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Hate the steering wheel 2010 Prius Gen III

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by bandito, Jul 21, 2010.

  1. bandito

    bandito New Member

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    2010 Prius
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    III
    I didn't really noticed this bothered me until the second day I owned the car. I had a 2007 touring before trading in for this 2010 III. The steering wheel has that silver covered parts that block the bottom part of the steering wheel. So when I drive I guess my hands rest around that silver part at the bottom of the wheel. Well that silver stuff I am afraid is going to scratch and wear off. It is very uncomfortable to drive with my hands there because it is hard and stiff. Any way to modify that?
     
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Yes: grip the wheel at the safety recommended positions of 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock.
     
  3. bandito

    bandito New Member

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    Thanks Richard! I guess I opened the door for that one. I do drive at 10 and 2 but for those lazy driving times (I am in the car alot) I guess I grab at around 7 and 5 which I am sure most people are doing too.

    So is that cheap silver stuff going to start chiping off? I am sure it will show scratches too.
     
  4. Colonel Ronson

    Colonel Ronson New Member

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    ooh another arizona prius buddy. yeah i agree the steering wheel is a tad bit ugly and annoying, but you get used to it. I just telescope it upwards so i can grasp the bottom easier.
     
  5. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

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    I agree
    The steering wheel should been leather wrapped
     
  6. mgb4tim

    mgb4tim Noob

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    after 21K miles in a year, my silver portions still look like new with that same lazy-day 5 or 7 grip.
     
  7. kazak

    kazak New Member

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    My beef with the steering wheel is that it's not round. Whenever I make full turns, my hand expects the wheel to be "there" only to find out that I'm off by an inch or so. No biggie as I'm sure I'll eventually get used to it...or so I hope.
     
  8. xpcman

    xpcman Senior Member

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    10 and 2 are not the recommended positions for a car with air bags.
     
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I love the steering wheel and think it gives the car a futuristic look. Don't worry about the silver stuff flaking off - I'm upto 27k hard miles and the silver is not wearing off at all. However, the drivers cloth door trim and center console trim are.
     
  10. Fusionworks

    Fusionworks New Member

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    +1 for the non round complaint. And I wish it was both leather wrapped and a sportier feeling 3 spoke.
     
  11. Eoin

    Eoin Active Member

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    Round is so boring. I love the elliptical wheel. It feels high tech.
     
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Another lover of the elliptical wheel. It is different, just like the rest of the Prius.
     
  13. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    hmmm, shame nobody thought that in the early 1970's when the Austin Allegro was released with a square steering wheel. I think you escaped its charms over in the US!

    [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Allegro]Austin Allegro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
     
  14. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Design aesthetics aside, many sports cars have flat bottomed steering wheels because it makes for easier entry/exit without rubbing your legs on the wheel--a few examples below.
     
  15. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    IV
    The package IV and V are leather wrapped. It was another reason why I opted for the IV. GrumpyCabbie confirmed another one, which was my fear that the cloth covering on the arm rest would wear out from the driver's elbow.
     
  16. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

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    I hate the feel of the plastic cover, that it goes all the way, looks & feels cheap.

    If you tap it, while listening to a tune, it's annoying. The sound system is a huge improvement in the 2010, making finger drum beats all the more common.

    I liked the steering wheel of my 2006 better.
     
  17. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I just wrapped mine with the Wheelskin...Now I never touch the plastic only leather...I covered up the silver where it overlaps the wheel surface. To me the texture of the non-leather wheel is a big mistake...it feels exactly like sandpaper.

    I'm ok with the funky shape....
     
  18. New_Yorker

    New_Yorker New Member

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    I had a 2007 Touring Edition , now the 2010 Five model, steering wheel is great, no problem at all. I hated the Black Floor Mats that clashed with the Bisque Interior of my Blizzard Pearl colored White car. What idiot would but black mats on light beige/grey carpet ? At least they used the proper mat color in the cargo area to match the carpet. Can anyone explain why Toyota decided NOT to do the same thing in the passenger area where black shows every speck of dirt, and crumb and matches nothing ? Is this one of those 'Oriental Culture' thingy's ? ? ? Is Black floor mats the choice of the " Fung Shooey " man or something, to keep out the demons ? The sales brochure for the Prius left that part out.
     
  19. kazak

    kazak New Member

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    If I was driving any of those cars, I wouldn't half complain at all! hahahahaha.
     
  20. Prius42

    Prius42 New Member

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    Model:
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    Well, Hand position on the steering wheel in the era of in-wheel airbags seems to be somewhat controversial:

    Where to put hands on the steering wheel? - Smart Motorist

    Also I rather like the non-round "racing" steering wheel, and on a prius IV it is leather wrapped. I agree, though, that the hard plastic is cheap and ugly.