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Toyota Prius (First Generation)
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Comments
1. Rear Wiper - $180
2. Side & curtain air bags - $650
3. Smart Entry & Start - $320
4. HID/Fog Lamps/VSC - $1105
5. Security System/Garage Door Opener - $340
6. JBL 9-speaker Premium Audio Sytem w/ 6-CD Changer
- $750
7. Navigation System - $1,900
These are all MSRP. Dealer's cost are definitely less than these.
People buy grossly overpriced & oversized vehicles everyday. Adding $5K of high-tech goodies to a vehicle you could have driven off the lot of $20K takes full advantage of that market attitude. No one is forcing those consumers get those extras, but they do anyway.
$25K for a totally tricked out computer on wheels isn't bad at all. The unique features, like unlocking & starting the car without using a key or remote yet it still offers full security, are quite handy. Having your hands full and dealing with a heavy jacket or large purse that makes keys hard to find is a very, very, very helpful. Then you've got special safety features like HID & VSC. The built-in bluetoothed-enable cell-phone recognition will put hands-off systems to shame. And that all adds to the *DOUBLE* efficiency the $20K delivers. No other midsize sedan comes even remotely close to the 55 MPG EPA average. And it does all that while still delivering AT-PZEV emissions.
Lastly, "stealth" appeals to all those that experience it. The max of 42 MPH on nothing but electricity without the engine running is impressive in itself. The fact that the max will get increased to around 50 MPH in the 2004 will really add to the appeal.
JOHN
with the rear seat down? I cannot find this
information with the usual specifications.
With the rear seat up it is 16 cubic feet.
Passenger volume is 94 cubic feet. If it is
more than a Golf and near a that of a Matrix, I'll buy it.
I've been reading all the literature on the 2004 Prius I can get. You have a very informative web page with lots of great links. I'm looking forward to test driving the new Prius as soon as it becomes available. Just to set the record straight, I have a few questions for you.
1) What options do you have in your current Prius?
2) Are you planning on trading your Prius for a 2004? If so, what package did you select?
I'm trying to figure out if the NAV systems and all the other bells and gadgetry is worth the money. Daysailor does have a point, in that bumping up the price of a car by 25% above its base cost does seem a bit financial unwise.
Although I must admit I am an electrical Engineer and I do find a lot of that gadgetry to be down right fun.
As another side note, what do you think about biodiesel nd VW TDI's?
Thanks,
I currently have the standard package, which is very nicely loaded but can't compare to the high-tech goodies only the 2004 Prius offers.
> Are you planning on trading your Prius for a 2004?
Yup. Then I can gather a whole collection of data for this model too.
> If so, what package did you select?
Everything!
Electric A/C, Power Windows, Power Doors, Power Mirrors, ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), Traction Control, Tire-Pressure Monitor, Aluminum Rims, Cruise Control, Keyless Entry, Tilt Steering Wheel (with audio/climate controls built-in), 60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seat, Multi-Display, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), Rear Wiper, Side-Curtain Airbags, Smart-Entry, Smart-Start, HID (High Intensity Discharge) Lamps, FOG Lamps, Security Alarm, Integrated Garage Door Opener, JBL 9-Speaker Premium Audio System w/6 CD Changer, Bluetooth-enabled Cell-Phone support, DVD-based GPS Navigation System
> what do you think about biodiesel nd VW TDI's?
TDI is just plain so dirty it can't compete with gasoline. Using biodiesel helps quite a bit, but it still loses the clean battle. And the environment is far more important than efficiency to me. Fortunately Prius competes head on with diesel anyway, providing virtually the same efficiency (while being significantly cleaner).
Also, the dead silence and lack of any vibration is something no engine, neither diesel nor gasoline, can compete with. Driving exclusively on electricity (up to 42 MPH in the classic Prius and even faster in the new Prius) is just plain sweet. It's absolutely fabulous in heavy commute traffic, something us daily stop & go drivers really enjoy.
JOHN
Unless you've actually sat in it, you can't be certain. The numbers don't tell the whole story.
I know someone who has sat in the 2004 already. He mentioned specifically that the steering-wheel no longer comes down as far. That allows for more sitting room without having increased the physical length.
JOHN
Thanks.
In short, the nightmare problems with the older (NiCd) rechargables don't exist for the hybrids.
Lastly, the battery-pack itself is rather small. Just the size of 6 loafs of bread and only 110 pounds. So salvage work isn't as difficult as those against this technology seem to imply.
And finally, the biodiesel supports make me a bit crazy. They like to push the the "mutually exclusive" concept, rather than accepting the fact that the best of both worlds are possible: a hybrid that runs on biodiesel.
JOHN
Actually, one thought that I had was that Toyota, VW and Mazda should team together to create a electric/biodiesel hyrbrid with a rotary engine.
I'm sure there are some really engineering challenges to get a rotary engine to work with diesel. Also this may currently be cost prohibitive. But it does seem to be a great combination.
Do you know if the side curtain airbags in the 2004 Prius extend to the back seat? I was excited that the Scion xA had them available, until I read the fine print and realized they were only for the front seat. I'm interested in protecting my kids in the back seat as much as possible (short of buying a minivan).
JOHN
Thanks for pointing out the corrected spec.
JOHN
getting from Toyota through their "hand-raiser" program. The only info I've
gotten from them in their emails has been "hey, we updated our website" and
a (by then, old) PR release stating the base MSRP and some of the standard
features and available options.
If you look around, I'm certain that you'll find
the information that you're looking for...
system, I'd assume that you could also upload your
address book into your Navigation system as POIs or
start/destination points.
