Posted by demi on March 15, 2007, 6:16 am
Just got a new Prius at work. It has the Touring Package. I've put
about 50 miles on it and my first impressions are a mixed bag. The
good news is I got 42 mpg on the trip home from the office, which is
about twice what I usually get. The car has no problem keeping up
with traffic. It rides ok and seemed relatively quiet inside but I
still had difficulty understanding some of the stuff on the radio and
the sound just seemed weird somehow.
I did not find the seating position to be particularly comfortable.
The seat cushion is angled too low in front and isn't adjustable and
there is not enough lower back support, which is also not adjustable.
The tilt steering wheel only has a tiny amount of up and down
adjustment, hardly worth bothering with. The touch screen is cute but
I'm not in love yet with having to pick a menu to get to the AC
controls and radio controls. But since they also have them on the
steering wheel I'm sure that once you learn which buttons to push its
not a problem, just takes familiarization.
The "numbers" for acceleration indicate it's got enough power to keep
up with traffic but I find the lack of immediate OOMPH when you push
the pedal takes some of the fun out of things but realize it's
undoubtedly a tradeoff for the better gas mileage. The drive train
sort of feels like things are connected with bungee cords. Brakes are
great, steering feel good.
The Smart Key system is great, I wish all the vehicles I drive had it.
If I was paying for the gas I'd consider it a keeper for my commute
but since my employer is paying for the gas I'm going to send this
Prius to our motor pool and stick with my 2005 Crown Vic assigned
vehicle as it's got better throttle response and better lower back
support, two major items for me. And I think it's radio sounds better
too.
It will be interesting to see how the users feel about it after they
get some miles on it, mostly they now drive Taruses.
Posted by Jim Smith on March 15, 2007, 12:54 pm
You're trying to compare apples to oranges.
A luxury car to a Prius isn't a fair comparison. The OOMPH won't be there,
neither would it be there in any 4 cylinder gas engine car. Seating comfort
is somewhat lacking in the Prius. Something I believe Toyota should
address. This is definitely a techie car. You've got to like bells and
whistles, or you'll never like the car.
I don't think this car is the type you can force on someone (fleet car
purchase). You've got to like it, some come around to it, but others will
never take to it.
Sorry you don't like it, but it really is a nice car.
> Just got a new Prius at work. It has the Touring Package. I've put
> about 50 miles on it and my first impressions are a mixed bag. The
> good news is I got 42 mpg on the trip home from the office, which is
> about twice what I usually get. The car has no problem keeping up
> with traffic. It rides ok and seemed relatively quiet inside but I
> still had difficulty understanding some of the stuff on the radio and
> the sound just seemed weird somehow.
> I did not find the seating position to be particularly comfortable.
> The seat cushion is angled too low in front and isn't adjustable and
> there is not enough lower back support, which is also not adjustable.
> The tilt steering wheel only has a tiny amount of up and down
> adjustment, hardly worth bothering with. The touch screen is cute but
> I'm not in love yet with having to pick a menu to get to the AC
> controls and radio controls. But since they also have them on the
> steering wheel I'm sure that once you learn which buttons to push its
> not a problem, just takes familiarization.
> The "numbers" for acceleration indicate it's got enough power to keep
> up with traffic but I find the lack of immediate OOMPH when you push
> the pedal takes some of the fun out of things but realize it's
> undoubtedly a tradeoff for the better gas mileage. The drive train
> sort of feels like things are connected with bungee cords. Brakes are
> great, steering feel good.
> The Smart Key system is great, I wish all the vehicles I drive had it.
> If I was paying for the gas I'd consider it a keeper for my commute
> but since my employer is paying for the gas I'm going to send this
> Prius to our motor pool and stick with my 2005 Crown Vic assigned
> vehicle as it's got better throttle response and better lower back
> support, two major items for me. And I think it's radio sounds better
> too.
> It will be interesting to see how the users feel about it after they
> get some miles on it, mostly they now drive Taruses.
Posted by Dave on March 15, 2007, 2:24 pm
Since when is a Crown Vic considered a luxury car?
Jim Smith wrote:
> You're trying to compare apples to oranges.
> A luxury car to a Prius isn't a fair comparison. The OOMPH won't be there,
> neither would it be there in any 4 cylinder gas engine car. Seating comfort
> is somewhat lacking in the Prius. Something I believe Toyota should
> address. This is definitely a techie car. You've got to like bells and
> whistles, or you'll never like the car.
>
> I don't think this car is the type you can force on someone (fleet car
> purchase). You've got to like it, some come around to it, but others will
> never take to it.
>
> Sorry you don't like it, but it really is a nice car.
>
>
>
>> Just got a new Prius at work. It has the Touring Package. I've put
>> about 50 miles on it and my first impressions are a mixed bag. The
>> good news is I got 42 mpg on the trip home from the office, which is
>> about twice what I usually get. The car has no problem keeping up
>> with traffic. It rides ok and seemed relatively quiet inside but I
>> still had difficulty understanding some of the stuff on the radio and
>> the sound just seemed weird somehow.
>>
>> I did not find the seating position to be particularly comfortable.
>> The seat cushion is angled too low in front and isn't adjustable and
>> there is not enough lower back support, which is also not adjustable.
>> The tilt steering wheel only has a tiny amount of up and down
>> adjustment, hardly worth bothering with. The touch screen is cute but
>> I'm not in love yet with having to pick a menu to get to the AC
>> controls and radio controls. But since they also have them on the
>> steering wheel I'm sure that once you learn which buttons to push its
>> not a problem, just takes familiarization.
