Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius questions and answers
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Q: toyota prius?
so ya i like the toyota prius.
but i was wondering if people who have them like them or not.
and tell why or why not.
k thankssss
A: I recently bought a 2007 Prius and so for its great. The gas mileage ranges at 50 to 55 mpg . has tons of available features and options, drives good, rides good, handles great, easy to manuever, tight turning radius, back up camera. smart key stsyem enables u not to have put key in long as its on u such as pocket /purse etc. u can go up and touch the door handle and it unlocks, the hatch back sorta gives wife that suv feeling, very fun car to drive. and its a great Hybird. i done lots of reveiwes and asked tons questions before i decided but i am glad i did. its the car of the future unless gas prices fall tremdously and dont see that happening, and even if they do produce a better option on a greener car for the envronemt and a alterntive on fuel prices you will save tons on gas while they r doing so. and u do get a tax incentive . I love our prius and I am a guy who has always been a pickupman, i still have my full size truck but i do enjoy driving the prius. great car. iw ould suggest getting the extra mile warranty which is 6 yrs/100,000 miles. this covers everyhting except brake pads , tires oilcages etc. but anything that goes wrong on the car is covered free rental car assitance and no deductibles etc. well hope this helps u make ur decision ..
Q: How long does it take to order a Toyota Prius?
My lease is up in mid September and ordered a Jeep Patriot, but they have no idea when the vehicle will be in. I am coming down to the wire. Do Toyota dealerships typically can a wide array of Toyota Prius models? I obviously dont have 5-8 weeks..
A: Funny how all the VW fans come out of the woodwork whenever anyone asks about the Prius.
By the way: Fuel economy for the 2007 Prius is 48 city / 45 highway (regular unleaded), and for the 2006 VW TDI New Beetle it is 31 city / 40 highway (diesel). Identically the same numbers for the 2006 VW Golf TDI. That's using the *NEW* mileage test results from the EPA. So the gasoline Prius still beats the diesel TDI, both in city and on the open highway. [There are no 2007 VW TDI models, that's why I listed 2006.]
Ignoring that -- most Toyota dealers have a good selection of Prius cars these days, just waiting for you to walk in and buy one. If you want a specific color and specific options, you may have to look around to more than your closest dealer, or push your dealer to trade with another dealer. But if you start looking now, you shouldn't have any problem getting a Prius you'll be happy with by mid-September.
Q: How much money in gas could I save by getting a Toyota Prius hybrid?
I am trying to figure out if I should get a Toyota Yaris sedan or spend the extra $10,000 and get a Prius. Will the prius pay off in the long run?
This would be a second car. We are going to get the prius or the yaris.
A: It takes 10 years for a Prius to break even. Hybrids arent the best technology for better fuel economy anyway. A clean diesel can get 60 mpg easy, while costing thousands less than a hybrid system. Diesels are most common in European cars, and manufacturers like Volkswagen sell them in the US as options. The Prius is a much better car than the Yaris, although I would not suggest either mainly because of Toyotas falling quality. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/toyota_quality.html
The Yaris was called a "disappointment" by ConsumerReports, which has long been criticised for being biased towards imports. The Yaris is the ultimate penalty box. A good medium between the two cars is the upcoming Saturn Astra. It has been rumored to have a hybrid option, and if it does will be much more affordable than a Prius. The upcoming Saturn Astra is light years ahead of the Yaris. It is a rebadged Opel Astra, one of the most popular cars in Europe. Nothing will be changed from the original Opel in its transition to a Saturn. It will be made in Belgium and imported into the US. Here are some reviews of the Astra.
http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/12137/2008-saturn-astra.html
http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/12767/upfront-news-2008-saturn-astra.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/candd-crowns-saturn-astra-safest-car-under-25k/
http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/12859/2008-saturn-astra.html
The Astra has already proven to be a great car, since it has been on sale in Europe since 2004. The Astra is more refined than the Yaris, not even going into its driving dynamics. Compare these pictures:
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/MediaNav/year=2008/make=Saturn/model=Astra/firstNav=Gallery/photoId=20142846#
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/MediaNav/styleId=100919847/firstNav=Gallery#
The gas mileage should be about the same on the Yaris and Astra, since every other car currently in that segment is within 2 mpg. Here is a side to side comparison of the Yaris VS the base Astra. Just look at the features, the Astra is hands down a better package, not including the longer warranty and better saftey.
