, or a fiberglass/plastic bicycle flag pole cut to the right length. You would attach the antenna, wooden dowel or flag pole to the front license plate area or on a mount attached to the front license plate area.
     
  5. HardCase

    HardCase SilverPineMica, the green one

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2007
    408
    10
    0
    Location:
    Kalispell, Montana
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Decades of competitive handgun (and also rifle, but the handgun skills are more applicable here) shooting have taught me a principle by which to manage certain hand/eye/visibility issues when one is unable to really "see" a target or certain aspect of a target. It is called "indexing". You take cues from other visible landmarks or indicators and, based on your knowledge of the given equipment at your disposal and its characteristics, you go by faith based on those indicia.

    What I just said probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It does take some study and practice, but it can be done. When I first got my Prius it took me about a week before I could drive it into my rather crowded-with-stuff garage successfully. That was because i couldn't "see" where my front end was in relation to obstacles. I would drive into the garage, stop, and then have to get out and make sure I could get the door closed without hitting the rear deck or bumper of the car when I closed the door. I always felt closer to the stuff in front of me than I actually was.

    But by getting out and studying where I was in relation to how the visual cues when I was behind the wheel led me to think, I was able to figure it out. It doesn't take long, and each person is different because of height and other factors, but give it a try. At first I thought I was going to have to hang a tennis ball from some twine in my garage to bump with my windshield as I have seen some "senior citizens" do......and I fear that it won't be too many more years before I qualify for the senior discount in restaurants and theaters, not something I'm breathlessly looking forward to! But, all kidding aside, that is an option too, at least for that one application. However, as others have commented, give it some time. You just got the car yesterday. Many if not most cars have some visibility issues. The only one that I've driven in several decades that doesn't is a Jeep Wrangler (the standard one, not the Unlimited), and you don't want one of those unless you love buying gas on a frequent basis. Hang in there and :welcome:.
     
  6. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
    7,512
    1,188
    0
    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Sigma Automotive does sell some indicator "antennae" that can be mounted at the front corners of the bumper so the driver can tell where the edges of the car are:

    Sigma Automotive – Toyota Hybrid Prius 2004 - 2009 OEM & JDM auto accessories

    You will need to scroll down the page to find them; I can't provide a direct link. Its called "Corner Pole Marker Fixed". There is also an auto version, but its more expensive.

    I was able to get used to the front visibility after a short time.
     
  7. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You need little flags on the front corners. Ask at a local accessory shop about them.
    Edit: - Oops, I was distracted between writing and posting this.
     
  8. Whiteyprius

    Whiteyprius Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2008
    389
    105
    0
    Location:
    North Carolina, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Not being able to see the front of the vehicle was one of the very first things that I noticed - as soon as I got home with my brand new Prius, and pulled it into my garage (didn't even register with me during the test drives). I complained to my wife, and she reminded me that I had already dealt with that very same issue in driving her Chrysler Voyager - and she was right! I'm still getting used to it after 5000 + miles. And remember, it's not that way by mistake - the whole design is for aerodynamics, which is very important in getting the great miles. Make friends with this quirk, and the many others that you'll find! You'll be loving it (again) before long.;) Thanks for talking about your concerns.
     
  9. dmdiver

    dmdiver New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2008
    17
    2
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hardcase, I do the same thing in my garage. For us, it's a light switch on the wall. When you are even with that, you know you are in far enough, yet not so far that you can't walk around the vehicle.

    With any vehicle, it takes time to get a good feel for the dimensions. I tend to think the Prius is longer than it actually is, so I haven't hit anything with it. I jump out thinking I am 2 inches away from our fence only to find about a foot of space there.