>>
>> The "numbers" for acceleration indicate it's got enough power to keep
>> up with traffic but I find the lack of immediate OOMPH when you push
>> the pedal takes some of the fun out of things but realize it's
>> undoubtedly a tradeoff for the better gas mileage. The drive train
>> sort of feels like things are connected with bungee cords. Brakes are
>> great, steering feel good.
>>
>> The Smart Key system is great, I wish all the vehicles I drive had it.
>> If I was paying for the gas I'd consider it a keeper for my commute
>> but since my employer is paying for the gas I'm going to send this
>> Prius to our motor pool and stick with my 2005 Crown Vic assigned
>> vehicle as it's got better throttle response and better lower back
>> support, two major items for me. And I think it's radio sounds better
>> too.
>>
>> It will be interesting to see how the users feel about it after they
>> get some miles on it, mostly they now drive Taruses.
>
>
Posted by Jim Smith on March 15, 2007, 2:27 pm
Whatever!
> Since when is a Crown Vic considered a luxury car?
> Jim Smith wrote:
>> You're trying to compare apples to oranges.
>> A luxury car to a Prius isn't a fair comparison. The OOMPH won't be
>> there, neither would it be there in any 4 cylinder gas engine car.
>> Seating comfort is somewhat lacking in the Prius. Something I believe
>> Toyota should address. This is definitely a techie car. You've got to
>> like bells and whistles, or you'll never like the car.
>>
>> I don't think this car is the type you can force on someone (fleet car
>> purchase). You've got to like it, some come around to it, but others
>> will never take to it.
>>
>> Sorry you don't like it, but it really is a nice car.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Just got a new Prius at work. It has the Touring Package. I've put
>>> about 50 miles on it and my first impressions are a mixed bag. The
>>> good news is I got 42 mpg on the trip home from the office, which is
>>> about twice what I usually get. The car has no problem keeping up
>>> with traffic. It rides ok and seemed relatively quiet inside but I
>>> still had difficulty understanding some of the stuff on the radio and
>>> the sound just seemed weird somehow.
>>>
>>> I did not find the seating position to be particularly comfortable.
>>> The seat cushion is angled too low in front and isn't adjustable and
>>> there is not enough lower back support, which is also not adjustable.
>>> The tilt steering wheel only has a tiny amount of up and down
>>> adjustment, hardly worth bothering with. The touch screen is cute but
>>> I'm not in love yet with having to pick a menu to get to the AC
>>> controls and radio controls. But since they also have them on the
>>> steering wheel I'm sure that once you learn which buttons to push its
>>> not a problem, just takes familiarization.
>>>
>>> The "numbers" for acceleration indicate it's got enough power to keep
>>> up with traffic but I find the lack of immediate OOMPH when you push
>>> the pedal takes some of the fun out of things but realize it's
>>> undoubtedly a tradeoff for the better gas mileage. The drive train
>>> sort of feels like things are connected with bungee cords. Brakes are
>>> great, steering feel good.
>>>
>>> The Smart Key system is great, I wish all the vehicles I drive had it.
>>> If I was paying for the gas I'd consider it a keeper for my commute
>>> but since my employer is paying for the gas I'm going to send this
>>> Prius to our motor pool and stick with my 2005 Crown Vic assigned
>>> vehicle as it's got better throttle response and better lower back
>>> support, two major items for me. And I think it's radio sounds better
>>> too.
>>>
>>> It will be interesting to see how the users feel about it after they
>>> get some miles on it, mostly they now drive Taruses.
>>
Posted by Mike Rosenberg on March 15, 2007, 8:10 pm
> Since when is a Crown Vic considered a luxury car?
Since when hasn't it? I've always seen it classified as such.
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> about 50 miles on it and my first impressions are a mixed bag. The
> good news is I got 42 mpg on the trip home from the office, which is
> about twice what I usually get. The car has no problem keeping up
> with traffic. It rides ok and seemed relatively quiet inside but I
> still had difficulty understanding some of the stuff on the radio and
> the sound just seemed weird somehow.
> I did not find the seating position to be particularly comfortable.
> The seat cushion is angled too low in front and isn't adjustable and
> there is not enough lower back support, which is also not adjustable.
> The tilt steering wheel only has a tiny amount of up and down
> adjustment, hardly worth bothering with. The touch screen is cute but
> I'm not in love yet with having to pick a menu to get to the AC
> controls and radio controls. But since they also have them on the
> steering wheel I'm sure that once you learn which buttons to push its
> not a problem, just takes familiarization.
> The "numbers" for acceleration indicate it's got enough power to keep
> up with traffic but I find the lack of immediate OOMPH when you push
> the pedal takes some of the fun out of things but realize it's
> undoubtedly a tradeoff for the better gas mileage. The drive train
> sort of feels like things are connected with bungee cords. Brakes are
> great, steering feel good.
> The Smart Key system is great, I wish all the vehicles I drive had it.
> If I was paying for the gas I'd consider it a keeper for my commute
> but since my employer is paying for the gas I'm going to send this
> Prius to our motor pool and stick with my 2005 Crown Vic assigned
> vehicle as it's got better throttle response and better lower back
> support, two major items for me. And I think it's radio sounds better
> too.
> It will be interesting to see how the users feel about it after they
> get some miles on it, mostly they now drive Taruses.