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/VehicleComparison?styleid=100919847&styleid=100913114&maxvehicles=5&refid=&op=3&tab=pricing
GM is now on top of JD Powers reliability/quality ratings with Buick. The tests were on cars from 2004 to see how they held up. This does have some faults since Saturn has completley overhauled their lineup, and currently the oldest car in their lineup is the 2006 Sky.
Q: What are the pros and cons of owning a Toyota Prius?
I'm interested in purchasing a Toyota Hybrid. I'd like to hear from some people who already own one. Please let me know why you are glad that you purchased your Prius. Thanks for your time inadvance.
A: Pros:
* Depending on where you live, tax incentives (some states or Canadian provinces offer income tax credits/deductions or sales tax reductions),or single-occupant HOV lane privilages (CA, VA, FL, NY), or reduced tolls (NY) or free parking...
* better HP and acceleration than a comparable car
* better (lower) emissions than a comparable car
* better fuel economy than a comparable car (check http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ to compare vehicles, as they all undergo the same driving cycle test... The Prius is currently best overall: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/best... )
* own a neat techy car
* long warranty
* you do not plug it in (charges off of the gasoline engine and recapurted kinetic energy while braking)
Cons:
* own a neat techy car (should you need unscheduled maintenance (break down), you're mainly stuck paying dealer rates)
* many ill-informed people stopping you and asking questions about your car, telling you untruths about your own car, or even telling you how stupid you were for buying it... (for example, those above who were going on about the vehicle's production and nickel use...)
* you cannot plug it in
The only real complaint I've seen in the US is about the Goodyear Integrity tires that are OE on the base Prius (not the Touring model), in that their traction is not the greatest. If you see some serious snow/ice where you are, you may want to invest in a good set of snow/traction winter tires, or at least some better "all season" tires.
Some people do not like the lack of tactile buttons/switches on the dash for the audio and climate control systems - it's through the touch-screen display. But, you get used to the steering wheel controls in its place.
And yes, there are whole debates as to which is better, the Toyota navigation system, or a portable 3rd party unit...
I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the Prius does very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include federal and any state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.html
Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See: http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybrid-Survey-2006
http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/HypeOverHybrids
While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied.
(I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ )
Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general."
There is more to vehicle ownership besides initial purchase cost and the amount of gasoline used - there is also the costs to maintain and insure it, and also depreciation costs.
However, the societal costs for emissions are not usually included. The hybrids tend to be at worst an ULEV, with many (like the Prius) an AT-PZEV. Some are only sold in CA-emissions states. (Compare that to the often suggested VW TDIs, which cannot be sold new in CA-emission states because of their poor emissions.) In the US, hybrid models (like the Prius) tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/best...
The Toyota Prius is also in Consumer Reports' top picks for new cars: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/top-picks-for-2007-4-07/overview/0704_top-picks-2007.htm (as well as for used cars: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/used-cars-best-and-worst-406/index.htm ) The Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list. http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/articles/index.html
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/index.html
The Prius is also in Kelley Blue Book's 2007 Best Resale Value Awards: http://www.kbb.com/kbb/ReviewsAndRatings/BestResaleValueAwards.aspx
Remember that the Toyota Prius is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this December 2007, so it's hardly new technology!
http://web-cache.stream.ne.jp/www09/toyota/prius/main.html
http://www.toyota.com/html/dyncon/2007/september/birthday.html
The hybrid batteries in the currently available hybrid vehicles are usually listed by the manufacturer to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and have long warranties (not pro-rated!) to cover it. (Toyota Prius in the US: hybrid system (which includes the hybrid battery) for 8 years/100,000 miles, if in a CA-emission state the CA-emission warranty covers the hybrid battery pack for 10 years/150,000 miles.) So far, hybrid battery replacements are VERY uncommon, and rarely out of warranty. Pricing is much better when buying a used unit from a wrecked vehicle (much less than $1000), and not paying dealer-inflated rates/labor prices. Old battery packs are easily recycled (and Toyota even pays a $200 bounty to the owner to be sure it is recycled!). I don't know where another poster gets the numbers of a 10% loss every year, as I haven't heard that before... (My US 2001 Prius is almost 7 years old now, and the hybrid battery pack hasn't shown me any problems yet...)
Meanwhile, here's the 2004 Toyota Prius Green Report (life cycle assessment): http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/k_forum/tenji/pdf/pgr_e.pdf
(you'll need to download the Japanese fonts for your PDF reader inorder to read it, but the entire document is written in English.)
