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Changes You'd Like To See in the Toyota Prius

36 messages,  Last post on Aug 07, 2008 at 6:19 PM

You are in the Toyota Prius Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Performance Mods, Auto Body, Hatchback

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#7 of 36 Re: Prius - Strange Noise [oldfordman1] by oldfordman1 May 03, 2007 (3:39 pm)
Replying to: oldfordman1 (May 03, 2007 7:12 am) Sorry for two posts on same subject -- Edmunds timed out the session both times I tried to post. I didn't know either of them went through.
#8 of 36 Not sure it's just hatchbacks by pf_flyer HOST May 03, 2007 (3:41 pm)
My 2001 Altima and my '91 and'96 Sentras did this too. I don't recall it happening on my '66 Newport. I THINK it may have do with the more aerodynamic designs now. Here's my theory... The air is flowing relatively smoothly along the car, and the air passing over the open rear window is creating a negative pressure, much like when you blow across the top of an empty soda bottle and make a musical note. The air inside the bottle is resonating. Well in this case, the "bottle" is the interior volume of the car. The air inthe car is resonating as a much lower frequency because the space is so much larger,so you get that whump-whump-whump of the air pressure buidling up and falling.   I was experimenting with different window positions, and you CAN find a spot where you are letting in air but not creating the resonance. Replies to this message: oldfordman1 (May 05, 2007 1:04 pm) pathstar1 (May 05, 2007 6:17 pm)
#9 of 36 Re: Not sure it's just hatchbacks [pf_flyer] by oldfordman1 May 05, 2007 (1:04 pm)
Replying to: pf_flyer (May 03, 2007 3:41 pm) I still haven't been able to duplicate this on any other car. I thought more about the hatchback question and I've decided it probably doesn't have anything to do with hatchbacks. I said we never experienced this with our 73 Vega, but then I don't think the rear side windows rolled down in that car and if they did, we probably never rolled them down because we never used to rear seat. We kept it folded down just about the while time we owned the car. With no power windows, it's unlikely we ever crawled in the back just to roll windows up or down.   You said you found a place where you didn't get the noise, so I'll try it again. I only get to drive the car on weekends and it's raining here today, so no chance to check it out.   It would be interesting to see a response from a Toyota engineer about this. They must have encountered it. And, I imagine someone from Toyota monitors these discussions. They'd be stupid not to read what real owners are saying. Of course, it's a pipe dream to imagine they would actually respond. I used to work for Borders and there was an internet discussion board for Borders employees at an independent site. Every once in a while, one of us would plant something on that board to see how long it took to be mentioned in a staff meeting. That's how we found out for certain that Borders management was monitoring the board to see what employees were saying in a supposedly neutral environment.   I hope Toyota management is reading these messages. Replies to this message: pathstar1 (May 05, 2007 6:17 pm)
#10 of 36 Re: Not sure it's just hatchbacks [oldfordman1] by pathstar1 May 05, 2007 (6:17 pm)
Replying to: oldfordman1 (May 05, 2007 1:04 pm) SUVs are apparently susceptible to it. My 1990 4Runner did it and my current 2001 Pathfinder does it too.   With the 4Runner I found cracking the rear glass down about an inch attenuated the resonance so it died out. Any more and it sucked in exhaust gases.   The Pathfinder is funny. In the owners manual it tells you not to drive on the highway with the windows open, as it decreases mileage. Use the A/C, as it uses less energy than is lost aerodynamically with open windows. On one road I frequently use there is a long mountain decent, and the transmission will not hold my speed to reasonable levels in 3rd gear. Second gear is too slow. So I tried turning on the A/C. No help. Then I tried opening the windows to see if that added drag would help. Sure enough it helped hold my speed! And that's when I noticed the thumping, just like the 4Runner did. A little fiddling with the rear window % open and I found a setup that held my speed and didn't thump (it's a very long decent).   Wish the Pathfinder had regen. It could power a small city! 4400 lbs of unstoppable momentum!
#11 of 36 Re: Prius changes I'd like to see [carz89] by stevegold May 12, 2007 (7:45 pm)
Replying to: carz89 (May 02, 2007 6:47 pm) As to suggestion #5- Improved rear windshield wiper. I replace the arm with one I bought for a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV. It was exactly the same but a mirror image. With that arm, it wipes straight across the bottom of the top glass. I also put in a longer blade which was designed for snow. Not perfect but much better. I posted pictures on Priuschat.com or Priusonline 2 or 3 years ago. Replies to this message: stevegold (May 12, 2007 7:49 pm)
#12 of 36 Re: Prius changes I'd like to see [stevegold] by stevegold May 12, 2007 (7:49 pm)
Replying to: stevegold (May 12, 2007 7:45 pm) I would like a turbo (electric OK) to boost ICE power when going up a long, straight, steep hill that now depletes the battery after 5 minutes or less. I hear this is in the works from Toyota. I looked into an after market electric turbo but the manufacturer said it was built for 30 second boosts maximum. I need 5-10 minutes or more.
#13 of 36 Somewhere for magnetic "bumper stickers" by mmpmd1 May 20, 2007 (11:12 am)
It seems to me that Prius owners, in general, are people with more obvious social consciences than average American drivers. So, why is there virtually nowhere to put our bumper stickers, other than on the non-metal rear part of the vehicle? Reading bumper stickers is one of my favorite pastimes at red lights, but right now I can't give fellow drivers the same pleasure.   I dislike sticking anything permanently to the outside, and prefer to put stickers on magnetic strips or in clear plastic cases to attach on the interior windows. With the severely sloping rear window, and that teeny vertical window below the break, there is nowhere to display my stickers. The only place to put magnetized messages is on the side of the vehicle, which is silly, since hardly anyone sees it.   Can't Toyota change the material of the rear end so magnets will stick, or make the window more vertical, so we can have a usable canvas to hang the stickers? Replies to this message: pathstar1 (May 20, 2007 7:33 pm)
#14 of 36 Re: Somewhere for magnetic "bumper stickers" [mmpmd1] by pathstar1 May 20, 2007 (7:33 pm)
Replying to: mmpmd1 (May 20, 2007 11:12 am) How about something like this: http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1607
#15 of 36 Re: Prius changes I'd like to see [carz89] by mulligan672 May 26, 2007 (6:16 pm)
Replying to: carz89 (May 02, 2007 6:47 pm) I could not agree more with each of your points. I'd make my own list but yours has everything I would've put. Thanks for speaking up! Replies to this message: slimcat (Oct 01, 2007 11:20 am)
#16 of 36 Re: Prius changes I'd like to see [mulligan672] by slimcat Oct 01, 2007 (11:20 am)
Replying to: mulligan672 (May 26, 2007 6:16 pm) I would like to see more features that are available in other new cars like heated seats, power seat controls, automatic door locks. We were dissapointed thee kind of things weren't offered on our 2007. We bought it anyway

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