# Prius owners: any downside? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 12, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348 "2005-09-12T22:49:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/1 "2005-09-12T22:49:22Z")
Just back from visiting my daughter who is happy with her new Prius, but has only had it a few weeks. I was pleasantly surprised at how well made and designed it is (was expecting more of an econobox), and the mileage and low emmisions are splendid. It seems to ride and handle well, is quite roomy and expect the reliability will be up to the usual Toyota standards. The only annoyance I’ve encountered is the way they package the options, so that you probably end up getting something you don’t like (such as high-intensity lights) to buy what you do want. They seem to be outdoing the American car makers in that respect. Anybody encountered anything about it that they don’t like? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/2 "2005-09-12T23:01:24Z")
I’m on the waiting list, but have talked with Prius owners. One of the downsides I’ve heard of is the visibility through the rear window. It’s angled such that it’s not a real huge area. You can compensate by using your side mirrors and such, but I think it’s an initial adjustment. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/3 "2005-09-12T23:39:26Z")
I looked at them when they first came out, and they did seem like a well-assembled vehicle. One legal downside: In Virginia, car pool lane restrictions are lifted for those driving “CF” (clean fuel) cars such as hybrids and natural gas powered (hydrogen cars when they’re available). But so many people have bought hybrids in the Northern Virginia area that the legislature is considering putting the car pool restriction back on hybrids. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/4 "2005-09-13T00:39:26Z")
Right. 3 different people I know from work bought CF cars _just_ so they could ride in from exurbia in the HOV lanes by themselves. All three are right-wing and don’t give a flip about the envvironment (When I casually mentioned to one of them “Hey, bonus, you get to help the environment!”, he said, and I quote: “Fuck that!”). :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/5 "2005-09-13T00:47:41Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > Right. 3 different people I know from work bought CF cars _just_ so they could ride in from exurbia in the HOV lanes by themselves. All three are right-wing and don’t give a flip about the envvironment (When I casually mentioned to one of them “Hey, bonus, you get to help the environment!”, he said, and I quote: “Fuck that!”). > > :rolleyes: Hey, don’t rolleyes too quickly. I share many aspects of their opinion, _but_ we don’t have HOV lanes in Detroit. All the same, I’m an engineer and the _cool factor_ alone is enough to make me consider a Mariner Hybrid just as soon as they’re available. The Escape Hybrid is too econoboxy for me. The Prius _is_ a super-well-made car, but whoever said they’re not econoboxes doesn’t know what a non-econobox is, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/6 "2005-09-13T08:20:49Z")
I own a 2001 Prius - the original model, before Toyota came out with the redesigned 2004 model. I have only one complaint about the car: the OEM tires last only about 20,000 miles, and I haven’t been able to find a replacement tire with low rolling resistance. Rather than replace the tires every 20K I got a set of Michelin Harmonys. This costs me a little in gas mileage, but the cost savings on tires more than offsets this. I looked up the OEM tire for the newer-model Prius, and it seems that Toyota has gotten away from the awful tires that were standard on the earlier models. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/7 "2005-09-13T11:29:45Z")
The gas tank has a flexible bladder in it (IIRC this helps reduce evaporative emissions). However, this means that the amount of gas you could put in the tank can vary due to temperature (and for some people it also seems to vary on the pahse of the moon). It may be difficult to see where the front of the car ends so parking takes some getting used to. Brian ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/8 "2005-09-13T12:18:47Z")
I have an '04 Prius with 56K miles on it in a year and a half. It drives well with plenty of power when required. Handles reasonably well, and my average gas milage per tank is around 47-48 MPG. I wouldn’t call it an econobox. It’s as well appointed as my BILs Camrey. Yes, the bladder fuel tank causes the tank capacity to vary somewhat, and their option packages could make it difficult to obtain only the options you want. But with the price of fuel near $3 a gallon, it’s a pleasure to own. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sishoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@sishoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sishoch)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/9 "2005-09-13T12:58:09Z")
I’ve found the front pillars to be a bit wide. The left pillar can hide a bicyclist or pedestrian, or even a car on a gradual left curve. I’ve learned always to look around the pillar before making a left turn. I second the comment on the rear visibility, also. Also, I got a bike rack on the (add-on) receiver hitch and took a bit hit in gas mileage (lost about 10 mpg) when driving 75. It’s not so bad at 65 though. I’d also like to see satelite radio as an option. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/10 "2005-09-13T13:04:25Z")
