Finally got my Prius.....

Okay so it took me 4 years.

But actually about 2 weeks ago, I traded in my much loved Honda Fit, for a new Prius 2. I would honestly say, it was my enjoyment of The Honda Fit that so delayed my Prius purchase. As I wave goodbye to my Honda Fit....I'll be as bold to say in Prius Chat, that The Honda Fit was a great, well designed sub-compact, with a fantastically well thought out interior. And it was fun to drive...

Okay...but with years of Prius Chat involvement, I'm NOT your typical newbie. I could go on like any normal "New Prius" owner. But with some experience, let me try a slightly different approach than just the usual....Love The New Prius...Glad to Be Here....

COLOR-SEA GLASS PEARL

Usually, and in the past, I've been a "classic" color guy. I like Black, Red, White, Grey....I'm usually not into anything that sounds like it could be an Ice Cream topping. BUT....I'm getting older, and the commitment it takes to keep a darker color looking clean...is becoming more daunting. I really did not want white as it is so populace. So I somewhat hesitantly went with the Sea Glass Pearl...despite some reservations.

So Far? It's a very mercurial color. That is, it looks very different to me, depending on what light or time of day you are looking at it. I'd say, I like it most of the time. Because to my eyes in the evening and night or on overcast days (we get a lot of those) Sea Glass Pearl looks very Steely, Greenish to Bluish light grey...and I like it.

Admission...on the brightest clearest of days or mornings sometimes it can look too "baby blue" for my tastes. But I like that the color actually seems to change with the light and environment.

Further admission...so far I've had 3 women absolutely go crazy about "The Color". Women seem to love the Sea Glass Pearl? Who knew? Never had anyone go "Wow...that Black Color is awesome!".

SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D HATE- THAT I DO NOT, AND I ACTUALLY KINDA LIKE.

Okay.....guess what? I like the reverse beep. After all I read in Prius Chat, I thought for sure I'd be desperately trying to disable it or begging the dealer to do it. But I think I'll just keep it. At least on my Gen 3, it's a very subtle beeping, and maybe I've lost a lot of brain cells, by I kind of like the reminder that I'm actually in reverse.

SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D HATE-THAT I DO HATE....

Now admittedly the Prius comes into a bit of vacuum that I knew would exist. Because I absolutely loved my Honda Fit Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel. It was the best "feeling" steering wheel on any vehicle that I ever owned. So I knew The Prius steering wheel was going to feel crude in comparison.

But man...The Prius steering wheel is not just bad...it's horrible. Love the "accessible technology" on the steering wheel, but absolutely hate the bargain basement sand paperish feel. Come on Toyota, you can do better. IMO there are a few primary first impression direct inputs that people have with their vehicle....steering wheel is one of them. I would say someone would be hard pressed to be impressed with the standard Prius steering wheel. Add to it, that it's oblong and not a real circle?

Wheelskins already ordered.....lit a candle in honor of the memory of my Honda Fit leather wrapped steering wheel.

SORTA NEWBIE REACTION

Have eaten WAY too much fast food this past week, primarily because I love going to the drive through and having the engine turn off. Actually have found myself hoping there is a line. I know this is wrong...eventually this will wear off....or I will soon need a triple bypass....

Another thing? I kind of like the Vehicle Proximity Notification System. From within the car I can't hear it....if I roll down the windows in the drive through? I like the fact that I sound different than almost anything else in the line.

1 question's I'm actually embarrassed I don't know the answer to....

Been driving for almost 2 weeks, pretty mild weather, not hot...some rain. As far as I can tell my Hybrid Battery fan has never turned on. I've never heard it. Keep expecting to hear it turn on at some point....so far, as far as I can tell it never has turned on. Should I be concerned?

Looking for a good weekend to clean and a good location to take some pictures.

MY IMMEDIATE SLIGHTLY UNIMPORTANT DILEMMA...

While I have long advocated that "The Center Cannot Hold" and deterioration is inevitable. I do like to try to take care of my things and slow the process of deterioration as much as possible.
Therefore I am caught in a bit of a Catch 22.

I have the new car owners fear of parking lot door dings. Normally I would deal with this fear by buying side moldings. But I'm really torn as to whether I want to do this with the Prius.

On one hand, I love side moldings and the idea of them protecting the flat surface of the side from the inevitable door ding dent or scratch.

On the other hand? Toyota went to so much work to make form follow function with The Prius, it seems almost wrong to slap side moldings on a vehicle that spent so many hours being refined in a wind tunnel.

Anyone have them? Any noticeable affect on gas mileage? I'm still debating this...I can be swayed.

Well....you'll never get rid of me now...I be a real full fledged Prius Owner.

PS.
I still think the recent commercials suck....I refuse to totally drink the kool aid.

 

Yeah, but that's kind of the problem. I have been parking far away. The nice thing is I can usually use Battery Power to cruise the parking lot gas free as I look for the "safest" looking spot.

Odd thing is, so far if possible I park as isolated as possible...but converesely? I usually return to have a huge truck or SUV parked right next to me.

I know that ultimately it will not matter. But for some reason my psyche is more at peace with the idea of someone thoughtlessly swinging their door into my side molding...than into the actual side of the vehicle.

 

Nice thing for me, is I'm coming from a Honda Fit...albeit a well equipped "sport model". So even though I also bought the base model Prius 2, it's amenities seem as nice or nicer.

As far as seat fabric? I'm just going to wait and see. I don't dislike it. I know when I first got my Honda Fit, it has a similar fabric on it's seats. I thought I was going to hate it, and I also thought I'd have to buy Clazzio's. But I noticed in time that the fabric was actually pretty resilient, held up well, and I ended up liking it so much I never did buy Clazzio's.

So I think I'll just give this fabric a chance. In a year if it's wearing badly? Or I find I really hate it? Then Clazzio seat covers are always an option.

If I was coming from a vehicle with leather seats...I'd might be more disappointed. But for now, I can take a wait and see attitude about the fabric.

Also so far....the seat seems comfortable to me. Which I know has been an issue for many.

 

Thanks everyone.

I don't mean my "newbie" review to sound too negative. I'm really happy with my New Prius and I plan to keep it as long as it makes any legitimate viable sense. So hopefully for many, many years.

My Fit however was coming up on 3 years old, with the new car warranty on it expiring. So unless I was going to commit to keeping The Fit for a long long time...which was a possible and reasonable option, I felt it was kind of now or never. There's a big difference in trading in a 3 year old vehicle in great condition vs. a 5, 6, or 7 year old vehicle.

And as many of you know, my interest in Prius and Hybrids has been long standing. So here I am....

So anyway.....

Help me with my paranoia. I haven't yet heard the Hybrid Traction Battery fan turn on? If it's cool or moderate temperatures outside is this normal? Haven't had a "hot" day since I bought it. But I have driven it freeway and at higher speeds...and as far as I can tell I've never heard it turn on.

 

I'm still debating....good points on both sides.

I had side molding on The Honda Fit...and I think they looked sporty and actually added style. Oddly, the subcompact Fit was so small, that it was pretty rare that I was parked in so tight that it even mattered.

The Prius is wider. So I'm actually a little more concerned.

I would agree that the Prius side moldings certainly don't add any "style". They are very plain and functional looking.

Even with all the advice "about" parking....which I do take and use often, especially now. Eventually in life you are going to find yourself in a situation where you have no real choice.

When you are forced to park in a tight or crowded parking lot. That's when it is nice to have the side moldings.