My New Car!!

[Thai]

Here is a youtube video on how PCS (pre-collision) works: YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius: Pre Collision System

Pretty cool how it will brake the vehicle for you if the driver is unaware! I think that this is the latest PCS version because prior versions did not brake the vehicle for you...it just readies the brakes and tighten the seatbelt.

Here is a youtube video on how Intelligent Parking Assist works: YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius: Intelligent Parking Assist

I'm definitely going to try this out this week...pretty cool, but i doubt that i will be using it much.

 

[Gromulus]

Family Man

Nice exterior and interior colors Thai! We test drove a Prius when my daughter was looking for a car. Nice roomy vehicle.

The "maturity" thing is a real downer sometimes huh? We were in our forties before my wife stopped driving a minivan. I was 47 when I could "justify" my
4Runner. Minivans are the best choice for kids and family though.

Enjoy!

 

[Thai]

Nice exterior and interior colors Thai! We test drove a Prius when my daughter was looking for a car. Nice roomy vehicle.

The "maturity" thing is a real downer sometimes huh? We were in our forties before my wife stopped driving a minivan. I was 47 when I could "justify" my
4Runner. Minivans are the best choice for kids and family though.

Enjoy!

Tell me about it!! With two toddlers, i ain't moving away from a minivan anytime soon. It is amazing how much stuff each toddler requires on a simple trip! :shrug: With my job now, i don't even think that i will time for off-roading...maybe when i get older and have a midlife crisis, i can get a Rubicon or 4runner TE. No more luxury vehicle for me...at least for a long while...maintenance cost is killer (even when they are reliable!).

 

[MikesToy]

Congrats! Gotta luv the smell of a new car.

 

[peter78]

I wonder how this car compares to your old Corolla. I kind of think the Prius and the Corolla are pretty much in the same ball park or is it in another league?

 

[Thai]

I wonder how this car compares to your old Corolla. I kind of think the Prius and the Corolla are pretty much in the same ball park or is it in another league?

My new Prius is light years ahead of my old Corolla in terms of ride comfort, solidity, and quietness. However, in comparison with the new Corolla, the difference is less. The Prius highway quietness easily rivals entry-level luxury cars...of course, wind noise is very very low (thanks to CD 0.25). I read that the new Prius is based on the Avensis, same platform as Lexus HS250. (I actually thought that it was based on the Corolla.) So, the Prius is significantly roomier than the Corolla due to the bigger platform with all-around disc brakes.

And right now, i am getting 50 mpg with slightly more city driving. So, EPA estimates for the Prius is dead-on. I am sure that with practice, i can get a little bit more. Corolla is nowhere near this MPGs, but it is a lot cheaper too. So, if the Corolla had HIDs, then i probably would have gotten it...hmm, but i do love the toys on the Prius!

 

[Uneek]

hmm, but i do love the toys on the Prius!

Let us know what your impression is on the self parking system, lane keep assist, etc. after you try it out.

I've seen it demo'ed on the Lexus LS. IMO, the system is a nice way for Toyota to show off what their engineers are capable of designing. BUT the system takes too much time to setup before the car does its thing. In a busy cities, I think someone else will take the spot, while the driver is trying to set the car up for self parking. The LS system will do both parallel parking and 90* parking stalls for back in.

 

[Thai]

Let us know what your impression is on the self parking system, lane keep assist, etc. after you try it out.

I've seen it demo'ed on the Lexus LS. IMO, the system is a nice way for Toyota to show off what their engineers are capable of designing. BUT the system takes too much time to setup before the car does its thing. In a busy cities, I think someone else will take the spot, while the driver is trying to set the car up for self parking. The LS system will do both parallel parking and 90* parking stalls for back in.

LKA (Lane keep assist) is pretty damn impressive! At first, i thought that it was a gimmick, but it actually does work. There are two parts to it. The first part is that it will ever so slightly tug at the steering wheel if you wonder out of your lane...it will tug in the direction to keep you back in your lane...a very slight tug, enough for you to notice if you weren't paying attention. The other part is when you have radar cruise control ON. When cruise is ON, the LKA system will actually tug at your steering wheel more often to keep you in the center of the lane in addition to the other function. Once i got comfortable with it, i now keep LKA on most of the time and use radar cruise first chance i get. For me, it is like having another pair of eyes on the road.

Yeah, my park assist also does 90 degree back in. I have not tried it yet, but it sure seems like a lot of steps (like you said). So, this is probably a gimmick, but i have been wrong before about these new technologies.

 

[Thai]

Ok, i just tried the backing in function. Wow, it is quite neat. You have to go through a few simple steps, but they are really easy to understand steps and the computer makes beeping noise at each step to prevent idiots (aka me) from messing up! It actually does work as advertised. All you have to do is keep your foot ready on the brake pedal to control the speed of backing in. It does actually do quite a good job of parking smack middle of the parking space. Overall, i think that i can do it myself a bit quicker, but not as accurate as the computer.

So, it is a neat feature...i like it.

 

[Thai]

Thai, thanks for the link.
Looks like the HIDs and LEDs projects same near daylight color temp but the cut-off of the HIDs specially those aftermarkets is sometimes irratating when it hits shiny objects. The LED looks spread uniformly and cooler for the eyes..

