2023 Toyota Prius - WOW!

[Phase]

Originally Posted by JSH

I dented the oil pan on both my 2005 Prius and 2003 Jetta Wagon driving on unpaved forest service roads.

Personally I doubt the thousand or more one would pay for adjustable air suspension will pay off in fuel savings vs just driving a vehicle with 7-8 inches of ground clearance.

I have a tint in my muffler and my cat converter has a leak and damaged from low ground clearance. Also part of engine under tray/splash pad got torn too.

Not trying to make money back from air suspension. Just a Prius is cheaper than getting an SUV in general at msrp prices. Plus the gas difference is huge when I drive 50k miles a year

[redpoint5]

If someone is rock crawling they need clearance. If someone is traveling unplowed roads in winter they need clearance. Traveling up a fairly gnarly logging road in late spring needs a Prius and a driver that works the angles to keep the frame mostly off the ground.

[freebeard]

Just a Prius is cheaper than getting an SUV in general at msrp prices.

jalopnik.com/this-lifted-prius-trolls-jeeps

“I knew that the original Prius was Corolla-based but the dealership refused to confirm a cross reference for suspension parts,” Kempton said. “Finally, I discovered the Euro-market Toyota Auris was cross-referenced as having the same struts as a Prius. I found a Russian 4x4 supply company on eBay selling a [lift] kit for the Auris. They asked for the VIN and actually sent me a different kit that did the trick.”

The lift gave them a good extra three inches in ride height overall. Kempton also bought 29" all-terrain tires mounted on wheels bought from a lifted Subaru owner who listed them on Craigslist who was more than a little perplexed as to what vehicle they were destined for. After all these parts were on the Prius, it had a respectable nine inches of ground clearance.

[Phase]

Originally Posted by freebeard

jalopnik.com/this-lifted-prius-trolls-jeeps

I’ve seen that. Probably won’t go that extreme. Obviously that one isn’t AWD. I’ll still be sticking with low rolling resistance tires in summer but blizzak winters for winter time and then air suspension that’ll add extra ground clearance only when I need it

[Isaac Zachary]

Now I feel like I also have a reason to fix up my Prius. Then I can get rid of the Nissan Gasfinder, I mean, Pathfinder.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

What's the model-year of the Pathfinder? Is a Diesel engine swap out of question?

[JSH]

I drove the new Prius for the first time this past week. My employer switched to Hertz this year and with that change the selection of fun rental cars has disappeared. I'm in the highest tier level and my choices on this last trip were: Camry, Malibu, Ram 1500, and Prius. I took the Prius.

First things first - the trip meter said I averaged 56 mpg in mixed driving. I put a bit over 1 gallon in the tank after driving 60 miles. So it does good on gas. Would I buy one - nope.

The new sporty styling has severely compromised functionality. With the short greenhouse there are large blind spots looking forward caused by the mirror and A pillars. Sitting in the back seat my hair touched the headliner and I'm only 5' 9".

Personally I'd spend the extra $450 for the larger Camry Hybrid. I don't really see the purpose of the Prius anymore when Toyota has hybrid version of all their mainstream models.

[Piotrsko]

Just rented a VW Golf in Newfoundland from hertz ECONO tier Good news, eco mode does work something like 6 liters per hundred (miles or clicks? DUNNO thought it was miles....odometer was in Miles(?) according to mrs G Maps.) hotrod mode not much better than the neutered diesel at home but doesn't corner as well. I Didn't fit the allocated space for driver, have bruise on right knee cap where the darned console intercepted, seat back was against rear seat.

[Phase]

I went to dealership and did a test drive and got a decent offer. Out the door price right at Msrp. Deciding if I should fully commit. It was the 2024 AWD Prius. Averaged 70 mpg on test drive in rain. I’m 6’1” and head never touched roof in back or front seats. Then again I don’t spike my hair up or have a Mohawk/afro/man bun so no issue

[Xist]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Bridge style is nice for road trips where you want to put a snack down somewhere within reach, without it flying about when you take a corner. Or perhaps a place to put a parking stub. Anything to prevent things from falling into Satan's crack (between the center console and seat).

I keep only a few things in the center console, like flossers, mints, a few quarters, and a couple pens. I keep a very uncluttered vehicle.

I bought one of those for $9 from AutoZone:
The front cupholder is more for storage than holding cups.
Mom's are always full of junk and when I have a cup I want to put there, I sometimes need to make room, but the holders are bigger than any cups I have tried to put there.
When I drive my wife somewhere and have a cup in the holder, I need to hold it put when I brake, and I brake gently unless it is an emergency.
I usually fold down the middle arm rest in the back and put cups there, which isn't ideal.
I finally bought a 40oz insulated stainless steel insulated cup from Winco... and promptly lost it, but it was still too small for the front cupholders, and too big for the ones in the back.
The AutoZone cupholders were the right size and I have that little bit of storage, but in order to fit it between me and the center console, I need to sit a little to the side and then it pushes against my hip.
It still doesn't seem to stay very well.
I could put it on the other side when I don't have a passenger, but then it definitely wouldn't stay put.
Yeah, let me just graduate and buy a center console from a junkyard with custom extra storage...

I have seen various solutions for stuff falling in that gap, but someone pointed out one could simply slide a skinny pool noodle, pipe insulation, etc. in there.