Over the measured lifespan of the Prius, when compared to a comparable mid-sized gasoline vehicle, the Prius comes out ahead in the lifecycle assessment (LCA) for airborne emissions for CO2, NOx, SOx, HC, but actually does worse for PM (thanks to the material and vehicle production stages). Lifespan is given as 10 years use/100,000km. The CO2 break-even point for the 2004 Prius compared to this unnamed gasoline vehicle is given at 20,000km. (more CO2 is emitted during Prius production, but the Prius makes up for it over its driven lifetime.)
Another neat thing is that the Prius is one of the first uses of Toyota's Eco-Plastic (plastic made from plants, as opposed to petroleum products). The battery is recycleable (NiMH), as is much of the car (steel and aluminum body, for example).
BTW: you can view the scheduled maintenance guides at: http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/
(Basically just an oil/filter change and tire rotation every 5000 miles/6 months)
More info at:
http://john1701a.com/
http://www.vfaq.net/
But since you asked, yes, I'm very happy with my 2001 Prius. Since moving to the Big City, I don't see it/drive it often, and really should sell it because of non-use (living mostly carless now), but it's difficult to part with it... My mother had heard me raving about my 2001 Prius when I bought it, and bought herself a 2002 Prius (in the color I really wanted!). My husband bought a 2004 Prius when the new model came out (so he could stop "borrowing" my Prius), loved it, but sold it (to his mother!) when we moved. My cousin has also bought a 2007 Prius. So, they're in the family...
Q: Can You Play Dvds in a 2008 toyota prius without voiding the warranty?
I recently purchase a 2008 package 6 toyota prius. It has a DVD Nav system, but when you put in a dvd to play, it will not read it. Now, i know there are hacks, but when you hack your nav system, doesnt that void your warranty? What are my options?
A: The "DVD" part of the "DVD Navigation system" is that the navigation system reads its maps and other database information off of a DVD, as opposed to a bunch of CDs or a hard drive.
The navigation system does not have an MPEG decoder, so it cannot play movie DVDs. The navigation system can only read DVDs with the proprietary navigation software/database information on it.
If you wish to watch DVD movies in your Prius, then you will either have to:
1. Purchase a portable DVD player
2. Purchase a laptop with a DVD drive and appropriate movie-watching software
(These first two options will not void your warranty.)
3. Purchase a 3rd party in-car DVD system with additional screens (most commonly mounted in the back of the front seats/headrests, or a flip-down screen from the roof) (This will only void your warranty on the components that you have mounted/connected things to them.)
4. Modify your Prius to add a video-input to display to the existing MFD. (This will only void your warranty on the components that you have mounted/connected things to them.)
http://www.coastaletech.com/universal_video.htm
Do note to check with your state/local laws regarding having a television screen viewable by the driver while moving, however...
Q: How can I fit two carseats in the back of a Toyota Prius?
I drive a Toyota Prius. I currently have one infant car seat in the middle of the back because it has to fit between the bucket seats (the depth is to long to go directly behind the drivers or passenger seats). Does anyone have a recommendation for a convertible car seat that is not very deep when installed rear facing? We are about to have 2 babies, and I know that two infant car seats won't fit. Any ideas? I don't have the option of buying a different car. Thanks in advance.
A: Well the obvious answer is to go to a store that will let you try the floor models in your car, but those are getting harder to find.
There is some info here on which seats fit in a Prius: http://www.carseatdata.org/main/search?entry[car_make_id]=47&entry[car_model_id]=688&entry[car_year_id]=&entry[seat_brand_id]=&entry[seat_name_id]=&entry[seat_type]=&entry[installation_method]=&x=71&y=19
Personally I have an Eddie Bauer/Alpha Omega Elite (also sold as Costco and something else) and an Evenflo Triumph Advanced. The Eddie Bauer even with the base removed takes up far more space forcing the seat in front of it forward. The evenflo though wider (1.5-2") takes up less space depth wise (at least 3").
Another smaller seat is the Sunshine Radian which is made with more metal than plastic so it is smaller on the outside while allowing one of the widest interiors for bigger babies. I don't know specifically about depth though this only gives the base depth which is only part of the answer:
http://www.macklems.com/sunshine-kids-radian-car-seat.htm
Q: What do you think of a Toyota Prius with all tinted windows?
I drive a 02 BMW 325i right now but im really getting bored with the car and the image and want a change.
What do you think of a white or black toyota prius with all black tinted.. i thought it'd look kinda cool.
A: Get a Black Prius and don't feel bad about it.
Amazing that the same people that B**** at people that buy hybrid Japanese cars are the same people that support Ford, GM and Chrysler and enjoy driving their gas burners that are made in Mexico, China and Canada that send American jobs away and send billions of U.S. dollars to buy oil from countries that hate our country and/or want us dead.
