Olbrenner
Member
Just spent the past week with a 2010 Prius, some pluses and some minuses.
First the plus side: the good gas mileage is there, at one point my average according to the trip computer went as high as 58.8, averaged a little over 51 for the tank, mainly highway with the cruise set at 70, total miles about 425, 11.9 gallon gas tank so a range of over 500 would be easy. It will run on electricity for short slow speed distances, that was fun to see how well that could work, less than 25MPH, maybe 1/4 to a 1/2 mile. Silence at stops, everything continues to work well, AC, wipers, radio, lights. The mileage is the big plus, lesser one's would be quiet, comfortable, enough room in the back for my 100# dog, good stereo, good AC (I live in the south). On the way back from the aforementioned use of that first tank I set the cruise at 65 with more two lane highway as well, it averaged a little over 55, which leads to the not so good.
The Prius likes slow. The first tank showed that fact, mileage increased in city driving. That car would be great for gridlock driving, stop and go, slow moving, it's the go part that's difficult. Watching the readouts if maximum mileage is to be achieved, the egg under the gas pedal will do it but it won't make anyone behind you happy. If it's lightfooted that little bomber can only be described as sluggish, very sluggish. There is a power button that can be pushed but it doesn't appear to do much. If pushed hard it has enough pep, with the CVT it is very smooth. The brakes are not linear, grabby at the top of the pedal which if you're careful can be avoided. The transition between cruise and off is very abrupt, not smooth at all. I learned it was much smoother to turn the cruise off manually than to rely on the brake function to do that. The transition between electric and gas propulsion is noticeable, it's only minor but still felt. A constant dash reflection is mildly annoying but it's not too bad. No seat height adjustment for the passenger, for me, 6'1", that was okay, wife at 5'4" appeared to be sitting in a hole. Higher trim package may be available for that problem. Many expensive options, radar adaptive cruise, moonroof with solar powered ventilation, leather, as examples could easily push the price into the low 30's.
So would I consider buying one over a new TDI, maybe. The perceived quality advantage of Toyota, lower maintenance costs in all probability. The battery pack has to be warrantied for 150K in California would mean it will probably last longer than that so I don't think that's an issue taking into consideration timing belt and transmission fluid changes if the DSG option is selected for a TDI. But overall the thing is pretty dull, as much time as is spent in a car the fun factor must be considered, that might be enough to tilt me to the TDI.
First the plus side: the good gas mileage is there, at one point my average according to the trip computer went as high as 58.8, averaged a little over 51 for the tank, mainly highway with the cruise set at 70, total miles about 425, 11.9 gallon gas tank so a range of over 500 would be easy. It will run on electricity for short slow speed distances, that was fun to see how well that could work, less than 25MPH, maybe 1/4 to a 1/2 mile. Silence at stops, everything continues to work well, AC, wipers, radio, lights. The mileage is the big plus, lesser one's would be quiet, comfortable, enough room in the back for my 100# dog, good stereo, good AC (I live in the south). On the way back from the aforementioned use of that first tank I set the cruise at 65 with more two lane highway as well, it averaged a little over 55, which leads to the not so good.
The Prius likes slow. The first tank showed that fact, mileage increased in city driving. That car would be great for gridlock driving, stop and go, slow moving, it's the go part that's difficult. Watching the readouts if maximum mileage is to be achieved, the egg under the gas pedal will do it but it won't make anyone behind you happy. If it's lightfooted that little bomber can only be described as sluggish, very sluggish. There is a power button that can be pushed but it doesn't appear to do much. If pushed hard it has enough pep, with the CVT it is very smooth. The brakes are not linear, grabby at the top of the pedal which if you're careful can be avoided. The transition between cruise and off is very abrupt, not smooth at all. I learned it was much smoother to turn the cruise off manually than to rely on the brake function to do that. The transition between electric and gas propulsion is noticeable, it's only minor but still felt. A constant dash reflection is mildly annoying but it's not too bad. No seat height adjustment for the passenger, for me, 6'1", that was okay, wife at 5'4" appeared to be sitting in a hole. Higher trim package may be available for that problem. Many expensive options, radar adaptive cruise, moonroof with solar powered ventilation, leather, as examples could easily push the price into the low 30's.
So would I consider buying one over a new TDI, maybe. The perceived quality advantage of Toyota, lower maintenance costs in all probability. The battery pack has to be warrantied for 150K in California would mean it will probably last longer than that so I don't think that's an issue taking into consideration timing belt and transmission fluid changes if the DSG option is selected for a TDI. But overall the thing is pretty dull, as much time as is spent in a car the fun factor must be considered, that might be enough to tilt me to the TDI.
