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Comments
Does anyone know of an efficient product or method of cleaning the upholstery?
I'd like to share a storage tip with you. When you fold down the rear seats the back compartment is visible even with the retractable cover pulled out. What I do is to place a lightweight sheet over the cover and drape it down over the front.
I'll be travelling soon and carrying my golf clubs back there while the suitcases and garment bags go on the folded back seats. I've also found by laying a sheet over everything, passerbys won't be interested.
Another question: In California we have the HOV traffic lanes (diamond lanes) where a 2-seater auto can use them if both seats are occupied. If the Prius backseats were layed down and stuff was occupying the entire back, do you think it would qualify if both front seats were occupied? The fine for violating is $271 for the first offense. I don't want to take that gamble.
Thanks,
Rich
Has anybody noticed that the display showing the power flow between wheels, motors and battery is wrong? When the gasoline motor is sending power to the wheels, the arrow showing that it is also sending power to the electric motor/generator is always on. This is correct when the motor is used as a generator and there is power flowing from the generator to the batteries, but it is clearly wrong when power is coming from the batteries, or no power is flowing from or to the batteries.
Not a big deal---one can easily ignore the error---but it's a bit surprising that it's there since it could be fixed quite easily (I am tempted to say "give me the code and I'll do it"
I also wish that the display were less "cute" and more informative of what goes on. For instance, I would love to know when the braking stops being the regenerative kind and becomes the usual mechanical, heat-generating kind. Also, when I accelerate gently on the electric motor only, I would like to know how far I am from triggering a start of the gasoline motor.
Maybe future software releases could allow customization of some displays? There exist techniques that would allow this without compromising the security of the more critical parts of the system. But then, where would owners plug their laptop to download the customizations? Use bluetooth? :-)
Let me also add the words "energy" and "diagram" to help with searches.
is availabe with out a wait at most dealers all last year. Honda is a gas - electic hybrid, the gas engine is always running. I still have a list of about 125 people as we never charged a premium over msrp although all three of the closest dealers did and 2 of them wouldn't even put peoples names on a list.
With a little looking you should be able to find one some where with out a wait but some dealers will still have a back log like mine so don't get discouraged
just keep looking.
I am in Central Texas
Their battery supplier (Panasonic I think?) opened another production facility and they now can meet Toyota's battery demand, something they COULD NOT DO in 2004.
Toyota is meeting demand with additional supply, as the most profitable car company in the world would do.
The Accord Hybrid is not really in competition with the Prius - MSRP is about $10K apart, mileage is 60 versus 37; very VERY few people are going to be shopping both cars.....:)
Why not? Granted the HAH is better performance. I don't think it is any roomier, maybe even less than the Prius. I would think those that are interested in the environment would look at both. Those that aren't would not look at either one.
OK. Now, someone shopping for highest mileage available in a 5 passenger car has two options: Prius and HCH. Why would THAT person shop for an Accord Hybrid? Probably would not, based on that criteria, "max mpg."
OK, someone shopping for who wants to "compromise max MPG to get more luxury appointments" but still wants a Hybrid, options are basically Accord Hybrid only (as of today.)
OK, someone who is unusual and might be shopping for a "hybrid" for the sake of saying they own a "hybrid" but does not really care much about clean emissions or maxxing out their MPG, that person MIGHT shop for only an Accord Hybrid.
But to shop both Prius and Accord Hybrid and compare them? How would you compare them, with the price disparity, the luxury disparity, the miles per gallon disparity, and the power disparity? They do not have anything at all in common except:
5 passenger car
Hybrid
Japanese
Other than that short list, what do these cars have in common?
You win that one! I was only thinking the short list of hybrid & 5 passenger. You left out the Honda only and Toyota only factor.
Toyota Prius v. ??? (fill in the comparison)
Hybrids: Toyota Prius vs. Honda Civic Hybrid v. Honda Insight v. ?
I agree with you on your wish for the display to be more informative, especially an indicator for knowing if the braking is still regenerative only.
I don't think the display is necessarily wrong. While driving normally, most of the power of the ICE goes to the wheels mechanically. Still a small part goes via MG1 / MG2. Power is being generated by MG1 or MG2 that is then used to drive MG2 or MG1. It has to do with the PSD device. The following link gives you detailed information:
http://home.earthlink.net/%7Egraham1/MyToyotaPrius/PriusFrames.htm
On that page choose: "Understanding the Prius" and then "What's Going On as I Drive".
Generating electrical power to run an electric motor causes a (very small) waste of energy, but that is the price to pay for having the cute little versatile PSD in your drive train.
Great analysis, thanks for sharing
Cruis'n in 6th,
MidCow :shades:
http://www.weathertech.com/store/vehsearch.asp?make_id=52&year_no=2005&veh_id=654&item_gro- up_id=1&veh_opt_choice_id=0
????
