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New Prius Owners - Give Us Your Report

674 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2012 at 9:01 PM

You are in the Toyota Prius Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 25 of 69

#232 of 674 Love the High Tech! by mikenish

Apr 06, 2007 (7:36 pm)

Just bought a 2006 Black Option 6 touring model with XM Satellite radio and tinted glass from North Park Toyota of Boerne, Texas on March 31.
 
As someone who has operated some sophisticated equipment – I’m very impressed with the Prius. My first car was a new 1972 Corvette. Then I flew the General Dynamics F-111 when it was the most sophisticated airplane in the world (You are not sipping gas at Mach 2.0!), and most recently, the all LCD-display Boeing 717, which is a completely computer controlled airplane (and very fuel efficient). I have to say there are many similarities in the feeling the first time I took off in a 717 and driving the Prius home! This car has got a level of sophistication that amazes me.
 
Figuring $450 for the XM radio, Edmunds TMV price is $28,645, MSN Auto’s MSRP is 30,065, invoice 27,050. I paid $27,761. We bought just in time to catch the $1575 tax credit before it dropped to $787.50, and got the 2.9% financing. Looks like we got the April 3 discount of $1750 on Package 6.
 
On my 14 mile city commute, I’m averaging 48 mpg according to the computer.
 
I traded in a 1998 Camry, and my USAA Auto Insurance only increased $26.99 for the six month billing period.
 
I too agree that the instantaneous MPG indicator is good feedback, and causing me to be a smoother and more careful driver. I never thought accelerating smoothly and avoiding braking could be a game.
 
I agree that the owner’s manual is hard to read, and I do notice a vibrating sound coming from the front when I’m not on a smooth road. Sounds like a metal on metal vibration. There is a good inventory in the city right now of Prius’s, and there are not too many on the road in San Antonio yet, so it is still a novelty here.

#233 of 674 Re: Love the High Tech! [mikenish] by gagrice

Apr 06, 2007 (9:52 pm)

Replying to: mikenish (Apr 06, 2007 7:36 pm)
Welcome to the Forum. Who do you fly for? I love that new 717 that Hawaiian Airlines uses inter island. I was afraid Boeing was going to do away with the MD80 design. It looks like they improved it. Good luck with your new car.

#234 of 674 Re: Love the High Tech! [mikenish] by norskeyman

Apr 07, 2007 (6:32 am)

Replying to: mikenish (Apr 06, 2007 7:36 pm)
I assume your new Prius in an '07 model, not an '06 as you wrote. Are you certain you got the new $1750 package discount, low cost financing and the $1750 tax credit? I thought the new package discounts only started on cars bought in April? Norskeyman

#235 of 674 Re: Love the High Tech! [mikenish] by rcinmd

Apr 07, 2007 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: mikenish (Apr 06, 2007 7:36 pm)
Regarding your vibrating sound, I, too, have a Touring, and bought it knowing there was a rattle of some sort that I figured I could find since it was so apparent. But I have not been able to figure it out. I THINK it is coming from up front, but at times, it seems to be behind me. Worse still, it is not consistent, and is less apt to happen in warmer temps. It sounds much like the rattle of a loose sun visor, and is generally set off by sharp bumps. No I've not gotten it back to the dealer yet, but will soon. Wonder if it's a Touring thing. If you find the cause of your vibration, please report it here.

#236 of 674 Re: Unhappy Prius owner [glasschime] by kdhspyder

Apr 07, 2007 (10:11 pm)

Replying to: glasschime (Apr 06, 2007 3:32 pm)
That article is old news but thanks for posting it for the 78th time...( see several hundred posts on GMI, Ts, Greenhybrid and PriusChat about this bogus article )...
 
You were done a disservice by the person who delivered your vehicle to you without going over everything. There is a very simple way to avoid your problem. It takes less than 1/2 second.

#237 of 674 Re: Unhappy Prius owner [glasschime] by philmo

Apr 12, 2007 (12:30 pm)

Replying to: glasschime (Apr 06, 2007 3:32 pm)
We bought an 07' Prius in November. The battery ran down twice just sitting in our garage. The first time it sat for 3 days. We had it towed to the dealer. The service dept said the Prius HAS to be started at LEAST every few days or it will run down. Yikes.
  
A month later, we went away for a week. When we got home it was DEAD AGAIN.
  
We are done. We won't be keeping a car that dies in the garage after sitting for just 3 days.
 
Do have have the keyless entry system? Did you make sure your key fobs were at least 15 feet away from the car while you were away? There's a section of the manual that states some such requirement as the fob and onboard system will continously "poll" each other while within a certain distance which will eventually run down the battery.
 
We just returned from a 16-day trip where our 07 was left in a cold, Colorado garage. Our key fobs were at the other end of the house in a drawer. Started right up this morning with three blue bars.

#238 of 674 Re: Unhappy Prius owner [philmo] by south4

Apr 13, 2007 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: philmo (Apr 12, 2007 12:30 pm)
Question about battery run down. I thought my car was off and I must not have hit the power button hard enough because I came out three hours later and the car was still on! It ran and the battery bars went back up , but I wonder if I have harmed the long term life of the battery. Does anyone know?

#239 of 674 Re: engine shake down [michaeltnevill] by norskeyman

Apr 13, 2007 (7:14 pm)

Replying to: michaeltnevill (Oct 29, 2006 8:16 am)
I have a 2 week old '07 Prius, and at times I also notice the "shudder vibration" when the ICE shuts down. The transfer is not quite as seamless as I would like, but my understanding is that this characteristic is normal. Norskeyman

#240 of 674 Re: Unhappy Prius owner [south4] by 210delray

Apr 13, 2007 (7:24 pm)

Replying to: south4 (Apr 13, 2007 6:10 pm)
There would be no harm to the main battery pack, and I doubt the life of the conventional 12-volt battery will be affected.

#241 of 674 HSEA windows? by 3screwsloose

Apr 13, 2007 (8:46 pm)

What about the windows? Why are they listed as High Solar Energy Absorbing and look the same as "regular' windows? Our Sienna and Mariner have "black" side/rear windows. They are described as HSEA windows too. The Prius has "regular looking" windows, but are described as HSEA type. Wassup?
I have seen the "tinted" windows at the dealerships - they are added by specialty shops. I could use the darker windows here in Texas.

Messages Page 25 of 69

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