Q: How does the Smart Key system work on the Toyota Prius?
I recently purchase a Toyota Prius, the smart key system worked properly when we drove it off the lot. Then latter on we went to start it. We hit the power button twice but the car would not go into gear. I turned off the smart key system and put the key in, shut the car off and turned it back on and it worked. How do I get the smart key system working? Am I doing something wrong?
A: There's a nice flash animation tutorial on the Smart Key System (formerly called Smart Entry & Smart Start) available at:
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2008/prius/key_features/smartkey.html
I also highly suggest re-reading the "Smart Entry and Start System" section of you Toyota Prius Owner's Manual. In the US 2004 Prius Owner's Manual, that's in section 2-1 "Operation of Instruments and Controls," "Keys and Doors" section, pages 23-33. You should also review the use of the Power switch and the push button start, which is also in your Owner's Manual. In the US 2004 Prius Owner's Manual, that's in section 2-6 "Operation of Instruments and Controls," "'POWER' Switch, Transmission, and Parking Brake" section, pages 129-134. Your manual's pages may vary, however.
A common problem with new owners is that they neglect to press the brake pedal when trying to start the car. If you just press the POWER button without having your foot on the brake pedal, you just cycle between "OFF/ACC/IG-ON" modes. OFF is off; ACC is the accessory mode - 12v power is available for the lights, windows, wipers, and radio, but not much else; IG-ON is like ACC except that you now also have the MFD powered on and climate control/fan use. Note that the sole power usage is from the 12v battery, which is not recharged in any of these modes. It sounds like your not starting situation is this case of forgetting or otherwise not pressing hard enough on the brake pedal when starting the car, and getting stuck/confused in IG-ON mode.
If the brake pedal is depressed while pressing the POWER button, the car will cycle between "OFF/READY." OFF is off, READY means that the car is ready to go and can be put into gear and driven. The hybrid battery is connected and will be recharged as needed by the gasoline engine, and the hybrid battery will recharge the 12v battery as needed.
Anyhow, yes, there is a toggle button under the steering wheel to turn on/off the Smart Key System if equipped. Unless you paid for this feature and don't really want it, the only reasons to turn off the Smart system would be either for valet parking, or if you are not going to be driving your Prius for 2+ weeks (reduce the parasitic load on the 12v battery).
With a recognized Smart Key on your person, as you approach the Prius near one of the external sensors (front driver's door, front passenger's door, rear hatch door) from about 6 feet, the interior dome light will turn on and the car will be expecting you. The car will unlock when the back of the door handle of the appropriate external sensor is touched. (To lock, all doors must first be closed, then touch the black square pad on the outside of the door.) Get into the car. The car will recognize that the recognized Smart Key is inside of the vehicle (interior sensor), and will await for you to press the POWER button. All this time, you never have to touch your keyfob.
If you didn't have the Smart Key System in your car, or you turned off the Smart system with the toggle button under the steering wheel, then to lock/unlock your car you'd have to press the lock/unlock remote keyless entry buttons on the keyfob, and to start the car you'd have to put the keyfob into the dash slot.
If the battery in your keyfob was dead, you'd have to use the metal mechanical key inside of the keyfob to unlock the driver's door. Then just put the keyfob into the dash slot to drive yourself to a Radio Shack or the like to get a new keyfob battery.
If the Prius' 12v accessory battery was dead, then to get into the car you'd have to use the metal mechanical key to unlock the driver's door. You'd then pop the hood, and jumpstart your Prius... (The remote keyless entry will not work without the 12v battery. The car cannot connect up the hybrid battery to start the car without the computers running, and the computers first need the 12v accessory battery.)
There are some situations when the Smart system or the remote keyless entry may not work due to interference. For example:
if you have a metallic object next to your keyfob in your pocket or hand, such as a cellphone or iPod, or otherwise blocking the signal between your keyfob and the car
You are parked next to a high-power radio antenna, such as a radio station, a police/fire station, a military base
Q: How does Toyota prius Hybrid engine with gas and battery work?
2007 Toyota Prius reliable and maintence records indicate.
A: The electrical part works to get the car going and once going if additional power is needed or the battery's need charging the motor automatically starts. All is controlled by an integral computer powder management software.
Q: What is the whirring sound after the Toyota Prius is powered down?
I hear a whirring sound for about 30 seconds after I power down the Toyota Prius. Anyone knows what that is? Is it a problem?