Thanks
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml
1) How much to pay
2) which dealer to buy it from
3) how to contact dealer (phone, website, in person etc)
Here is what I have found on edmunds
MSRP INVOICE TMV
------- ------- -------
National Base Price $20,975 $19,314 $21,714
Regional Adjustment - - $0
Optional Equipment $5,065 $4,176 $5,065
BC Package #6 $5,065 $4,176 $5,065
Color Adjustment - - $0
Driftwood Pearl
Destination Charge $540 $540 $540
------- ------- -------
Total with Options $26,580 $24,030 $27,319
I think it's always better to start with the website, find out who the internet sales person is, and deal directly with whomever that is. You can search for the dealer websites through the Toyota USA site, or Google.
They are not giving you what your trade is worth because they are in business to make money. They will recondition your trade at almost no cost to them and then sell it for three or four grand more than they give you.
It's nothing unusual. Car dealers have been doing this since the beginning of the Automobile era.
One option is to get trade-in quotes from other Toyota dealers in your area (hopefully more in line with KBB and Edmunds) and take the figures back to Cherry Hill and tell them they are full of it, if the other dealers offer you more. At least you will have SOME bargaining power if you can show that they are low balling your trade versus other dealers.
Good luck, and remember: Priuses are MUCH MUCH easier to get than they were six months ago. You are likely to find one at a dealer on any given day which will meet your needs. They are NOT still in the "the only ones we get now are special orders" mode.
Toyota sold more Priuses in March 2005 than any other month because they can FINALLY get batteries from their suppliers faster. Shop around....
I spoke to the dealer, after my ride home (about 2 hours) and asked them to come up in there offer on my vehicle. They informed me that there was no need, that my Prius was sold with in minutes of me releasing it and a delivery date was set for the new owners.
It also seems that if I financed the car through Toyota, I would have been offered more money, but since I was getting a car loan else where at 3.75% and they were no where close to it, they did not give me there best price. Seems strange, they were getting sticker price for the prius, so they were making money, so why not come up a few bucks to make a customer happy, as opposed to pissing a customer off. Don't you get more fly's with honey, than with nothing but a big hassle?
Any of your thoughts will be helpful at this time.
Thanks,
Your feedback much appreciated.
That is not Toyota mentality. They are rated substandard on customer service by Consumer Reports for good reasons. I would complain to CR and the BBB in that area. I think getting anyone at Toyota corporate to listen is highly unlikely. If you have a local Omsbudsman at a local TV station, they are are good way to expose that kind of shoddy business. I would not expect to get any kind of deal from that dealer. Go on the Internet and look for dealers in a 100 mile radius. They cannot all be bad. I just bought a new VW Passat in Portland. They gave me almost a $1000 discount for cash. Or I could use their 2.9% financing. I like cash deals. Last I would sell the 4Runner was it, this fall. By then the Prius should be plentiful and chances of buying exactly what you want at close to Invoice is much better. This last gas spike gave the dealers the opportunity to make a few more bucks and that is what they are in business to do.
I paid MSRP for mine, plus a documentation fee of $299. I give Ehrlich highest marks for courtesy and responsiveness and I would also commend them for their proactive role in arranging the shipping to me. They apparently ship quite a few as they were able to get mine on a truck within a couple of days after receiving it at the dealership and, in fact, shipped two to this area on the same truck.
The bottom line for me is that if anyone is looking for a car and is unhappy with the availability, the deal or the way the dealership is treating you, keep looking. I also found that I got much better response when calling rather than emailing the "internet sales" folks who may or may not contact you.
Most importantly I LOVE this car and I think everyone who has seen mine has been sold that this will be their next car.
So I had the dealer look at my 2004 4Runner, and the Galves blue book quotes it for $21,600, plus $900 for DVD player. But I have added all weather mats, Window etching with Vin # on all window, high power head lights, window tint & Vent shades on all windows. Don't you know the dealer will charge lots extra to put this stuff on to a new car, but on trade in it all does not matter, it is worth nothing. Why is that?
Lastly, why is the Galves blue book used, when Edmunds & Kelly's blue book are different by $2500.00 for my car alone. Why is that? shouldn't all the books be the same? also, Galves comes out monthly & they feel a 4Runner could drop in value up to $1000.00 per month. So, my 4Runner that was bought 1 year ago this month for $32,000.00, (plus tax), is now worth about $21,000 to $22,000.00 per the dealers. That is pretty bad for everyone, if this is the rule.
Any help in information on buying a Prius (used or new) and in selling a 4Runner, would greatly help.