Ok, after finally having a chance to drive at night, the LEDs spread is very uniform (and not as intense), more so than my wife's Acura HIDs. The cutoff is less pronounced too, but still more visible than my Sienna's. The coverage area is possibly slightly better than the Acura's...it is not a big difference. Overall, i am happy that i got the LEDs over the halogens on lower end Priuses.

And yeah, i am now using more and more of the backup assist feature...it makes backing up into a parking space a breeze...and the system always puts you in the middle of the spot too!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Pretty cool, glad you like it.


What happens with the LED headlights up North in the winter (and LKA etc sensors for that matter) when driving in the snow? LED's don't get hot, did they heat the lens and various sensors?

 

[Thai]

Not sure, but LED headlights do come with headlight washers. I am not sure if the washers spit out heated water or not.

LKA is being managed via a small camera at the top of my rearview mirror...so, it is inside the vehicle. So, i assume that if you use the windshield wipers, the camera should be functional.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Not sure, but LED headlights do come with headlight washers. I am not sure if the washers spit out heated water or not.

LKA is being managed via a small camera at the top of my rearview mirror...so, it is inside the vehicle. So, i assume that if you use the windshield wipers, the camera should be functional.

As usual it sounds like they thought of most everything

 

[Thai]

As usual it sounds like they thought of most everything

You know...i am not usually the one who goes crazy over a new car, but i am in shock at how impress i am with the Prius. Thoughts of "the best car i ever had" have occurred to me over this 1.5 weeks. (And, as you may know, i have had plenty of cars, both cheap and expensive.) I know that i am still in the honeymoon phase, but wow, i am really liking this car. I am getting 49 mpg on the highway (a weakness of hybrids)...and my engine is really not broken in yet. Hybrid gas engines don't work all the time...so, break-in period is probably longer than as regular gasoline engine. The interior is amazing in comfort and logical placement of stuff. The stereo system is one of the best that i have heard. Windnoise is very low...and road noise is on-par with entry-level luxury vehicles (it is quieter than my wife's Acura). Acceleration is more than adequate when you get on the pedal or use "Power" mode. Technologically, it has as much stuff as you get in top-of-the-line luxury vehicles. Actually, pre-collision in the Prius is more advance than any Lexus vehicles not named LS460. And the room it has is just amazing...plenty of legroom in the rear bench. Cargo capacity is excellent for such a small car...along with a hidden compartment below the cargo floor.

So, despite the $35k pricetag for my Prius V with ATP (advance tech pkg), i do feel that it is a relative bargain. Hopefully, my honeymoon doesn't end anytime soon.:bluejump: And yeah, for me, the Prius V makes Lexus HS250 an overprice dinosaur!

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Cargo capacity is excellent for such a small car...along with a hidden compartment below the cargo floor.

That's an awesome report. My buddy has one, an '08. He gave up that compartment for a 10kw battery. He plugs in at night and drives his 7 mile commute with no gas!

I threw that out there because you don't have to worry about snowflake embossed tires for the G anymore:lasercannon: :lmao: Maybe the Prius mods should commence

It sounds like a really neat car. I guess the next gen HS250 will catch up. I understand the shape of the Prius/Insight but I really would prefer a more traditional sedan. (I know, the interior space is better with the Prius shape.) Or maybe I could hire a valet to walk me to the car and get me in it. Once in I would take the blindfold off and I'd be fine j/k, the look is growing on me, slowly.

 

[Thai]

Chris, you will come around to it...just like all my snowflake fans!!

 

[Reina]

Here is a youtube video on how PCS (pre-collision) works: YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius: Pre Collision System

Pretty cool how it will brake the vehicle for you if the driver is unaware! I think that this is the latest PCS version because prior versions did not brake the vehicle for you...it just readies the brakes and tighten the seatbelt.

Here is a youtube video on how Intelligent Parking Assist works: YouTube - 2010 Toyota Prius: Intelligent Parking Assist

I'm definitely going to try this out this week...pretty cool, but i doubt that i will be using it much.

Look at all this new and amazing systems found on the high end cars now a days. Soon we dont even have to drive ......I hope at lest for the hwy since hwy driving is boring unless in the mountain pass.

 

[Thai]

Look at all this new and amazing systems found on the high end cars now a days. Soon we dont even have to drive ......I hope at lest for the hwy since hwy driving is boring unless in the mountain pass.

I can read a book or look for loose change now on the highway!

 

[steezemcqueen]

any car that is driven flat out will get worse gas mileage than one that is not

 

[Thai]

Link: J.D. Power Study: Toyota Prius Is Most Dependable Compact Car | Hybrid Cars

Quick summary: " J.D. Power yesterday reported that among compact cars, the Toyota Prius had the fewest numbers of problems experienced per 100 vehicles over the past three years.

This marks the third year in a row that Prius took the top spot in the study."

Not long ago, despite the recalls, Consumer Reports data again showed that Toyota is still one of the most reliable brands, and both the Prius and Camry hybrid were Top Ten Best Values.

And John, you may want to look at this: Ratings | J.D. Power

Overall dependability and powertrain dependability b/w Prius and Jetta...not even in the same ballpark!