I kinda like the idea that the audio will mute itself
when receiving/placing a Bluetooth-enabled cell
phone call.
transmission creep on a traditional car. (i.e.
stopped at a stop light, take your foot off the
brake and the car will creep slowly forward) however,
if you press harder on the brake pedal, that'll
cancel out the simulated transmission creep.
(Some people don't press hard enough on the brake
when stopping, and they notice that the Prius wants
to "dance" or lurch a bit when at a stop - press
harder on the brake pedal and the electric motor
(which is simulating the transmission creep) will
stop fighting against your foot on the brake pedal.)
Depending on the hill, you may roll a bit backwards
if you don't keep your foot on the brake and then
immediately move your foot to the accelerator pedal
fast enough...
I think I read somewhere that the new 2004 Prius is
supposed to have a hill-holder feature, but I can't
seem to find that page at the moment...
Is it just me, or does the dashboard on the new Prius look like it extends for miles? I realize it's difficult to say without sitting in one, but from some of the views it reminds me of the Chevy Lumina van that had the same slanted front windshield resulting in an expansive dash and a feeling that you were sitting far back from the front of the car. Personally I prefer the feel of the Honda Civic which makes me feel like I'm sitting on the front bumper with a wide-open view of the road. One good thing I noticed is that the Toyota designers appear to have broken up the dash so it may not feel like it's one huge piece of continuous plastic stretching out before you.
I know the manual fanatics are gonna get on me for this, but I have to say that I Love Transmission Creep! It is so useful, when you look at it as a feature and use it to your advantage:
1. In stop-and-slow freeway traffic, you can just creep ahead with everyone.
2. On snowy or icy roads, instead of spinning the wheels at a stoplight, you can start by creeping, then step on the gas once the car is moving.
3. In parking garages/lots you can use the creep to pull you around curves, etc.
Definitely glad to hear the Prius has a 'simulated' creep -- forgot to ask about that before!
04 Prius Dash:
I think the main reason for the long dash is due to Toyota wanting the new Prius to have a very low coefficient of drag. It needed to have a very slanted windshield to help achieve this. However the driver might not feel *that* far away from the front bumper--since the hood is so short. I imagine sitting in the car in person won't feel as disconnected as can look in pictures.
Quite true, especially with a short hood.
Another advantage of this that is commonly overlooked is the speedometer placement. Being as far back on the dashboard as possible, you can much, much, much more easily see it. Your eyes don't have to refocus like with close-up speedometers. In fact, you don't even have to take your eyes off the road, since it is within periferal vision range.
JOHN
Thanks for your understanding.
Is there a place on Edmunds that would allow for photo sharing?
JOHN
Thanks for sharing ;-)
No problems!
Is that brief enough? After 3 winters of driving in Minnesota with my Prius, I can confidently say it's no big deal. And that's with all-season tires. Performance is even better with winter tires.
Also, with the new VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) option available on the 2004 Prius, handling on slippery roads should be even better, making it superior to traditionally equipped vehicles.
JOHN
That consumed 94.908 gallons of gas. All of it was both E10 (90% gasoline, 10% ethanol) and low-sulfur.
That calculates to 49.953 MPG, which rounds evenly to 50 MPG. Yeah!
This is real-world data. Which includes 70 MPH highway driving, having the A/C on high, and (my favorite) cruising with the front windows all the way open. Most vehicles can't even claim achieving a single tank that good. My Prius delivered that performance all summer long. Hooray!!
I can't imagine what it's going to be like next summer. The improved drag-coefficient, the electric A/C, the new warming design for the emissions system, and the alterations to the engine & electrical system should really impress. Mid-50's will actually be realistic. Sweet!!!
JOHN
1. The interior comes in only 2 colors, gray and beige
2. Japanese version come with a toneau cover
3. The rear brake lights uses LED's
4. The site claims that the new prius will offer better occupant protection during an offset headon crash with a SUV with each travelling at 50kph(35mph). There's also a picture of the crash itself.
5. The site also mentions that if a person is hit by the car, the new design will offer less injuries to the person. Sorry, it did not mention anything about lesser liability on the driver's part.
6. A sportier option offers 205/45R17 tires.
7. A self parking system is available. This is a hands free system. You could literally get out of the car and let the car park itself.
(I do not read Japanese script but got these info with the help of an interpreter.}
Can you provide the URL for the picture of the crash?
Thanx,
mjcpl
********
little_pogi wrote:
4. The site claims that the new prius will offer better occupant protection during an offset headon crash with a SUV with each travelling at 50kph(35mph). There's also a picture of the crash itself.
http://www.toyota.co.jp/company/prius/channel/vod_300k.html
Approx. Video times of interest:
10:45 Elec diagrams & graphs
12:15 S-VSC wet braking test
13:50 Dimensions & interior seat configurations
17:00 self-parallel parking
20:45 offset crash test
21:10 (notice the windmills in the background)
21:22 windtunnel test with lines of smoke to show the laminar airflow.
movies/animations are great:
http://toyota.broadbandgw.co.jp/prius/index.html
mjcpl
www.toyota.co.jp/company/prius/safety/passiv.html
The site is best viewed using broadband. There's also a lot of cool accessories available for the Prius.
Has anyone had any experience selling a used Prius and had a problem getting a decent price for it? A friend of mine just retired from a job and started selling Toyota's. He claims that the dealer he works at has a brand new Prius on the showroom floor and they can't sell it.
I love my Prius and was thinking of purchasing a 2004 but I'm not sure that I could find a buyer for the '03.