Thank you,
Thanks,
I would prefer a car with the halogen headlights and the vehicle stabilization system, whatever that is, sounds impressive and necessary doesn't it? But those things are dropped with the AI option which gives you instead the 6 CD changer with 9 speakers in 7 locations!
I will have to try the Prius without the 6 CD thing to see how the sound compares, because one dealer called me back today to tell me that his manager said the color car I want is coming in end of April or early May!!! Its the AM option package, so I get the Halogen lamps and the stabilization widget but only the single CD and who knows what the sound system is like.
I wish motorola would come out with a videotelephone like the Ojo, due to launch end of April also, for use in a car. Presently needs broadband cable or DSL connection only. If only were wireless but it should be before long. Top quality picture without latency uses H.264 digital compression protocol, whatever that means. Check motorola.com/ojo & ojoworld.com & wgate.com.
SO the trick seems to be to figure out what options you want first and the colors which are acceptable, then call every dealer within driving distance, let them know and they will probably know in advance what cars with which options are in their future allotment and let you know.Toyota has increased production of the Ojo, I mean the Prius, by 50% so the wait shouldn't be as long as last year.
My neighbor waited 6 months and just took the color car which came in, which wasn't the color he wanted.
Read prior post 860 above. There are many more Toyota dealers in this area than I imagine are in the Spokane region. You might have to contact dealerships in Idaho Seattle and perhaps get some bargaining power by letting them each know you are shopping around. You might luck out and find one coming shortly. Production has increased and although many dealers tell me that there are deposits on the ones which arrive, the wait is no longer six months.
Of course you can always look into the WGAT option, it makes the Ojo, a high quality video telephone which Motorola is going to market, as the launch is this month, and once the pps skyrockets you will be able to afford any luxury car you want. I rented a Prius last week for my one hundred mile round trip commute to work each day and loved it. I would get anticipatory excitement just at the prospect of driving it again to get home for about an hour before I had to punch out. I have never felt this way about a car before! Not even my Volvo P1800!
Good luck and check out WGAT see links at post 860.
I just bought my 2005 Prius, and I love it, but I have one concern - the security alarm light, shaped like a car, flashes all night long. Actually, it flashes all the time whenever the car is parked and turned off. Is it supposed to do that? Is there anyway to turn that light off when the car is parked in my garage?
Any info you can give me would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
A (confused) Prius Fan :confuse:
I live in Hercules. The only service I've needed so far is for the 2 recalls (Nav prog upgrade and brake light switch) at the dealership where I purchased the car. I do my own oil changes and tire rotations so I haven't needed any work performed. If you need any help with understanding your car let me know, I'll be glad to help. I'll be taking a trip to Death Valley, Ca next week and expect to get around 50 mpg.
To the rest of the country, gas here in the San Francisco Bay Area is averaging $2.60/gal.
Thanks,
Rich
I want to replace these tires with either the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred or the Michelin HydroEdge. The Assurance TripleTred has gotten better consumer ratings and feedback from a local tire dealer and on line at the tirerack web site and on epinions.com. It only comes in a 195/65-15 size rather than the recommended 185/65-15 size.
Would I have any problems using a 195 size tire on my Prius? I think the only difference is about 1/4 inch wider width.
I realize that a higher wear tire will probably reduce mpg, but I've become Mr safety for me and my family.
Toyota Prius Owners: Accessories & Modifications
Thanks!
The European Priuses are on 195/55R16 tires, so I guess that that would be OK for the American version also.
Please note that 195/65-15 tires do NOT have the same circumference as the 185/65-15 ones, which means that the "Rotations per Mile" will be different. 195/55-16 and 185/65-15 are almost equivalent as far as "Rotations per Mile" is concerned.
The 195/65 indeed has a greater rolling diameter, which will affect [in each case, very slightly] speedometer and odometer accuracy, fuel consumption accuracy, and acceleration [negatively]. In each case, the effect should be 5% or less.
How much any of this matters to you is, of course, strictly in your provence.
No question that the OEM tires in the North American market are, quite frankly, trash.
However, Tire Rack shows a number of Michelin alternatives in the correct 185/65x15 size....why not pick one of them?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=185%2F&ratio=65&diameter=15&startIndex=0&- - search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&performance=GTAS&performance=ST&performance=AS- - &manufacturer=Michelin&RunFlat=None&x=56&y=6
Ask Connor at The Tire Rack
While I am new to this forum, I seem to recall reading a recently posted message that: "the Northeast gets packages 3,4, and 6" and someone else commenting: "GA gets packages 5 and 6." I am not discounting either entry.
I would appreciate a clarification, if anyone knows--which packages come to CA and the Southwest, please. I would think that LA or SFO (San Francisco) or both would be a major port of entry for these cars from Japan.
Thank you.
thanks
-mcslain