2010 Prius Models and Option Packages

I have no trouble in answering you. I drove 5000 km from Lisboa to Geneva and back (app. 2000 km distance each way). The extra 1000 km were for fun/travel purposes.

The thing is I would have done a vacation period with traveling anyway, although of course not that long. And I took a couple which are friends along with us (me and my wife).

So, instead of taking a plane alone, I took 4 adults and rode for 5000 km, seeing some beautiful Swiss landscape, and meeting with fellow friends from Prius-Europe YahooGroup as well.

If I was to stay in Portugal, I would have done about half of that distance, but my friends would have too on their car, so I see really no big difference on the impact we caused as a group on that week.

It was my first big trip with my 2006 Prius, and boy was it fun. I was amazed at how easily it could climb the Pyrenees and the Alps even fully loaded and at high-speed (120 or 130 km/h). Magnificent car.

 

I think Pat figures they were going to fly that way anyway.. he might as well tag along for the ride!

 

ANd the 2010 is supposed to do even better!

 

...and think of the maneuvers that a car doesn't have to perform to get a fix on another object out there!

 

You should NOT have to buy one of the most expensive option packages just to get a lumbar back support. My wife, who does not currently have a Prius, has been strongly considering getting a 2010 Prius, but this may end up being a deal breaker.

 

Will the engine hood on the 2010 fit the 2008 ?

 

I understand your desire to have more broadly available than in but one package. Still, you can install lumber supports yourself, through the dealer or at a third-party shop.



The issue has been raised and addressed before. Try any or all of these three threads to see about the process and availability:

1. Added integrated lumbar adjustment to Prius seats.
2. Seat Heaters and Lumbar Supports installed and working
3. Dealer installed lumbar support

 

That is a big negative. Car looks the same but this one is slightly bigger. Sorry.

 

Perhaps I missed it, but does

mean:

1) The system equipment will be in the cars, but just not WORK until the fall (ie: no service)
OR
2) The equipment won't even be in the cars until the fall???

This could (combined with no power seats) be the deal breaker.

Suddenly the Ford Fusion Hybrid or whatever becomes of the Saturn Vue Dual Mode Hybrid (Chevy?) sound a LOT better that Prius, even though they are said to get much worse mileage.
And the prices are supposed to be about the same, too.

Well, I still have hope (and my money in my pocket). out:

 

Sorry, I'm too lazy to go looking for it, but PriusTeam definitely confirmed in another thread that the Safety Connect feature will not be available until the fall, and will only be available in cars that have it installed at the factory. As Paradox said, it won't be a dealer add-on and won't be possible to retrofit. It wasn't clear if it would be spread across the different models or only be in one particular model or option package.

 

Imagine my carbon foot print if I did all that travelling and I drove an Escolade?

My booking to the USA was almost a last minute booking, I suspect the aircraft would have flown the route without me if I didn't go.

My drive to Melbourne and back for me and my son used less than 80 litres of fuel, under 2 tanks in a Prius, not bad. I'd make that up in under 6 weeks in improvements over my Camry's fuel consumption.
The bonding with my son was priceless. We also went to Castlemaine to look at hot-rods and an electric car manufacturer.

I wonder how many people I might influence now to get into a Prius and half their automotive carbon footprint?

 

Don't get much snow/salt ont the road in San Diego do you??

Nothing like that cr@p loading up on your headlights during a snow storm to cut the lumens on the road. AND, it stays on the road for some time. Even after it warms up, when it rains, vehicles in front (especially those who think 15 or 20' is plenty of space before moving in front of you) will toss it up for weeks. The same stuff on the windshield would blind you if you had no washers and wipers. The headlights are no different.

I had headlamp washers on my '86 Mazda 626 GT. And yes I used them on long Interstate trips. Now I clean the lights at rest areas since I have no washers. If I DID have washers, I'd clean more often, while driving.

 

Dirt alert! Man that fabric better have a really good dirt/liquid repelling coating. People we worried about the tan interiors and I do have to clean mine. I can't imagine how fast that 'almost white' will be a much darker grey in places.

 

Nothing I'm particularly interested in, especially if it has a monthly/annual cost.

There are other deal breakers though.