A: http://www.vfaq.net/FAQ-misc.html#whirring
As long as the sound doesn't start getting louder or clunking, it is perfectly normal on a North American 2004-current Prius. It's the pump taking warm engine coolant and putting it into the little thermos of the CHHS (coolant heat storage system), to store for use when you next start up your Prius to more quickly warm up the engine.
Q: how do you access the rear view camera on the toyota prius?
i have driven a few toyota prius' and noticed that sometimes when putting it in reverse, a rear view camera appears on the display screen. was curious if it was a standard or not on all priuses.
how do you turn on and off the rear view camera?
A: Just put the Prius in reverse. The camera will come on IF you have it.
It comes in the Prius with the package #2 through package #6.
Once in reverse, it comes on. Put the car in drive and it shuts off.
From your friendly Toyota Salesperson :)
Q: Where can I find / buy an navigation system upgrade for a 2002 toyota prius?
I have a 2002 toyota prius.
It does not have a navi but has the buttons in the dash to support on (map, destination)
Where can I find pricing and installation information for a navigation system?
A: I also had a 2002 Prius, but mine had the nav system. One of the big rages back then was that the buttons were there, but the nav system wasn't, unless you paid for the option. On the original Prius newsgroup, it was hashed back and forth for literally months, and some really bright people tried to do it. Unfortunately, what they found out was that the Prius was wired for the nav system - or it wasn't - at the factory, and that it could not be added afterwards. Now, that is only for the system that Toyota included with the Prius. You can absolutely add an aftermarket nav system to the Prius, but it will not interface like the original into the MFD. You might try www.coastaletech.com as they did a ton of add-ons for all of the Prius, though I don't know if they were ever successful with adding a fully integrated nav system from scratch. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm afraid unless someone has done a ton of work since then,it is the answer. Something to consider is that for you to add the factory nav system might be so expensive that it might cheaper to by another Prius with it in the car already. Good luck.
Q: In what stage of the product life cycle is the Toyota Prius?
Descrbe the marketing strategies being followed by toyota for the Prius. Do you think Toyota should convert all of its cars to hybrids? why? why not?
A: The Prius is nearing the end of its second generation.
The first generation was the NHW11, which was marketed in the U.S. from 2000 to 2003.
The current generation is the NHW20, introduced in 2004 and will end production after the 2009 model year.
The next-generation Prius will be powered with a Lithium-Ion battery (NHW11 and NHW20 are nickel metal-hydride powered).
As long as the Prius continues to be a good seller, Toyota will keep on improving it through redesigns every few years.
Toyota did state that they plan to offer a hybrid version of each vehicle in their line in the next few years. That will be great, especially in the minivan segment where there isn't a hybrid available yet from any carmaker.
Q: Is the Toyota Prius truly environmentally friendly?
A lot of people claim that the Toyota Prius is environmentally friendly since it has very good gas mileage. I was sort of tempted to go along with that, but I also remembered that you have to plug it in so that the electric engine can run. Since you have to plug it in to charge it, how big is it's carbon footprint? Since coal is burned to produce most of America's electricity, is the Prius truly environmentally friendly?
A:
Q: What is the TRUE gas mileage on a 2008 Toyota Prius?
I have a 2008 Toyota Prius. The gas mileage on the paper I got from the dealer says it's 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway. However, when I'm actually driving it, it seems that it's reversed: 45 city, 48 highway. I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed this or not. Is this a mistake from the manufacturer or a fault with the car? I'm really confused.. any help will be appreciated. Thanks!
A: Toyota is required by law to post the fuel economy figures using the EPA test cycles. These same EPA tests are done to ALL cars, so that the results can be used to compare one car against another. But, YMMV (your mileage may vary), since chances are that you do not solely operate your vehicle in a laboratory under specified driving patterns... (Mileage will vary depending on how you drive, how well maintained the vehicle is, and where you drive (mountains, cold/hot weather, snow, etc.)
Chances are, your definition of "city mileage" is different than what the EPA considers "city." (Most people tend to think that short trips is city driving, but it isn't, and is one of the biggest MPG killers, in any car.) Do you drive on a dynometer, in 68-86^F temperatures, from a cold engine, go 11 miles in 31 minutes with 23 stops, with an average speed of 20mph (maximum speed 56mph), about 18% of your time idling, like the EPA city test does?
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml
The "true" fuel economy is whatever you get under your driving patterns.
You can compare your real-world MPG against that of other owners at:
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Toyota&model=Prius
and http://greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/toyota-priushsd.html