Downside - adding to the trade deficit, helping employ foreign workers over people in your own country. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/11 "2005-09-13T13:09:20Z")
My MIL has one and I enjoyed my chance to drive it. However, be aware that if your A/C unit is on, the engine runs gas only–it won’t switch to electric. And also be aware that if you switch your climate control to the defog setting, that also automatically turns the A/C unit on to dry the air. (I have read this in news reports, didn’t check the owner’s manual.) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/12 "2005-09-13T13:51:19Z")
That was true of the old Prius (the compressor ran off the gas engine). With the 2004+ Prius, the A/C compressor is electric and so the gas engine does not need to run. Obvioulsy it will drain the battery and cause the gas engine to run more often to replenish the battery. Brian ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/13 "2005-09-13T14:08:28Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > That was true of the old Prius (the compressor ran off the gas engine). > With the 2004+ Prius, the A/C compressor is electric and so the gas engine does not need to run. Obvioulsy it will drain the battery and cause the gas engine to run more often to replenish the battery. > > Brian Second Brian’s comment. The AC works fine sitting in traffic with the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) stopped. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/14 "2005-09-13T14:19:12Z")
> [@Keweenaw](#): > > Downside - adding to the trade deficit, helping employ foreign workers over people in your own country. As much as I’d like to see you in a Ford corporation vehicle, that downside is not really so true these days. Specifically, yeah, the Prius is foreign made, and all of the profits go anywhere in the world there’s a stockholder (like Ford), but there’s _considerable_ economic investment and trickle-down spending by Toyota and all of the “foreign” manufacturers in the United States. First, they employ high-paid, American workers, who use their high pay to improve their local economies. No one has “River Rouge” type facilities anymore — instead there’s “the supplier park” which typically employ even more American employees than the plant. Factor in the engineering firms, robot companies, integration shops, automation suppliers, electrical suppliers, building construction materials and labor, and you’ll start to see how the entire US economy as a whole is affected positively by these guys. (The importance-to-the-economy goes for the US builders, too.) ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/15 "2005-09-13T14:26:10Z")
One other slight drawback: the battery pack will eventually need to be replaced, and IIRC, the cost is about $2K. However, the battery is under warranty for 8 years (I think), so if it goes before that, you’re OK. I have a 2002 Prius and I’m very happy with the milage (about 50mpg in good weather) and the reliability. I would buy another one. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/16 "2005-09-13T14:36:03Z")
> [@Keweenaw](#): > > Downside - adding to the trade deficit, helping employ foreign workers over people in your own country. Feeling especially xenophopic today, **Keweenaw**? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/17 "2005-09-13T15:24:14Z")
> [@Jeff Lichtman](#): > > I have only one complaint about the car: the OEM tires last only about 20,000 miles, and I haven’t been able to find a replacement tire with low rolling resistance. That was my biggest concern in thinking about buying a Prius. I was a member of a Yahoo! user group back in the day, and heard lots of stories of tires kicking the bucket much sooner than average. I’m glad to see they’ve done something about it. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/18 "2005-09-13T15:37:11Z")
Buying vehicles engineered and manufactured in North America helps our economy and keeps jobs here. The Prius is manufactured in Toyota City, Japan. I understand there are some Toyota models made in the US, this thread isn’t about them. I understand 50 mpg is a big draw. For me personally, 100 mpg wouldn’t be enough give my business to a company that takes business away from my country/state/local assembly plant/neighbor etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/19 "2005-09-13T16:17:13Z")
> [@Keweenaw](#): > > wouldn’t be enough give my business to a company that takes business away from my country/state/local assembly plant/neighbor etc. The two American manufacturers also make a huge number of vehicles destined for the U.S. market outside of the U.S. (Canada and Mexico being the two most obvious). Was the car you own built in Michigan? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348/20 "2005-09-13T16:46:46Z")
> [@Keweenaw](#): > > I understand 50 mpg is a big draw. For me personally, 100 mpg wouldn’t be enough give my business to a company that takes business away from my country/state/local assembly plant/neighbor etc. Or… I understand saving money is a big draw, after all I can then spend my savings locally at restaurants, theaters, and other local merchants. For me, personally, 100 mpg wouldn’t be enough to keep me from subsidizing American auto workers and executives. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-owners-any-downside/321348.md?page=2)