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Wise words for those considering an 04 - 09 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by cycledrum, Apr 15, 2009.

  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    "Comfort
    Toyota designed the Prius with the intent of maximizing interior space. Subsequently, headroom is cavernous and there's a tad more rear-seat legroom than in a Camry or Ford Crown Victoria. Anyone 6 feet tall, however, will find the front seat lacking in legroom as there is no height adjustment and limited seat track travel — there is also no telescoping steering column. Two 6-foot-3 staff members couldn't come remotely close to finding a comfortable driving position. This is a major area in which the Prius differs from traditional midsize sedans. If you're of average height or less, though, the Prius' wide, comfy seats and airy greenhouse will please."

    2008 Toyota Prius Test Drive on Edmunds.com
     
  2. thedutchtouch

    thedutchtouch prius is my SUV

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    eh im 6'2" and i can get comfortable enough
     
  3. swi66

    swi66 Member

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    I'm 5'11
    perfect for me, in fact, more room than in our 98 Subaru, and certainly waaaaay more room than my wife's 2000 Cherokee.
     
  4. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi All,

    For taller people the front seat can be a problem. Leggy tall people may not be comfortable, but they usually can wing it. Short legged tall people tend to be SOL, however, as the seat is just too high for them to see out of the windshield horizontally without stooping. I had a neighbor try my car. He had (moved now) a 40 mile commute. It was impossible for him. But he had no issues in his VW Golf.

    Other than the misplacement of the fixed lumbar support, the 2nd Gen Prius is just about perfect for my husky, short legged 5'10" build though.
     
  5. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    Wonder what they think height adjustment has to do with legroom? I agree that a height adjustment would be good. I'm 6'4" and I'd like more thigh support, which would at least partially be provided with an adjustable seat bottom. But I have enough legroom, and with supplemental thigh support I come more than "remotely close to finding a comfortable driving position" -- comfortable enough for a 2000 mile round trip drive to Hybridfest two years ago.
     
  6. Rotorhead

    Rotorhead New Member

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    I'm 6'2" and find the Prius more comfortable than my Taurus. The Taurus even had the fully adjustable electric drivers seat. The Prius seat could be better, but it works for me.
     
  7. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

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    Some six footers are going to have more problems with the Prius than others. Anatomies are different. Adjustable seat height can fix it for some. If the Prius does not fit, wait till the 2010s come out.
     
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I'm 6ft 2in tall, more applicably, with 35.5" inseam. I'm not too far off from a 90degree leg bend when braking.

    Hitting the brake pedal is what bothers me the most. It is closer than the gas pedal and centered below the steering wheel.

    I'm currently talking to a Bay Area handicapped auto outfitter to modify the seat track travel.

    Business at work is wayyyy off (slow) and I'd like to be .... you know what, but the cramped legroom of this Prius has taken its toll and needs to be fixed.

    For the long legged's out there, wait for the 2010 Prius or go Insight.
     
  9. ManualOnly

    ManualOnly New Member

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    After having seen several Edmunds video reviews on both new hybrids, I now consider them as not impartial at best and biased at worst.

    I literally can read the embedded sales-pitch made on behalf one of the automaker, even though theirs is smaller and less sophisticated.


    :focus:
     
  10. rcf@eventide.com

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    The only time I was EVER happy with legroom was in an '84 Subaru wagon. That was because the dealer was able to move the seat tracks back for me. Dealers won't do that any more due to the fear of lawsuits. I'm 6'3" and I'm as comfortable (and uncomfortable) in my Prius as in pretty much any random car. You get used to being a little scrunched after a few days.

    Richard
     
  11. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I talked to the tech at Mobility Systems (510) 540-0295, Berkeley, CA
    I'm scheduled for an evaluation this Saturday.

    This guy said he's 6' 7" with 32" inseam (long torso, shorter legs)

    I don't like paying for modifications, but seat travel mod is going to happen soon for me.
     
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Depends on the height adjuster - Mazda height adjusters for example move a seat down and back. I go from lousy legroom, track all the way back, height full up, to great legroom with adjuster handle cranked down 10 times or so.
     
  13. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

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    I'm 6'3", shortish legs. I would put the seat one more notch back if I could, but it's not a big deal. I find the back support fits my back very well, and tilting the seat back back a bit has me quite comfortable. My longish arms like where the steering wheel is. I've had it for a couple months now and have about 3.5 Mm (that's mega metres). I don't need to lower the seat to see.... maybe the extra weight I'm carrying sinks me into the seat enough :). A little more thigh support would be needed on longer trips if I didn't use cruise control, but I do.
     
  14. brownsnoutuk

    brownsnoutuk Active Member

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    Im 6ft 4", Drive the prius 250+ miles every weekday and have no problems with the seating.
    Now the rear seats - my shoulder is almost touching the ceiling as i have to tilt my head almost 90 degrees to ride in the back.
     
  15. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Each person has his/her own body geometry. I would just go to a car dealer show room and try out the front seat to find out if it would be comfortable to sit still for 10 minutes. :)
     
  16. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    My wife is 5'10 and finds the Prius very comfortable, I'm 6'0 with a 32 inseam and it drives me batty. The driving position is totally alien, and its impossible for me to find a position that is comfortable. IMHO its the most awkward car I've ever driven.

    The lack of seat adjustments is criminal...
     
  17. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    picture is worth a thousand words and more reliable ...

    here's some 35" inseam legs in a 09 Prius, seat full back ..

    050705 029.jpg

    Ouch!

    This will change within a week or so. Look for my seat mount in modifications sections with pics in a couple weeks. I go for the eval. tomorrow morning.
     
  18. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

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    Honestly after sitting in my work truck for my 10.5 hour shift 4x week...it feels really good to be in my Prius at the end of shift.
    For such big vehicles, the front legroom sucks to be honest. The center console thing closes in on the footwells so legroom is about 2 feet wide no joke. In back, much better as far as space goes.
     
  19. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Drove to Berkeley on bare seat (left cushion at home). I was just chuckling at how uncomfortable the stock seat is for me - hard, flat, lacking legroom.

    Tech said will move seat 3 - 3.5" back with brackets. One point I slid seat all the way forward. He said that is for people 4' 6" tall, emphatically stated ...

    'Prius chassis (seats) ... not made for the US, but for Asian market ...'

    I'll let you know in couple days how it turns out (you know me, blah, blah).

    Repair estimate - $310

    They've done a lot of these jobs. Shops like their's are rare.
     
  20. b2j2

    b2j2 Member

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    I guess I have long legs and short torso (6'+ total). Essentially the seat all the way back and moderate tilt for leg room but I end up feeling like there is too much headroom and less than best vision out. Same feeling in many other cars (even pickup sized trucks). I would like to raise the seat (I know, a pad would do that, but you lose some of the upholstery fit), but the attachments are at an angle and you can't just use spacers and longer bolts.

    [Best legroom I ever had was in a Porsche 356C. Of course the back seat(?) then had zero leg room! A seat could be easily slid off its tracks if you needed real hauling capacity (unfortunately there were seat thieves that knew that).]