• I can only hope Toyota will put the relatively cheap (lumbar, 3 door SKS, etc) in lower models or as options. One really shouldn't have to buy an upgraded stereo and leather to get 3 door SKS and an adjustable lumbar.
• Put the audio and climate controls back on a touch MFD where the ONE thing you want is immediately available via 1 large 'button' rather than holding a small non tactile button waiting to cycle through the 'choices'. Remember, EYES ON THE ROAD, or as close as possible. Not hunting for a non tactile button down at knee level. Not watching the touch tracers to see where your finger is on the wheel buttons. I would not look forward to using those in the winter with gloves on.
• Put the front and rear defrost buttons back on the wheel.
• Put a backup camera option on all models. In short, PUT THE MFD BACK IN THE CAR.
• Get rid of the waste of space arch, put the cup holders back where they can be used and the center console arm rest can be used as an arm rest.
• Shrink the shifter and put it back on the dash where it is out of the way. It doesn't even need to stick out as far as it does on the 2004-9.

You want to make something an option? Make LEATHER a single option, available on any car. People generally love it or hate it. Don't make them buy something they hate to get something they want. SO Detroit! At least by including them in 'add to a model' packages, you aren't forcing the moon/solar roof, Nav, Advanced Tech on anyone. Though why is the ATP is only available on the highest model? Seems like some people might want the safety features but wouldn't care about an upgraded audio system, heated seats, LED headlights, worthless (if they work the same as the 2004-9) fog lights and 17" wheels.

For a really nice change, get rid of the CC stalk and put the controls on the wheel as well. I'm tired of it running into my legs.

And let me modify the temperature where the Auto Climate Control chooses which vents will get air. It is worthless here in the winter. We need some air on the windshield pretty much any time the outside temp gets below 45F (pretty much 7 months of the year) yet the Auto CC thinks my feet need all the heat when the inside temp is above some set point.

And while I'm asking/whining, make a continually variable 0 to 100% grill blocking option electronically connected to the engine temp (include an optional engine block heater). I pulled my pipe insulation last week when the temps went over 50F, now they are back down close to 32F every morning this week with a high of ~45F. Do I really want to zip tie the lower grill blockers in every night and take them off every afternoon? NOOOO!!!! If we want high MPG, low emissions, we need to run the ICE as little as possible, which means getting (and keeping) it warm as fast as possible!! More easily done without unneeded cold air blowing through the engine compartment. The computers can adjust it continuously rather than the driver guessing at the best safe compromise. It would cost a lot less to develop than the moon/solar roof, would weigh very little and would be a useful option for almost any Prius owner at least some part of the year and many of us MOST of the year.

Barring a damn good PHEV Prius (and the EV mode would have to hold up to at least 45 MPH), at this point the replacement for my 2004 Prius in 4 or 5 years will likely be a used 2009.

 

I hope you feel better Bruce!.....

I agree it should'nt be such a complex mystery to get what you want within reason.
Its a tad silly to say you can or can't have these tires or wheels or sunroof or not with this package, or leather, or navigation etc.

I understand it could become a countless mix of combination's, but I'm not sure I understand why that is so hard? So what if there are 20 different packages?

Many of these are deal breakers... people should be able to have it all, even if that means lower mpg or none or anything in between without it being so difficult.
The slogan "have it your way" is what made the difference between success and merely surviving for the fast food industry.

Its almost like going to an excellent restaurant with only a few things on the menu... why can't we have what we are in the mood for or can afford based our values system and preferences?

The more flexible Toyota is, the less the competition will have to offer.

 

Good points, Bruce and Alan. I generally agree and wonder about the same things. I imagine one big reason you can't order exactly what you want is that a relatively small percentage of buyers are as choosy as we are. And for the auto makers to cater to a small percentage of a-la-carte buyers, it may be a logistics challenge and result in smaller profits. Like you guys, I'm extremely picky when it comes to technology. Most of the items aren't deal-breakers for me, since even just the baseline Prius is so fantastic. I will hold out a few years until Toyota makes a Prius with both the technology package and the solar cooling option. If that requires a fully-loaded Prius, then so be it. There will probably be a few items I don't need, like the 17" wheels, but it's not a deal breaker. If Toyota never makes such a loaded Prius, then perhaps I'll give in and buy one anyway, or by then a competitor will make a vehicle every bit as good with the features I want.

 

Your blog says it all. Toyota will make vehicles that people demand. If people require certain stand alone options, then Toyota will respond. They will only respond if people refuse to buy their vehicles until their demands are met. I realize that it is probably a cost issue that Toyota group option packages, but there is no reason why certain options can't be stand alone.
I am waiting for a moonroof package car that has fog lamps to be available. If it was available now, Toyota would have my business immediately. Maybe Toyota will realize that responding to market demands will get more people to buy their products and increase their market share.
I hope Toyota is hearing us, and responding. Time will tell.