took a ride in the brand new 2010 prius

[the_josh]

and it is quite a amazing machine, my buddy has been testing it out for the past week, so here are a few pictures, and that self park feature is unreal and kinda creepy!!

<a href="http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/chevelle02/?action=view&current=IMG_4829.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/chevelle02/IMG_4829.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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[G.I.G.]

Looks pretty much the same on the outside. I always wondered why they go out of their way to make hybrids ugly as if to say "Hey, look at me! I'm saving the planet by driving this ugly car, and you're not!". Can't they just make them look like a regular Corolla (which it basically is)????

I am actually not a big fan of Prii (plural for Prius in my book) not because of what they are, but because the snobs (mostly, IMO) who drive them and thumb there noses at people like me who drive an SUV (even if it is a Toyota). Ironically, when Stevenson Toyota backed my 4R into a hydraulic lift arm and moshed my rear bumper, the only car they could give me as a loner was a Prius. It was loud as heck inside (couldn't carry a conversation on my blue tooth headset at highway speeds it was so loud) and basically felt like a cheap Corolla on the inside (which, again, it basically is). One thing is for darn sure with Prii, they do get great gas mileage. I was so hard on the gas when I had my loner Prius trying to get bad mileage, and the worst I could squeak out was around 36mpg.

 

[the_josh]

Looks pretty much the same on the outside. I always wondered why they go out of their way to make hybrids ugly as if to say "Hey, look at me! I'm saving the planet by driving this ugly car, and you're not!". Can't they just make them look like a regular Corolla (which it basically is)????

I am actually not a big fan of Prii (plural for Prius in my book) not because of what they are, but because the snobs (mostly, IMO) who drive them and thumb there noses at people like me who drive an SUV (even if it is a Toyota). Ironically, when Stevenson Toyota backed my 4R into a hydraulic lift arm and moshed my rear bumper, the only car they could give me as a loner was a Prius. It was loud as heck inside (couldn't carry a conversation on my blue tooth headset at highway speeds it was so loud) and basically felt like a cheap Corolla on the inside (which, again, it basically is). One thing is for darn sure with Prii, they do get great gas mileage. I was so hard on the gas when I had my loner Prius trying to get bad mileage, and the worst I could squeak out was around 36mpg.

and i agree, its what kinda people buy them is the big turnoff, i was in berkeley yesterday and my friend and i were counting the 'PRII" and we got up to 10 on one residential block

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I drove one and the steering is totally void of any road feel and was one of the most boring cars I've ever driven.

I have been hearing and reading that the new Honda Insight actually has some semblance of handling and is a couple grand cheaper.

I'd own neither and would rather take 10 miles less per gallon and buy a Honda Fit and actually have a little fun while I'm driving.

The Prius makes our '06 Scion xB seem very sporting and is actually fun to drive and I get 31city and 38hwy.

 

[Stick Figure]

i like the Top Gear test of the prius. They ran it around the track at WOT, and followed it w/ an M3. The M3 actually got better MPG in this situation... while this isn't a real world test of an everyday situation, i still found it funny, and now i know that i could still get terrible millage out of the prius in the start and stop traffic around here.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/143-Top-Gear-Toyota-Prius_180378.htm

 

[G.I.G.]

I drove one and the steering is totally void of any road feel and was one of the most boring cars I've ever driven.

I have been hearing and reading that the new Honda Insight actually has some semblance of handling and is a couple grand cheaper.

I'd own neither and would rather take 10 miles less per gallon and buy a Honda Fit and actually have a little fun while I'm driving.

The Prius makes our '06 Scion xB seem very sporting and is actually fun to drive and I get 31city and 38hwy.

I'm with you Ron. And again with the Honda Insight, why don't they make it look like a Civic??? They made it look just like a Prius!

There was a South Park episode about Hybrids and the "smug" (not "smog") they produce....classic!

Yeah, I would much rather drive a Civic and still get 30+ mpg than a hybrid.

And one more thing....I hate the hybrids that look like normal cars (like the Tahoe) that has to have 10 badges and etched glass saying "Hybrid" just so everyone knows what it is a hybrid. "Hey everyone, I may drive an SUV but I still care about the environment and you don't!" :bash:

 

[NROCK]

I actually traded in an 06 Prius when I bought the 4Runner. Not your usual Prius driver, a LEO currently doing MOB training for a trip to the sandbox, but let's not profile.

The gas mileage was awesome (low 50's in the summer, mid 40's in the winter) but after the new gadget excitement wore off, it was pretty boring to drive. Also, the wife didn't feel safe driving it...not great in bad weather. Cant get her out of the 4R now, she loves to drive it! Agreed, the Prius isnot the most aestheticly pleasing vehicle, but its shape has a lot to do with its mpg's, also why the new insight has a similar design.
All in all, soooooo glad we got the 4Runner!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

They do make a hybrid Civic and I wouldn't mind owning a normal car that is a hybrid but the Scion only has 30k on it so it'll be going for a while.


The xB is a polarizing design but it's still a unique car and actually is well built and fun to drive with Tien lowering coils turning it into a slot car.

 

[Thai]

I'd own neither and would rather take 10 miles less per gallon and buy a Honda Fit and actually have a little fun while I'm driving.

For me, i would probably pick the new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid...or maybe the Camry hybrid or the upcoming Lexus HS250. I used to love the Fit...until i saw how it held up against an Accord in a crash test. So, no more mini-econobox for me. The Fusion Hybrid is supposedly the "sportiest" hybrid out there...and would probably be my pick if i wanted a fuel-saving vehicle.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Yeah,little cars don't hold up well in crashes with other larger cars but if they made a hybrid Civic Si I might be all over one of those.

 

[Thai]

Yeah,little cars don't hold up well in crashes with other larger cars but if they made a hybrid Civic Si I might be all over one of those.

Agreed...somehow, i always like the Civic Si, even though it is a bit noisy and FWD, but it just feels good to be in a small responsive car....

 

[trev0006]

Good review.

i like the Top Gear test of the prius. They ran it around the track at WOT, and followed it w/ an M3. The M3 actually got better MPG in this situation... while this isn't a real world test of an everyday situation, i still found it funny, and now i know that i could still get terrible millage out of the prius in the start and stop traffic around here.

143 Top Gear - Toyota Prius BMW M3 Fuel - Car Videos on StreetFiresuspensionbrakesbmwwheels

 

[the_josh]

i like the Top Gear test of the prius. They ran it around the track at WOT, and followed it w/ an M3. The M3 actually got better MPG in this situation... while this isn't a real world test of an everyday situation, i still found it funny, and now i know that i could still get terrible millage out of the prius in the start and stop traffic around here.

143 Top Gear - Toyota Prius BMW M3 Fuel - Car Videos on StreetFire

The prius is electric under 35mph so stop and go falls under that category