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

Nikki Drives...2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by aminorjourney, Jul 14, 2009.

  1. aminorjourney

    aminorjourney Mum to two prius!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    335
    27
    0
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi Folks,

    I was lucky enough to go to the 2010 pre launch test drives in the UK and took my camera equipment along.

    The Toyota GB team put on a great show with lots of Prius there. As I'd asked to do a video test-drive for my webtv series I was allowed off the main site. And man, did I have a great time!

    Although, I have to say - I'm not a fan of the 2010. It just doesn't seem to have a purpose as clearly defined as the earlier models.

    Here's the show. Enjoy.

    Nikki.
     
    #1 aminorjourney, Jul 14, 2009
    2 people like this.
  2. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
    313
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    hi nikki
    nice video only problem is i can not play it correctly
    not problem with youtube and dailymotion
    and its a brand new asus eeepc with a 1,6ghz atom
    not goog for HD video but SD is no problem
    or is your video in HD?


    the purpose for the 2010 is more mainstream.
     
    #2 Flying White Dutchman, Jul 14, 2009
  3. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    1,255
    185
    0
    Location:
    a
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    You mean a wider appeal bothers you? If it's purpose before was FE and clean then what's not to like about better mpg and as clean or cleaner than previously?
     
    #3 wvgasguy, Jul 14, 2009
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,661
    8,063
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    After keeping up with the story of Velma ... it's good to see you out & about in the Gen III. It'll be interesting to see who will be the 1st Gen III PHEV converter ;)
     
    #4 hill, Jul 14, 2009
  5. aminorjourney

    aminorjourney Mum to two prius!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    335
    27
    0
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Fuel economy is important - but you have to figure in the extra costs associated with upgrading etc. When spending that much money on a car you have to love the interior.

    Fuel economy should not be an excuse when buying a car. It's possible to design a great interior in a frugal fuel sipper. I just don't feel that this model has done that. :(

    Wider appeal is great, but the cockpit of the 2010 does seem a little intimidating, given that many drivers don't even know where the main beam dip is!

    My point is that I think Toyota could have worked harder to make the car more luxurious without all the extra buttons. I loved the better ride, better fuel economy and larger cabin. What I didn't like was the array of push buttons and multiple screens. I mean, there's FOUR!

    :)

    Nikki.
     
    #5 aminorjourney, Jul 14, 2009
  6. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
    313
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    in the gen 2 prius you have a lot more then 4 screens.
    audio/climate etc etc.
    no you have buttons for direct touch ac on or off instead going to the menu on the MFD to do this or to do that in several button and touchsscreen buttons.

    so i think that a improvement.

    but thats personal ofcourse

    i also like buttons:D:p

    i do agree that the MAP button should be on the steering wheel just like in the gen 2. ( or is it? )

    the heads up display to me is useless
    its still to low for me to not look down to it..
    i whan to read it displayed on the backwindow of a car i am directly looking at
    thats the only way you dont still have to look down

    and in that case i can better just look down a little more and se it already at a good location in the dash.
     
    #6 Flying White Dutchman, Jul 14, 2009
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,661
    8,063
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    wait a minute ... some of us have modded our mfd's (or added an extra dvd player screen) so we can REALLY get data overload.

    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG][​IMG]

    how does one reconcile the GEN III display as being over the top, when some PC members do the above?
    :p
     
    #7 hill, Jul 14, 2009
  8. danl

    danl New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    231
    6
    0
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Hi Nikki, good video. I quite agree with you on many of your points. I too prefer the minimalistic design of the gen2. And I do think you hit the nail on the head with your comment that "It just doesn't seem to have a purpose as clearly defined as the earlier models." Well done, or as you folks across would say it, good show. :-D
     
    #8 danl, Jul 14, 2009
  9. danl

    danl New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    231
    6
    0
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Oh one more thing, I didn't know this before, but from the video, and I correct in assuming that the speedometer is projected onto the windshield?
     
    #9 danl, Jul 14, 2009
  10. 12parsecs

    12parsecs Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2009
    56
    21
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    There's an awkwardly long pause after she talks about it before she shows us.

    The bit about redundant information screens and buttons are totally on the spot.
     
    #10 12parsecs, Jul 14, 2009
  11. aminorjourney

    aminorjourney Mum to two prius!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    335
    27
    0
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Absolutely - but...

    With the Can View etc the info (and the screen buttons to reach it) is only there if you go looking for it.

    I reckon the 03-09 Prius has about 1/4 of the physical buttons the 2010 has. While it displays no more or less data it just feels cleaner inside as a consequence.

    It's the amount of instantaneous data which is different...

    Oh, and yes - Sorry about the pause for the HID. It took me a while to film that (as you can only really see it from the driver's seat and I had to wait until I was off-road to legally film that bit as I had to hold the camera!)

    Nikki.
     
    #11 aminorjourney, Jul 14, 2009
  12. Wooski

    Wooski New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2009
    241
    63
    15
    Location:
    London, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, that's the H.U.D. (heads up display). Its standard on all UK, and I suspect, all European models. You can select it between off, speed only, speed and Eco monitor and Navi (if the car has Navi). You can also adjust it's height on the screen and its brightness. I think once you get used to it being there it will become very useful and the driver will rarely need to look down at the dash. I wouldn't go so far as saying it makes the normal read out redundant, as some people might not like it and want it turned off. It's a preference.
     
    #12 Wooski, Jul 14, 2009
  13. mrb77

    mrb77 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Geneva, IL
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    great video, thanks!
     
    #13 mrb77, Jul 14, 2009
  14. aminorjourney

    aminorjourney Mum to two prius!

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2007
    335
    27
    0
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks guys - Just got back from a day filming at Merceedes Smart :)
     
    #14 aminorjourney, Jul 15, 2009
  15. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
    313
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Mild hybrid?

    or maybe even the plugin version?

    nice
    hope to see the video soon
     
    #15 Flying White Dutchman, Jul 15, 2009
  16. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    1,222
    493
    27
    Location:
    Morgantown, WV
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    All 3 formats played with VLC on asus 1000he eeepc. Choose format then save download. That website is very slow was unable to stream the video. Didn't look like hd at all.
     
    #16 JamesBurke, Jul 15, 2009
  17. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    4,374
    313
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ok so it was the website

    well i just sean a new message on nikki's site... THE SMART ED.. electric drive

    so the plugin version YHEAAA
     
    #17 Flying White Dutchman, Jul 16, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)