2005 Toyota Prius

reply on October 11, 2006 by bubbly

i really LOVE my prius! its just an awesome car. the seats are not that bad..its a car for driving from point a to point b...i dont plan on using it for long haul driving. this is my 6th car....(2hondas,2toyotas included in the list). i must tell u....with my honda prelude, my gas bill was usually $90-100/mo. simply becuz i used premium gas. with my prius....i now spend $50-60/mo. & thats when the gas was at an all time high! people have even told me that they were surprised at the zip of speed i am able to get. its pretty comfortable for me....& one plus with the seat is that they recline all the way back.....thats great....& so much room. its plenty big for me & my lifestyle

reply on June 12, 2006 by Mommycat

Bought a Prius and I agree with you. After driving an hour my back was killing me. The car as a whole is great, but they could do better with the seats,

reply on June 1, 2006 by bigduke

We took deliver near the end of January. Wanted to be sure of the $3150 tax CREDIT this year. <br><br>Careful slow break in for first three hundred miles, then still careful up to about 600 miles. The fuel use in first tank was not too hot. Scond tank much better. <br><br>Drove DC to near Cape Canaveral in mid May. 850 mile in one day at 70 where legal. 49+MPG<br>Return was driven in a day and half at 65 on the best speed control I have ever used. Fuel use 55 MPG. Saved ten percent on fuel and cost only about a couple hours on the road. <br><br>Other notes: car is white. Windows are huge. Car can really get hot in sun. Cure a cover that can keep sun off the glass. Warehouse store had best price for multiply cover so it much improves inside temperture in sun. It also keeps bird and tree deposits off paint. <br><br>It great to have engine cut off when brakes are applied for stop and energy pumped into big batery. Motor becomes generator. Engine stays off until after car moves out under electic drive. We continue to enjoy AC which along with lights etc continues to funcion from big battery. All motion of car in reverse is electric motor. Means that engine coupling to the drive is simplified. With infinite ratios the engine is able to run at its most efficient RPM. <br><br>This transmission is the first one ever that can shift better than I can!! The only other infinite ratio cars used "V" pullys that changed pitch. I don't know what the guts are on this one, but as soon as I get shop manuals I will know...

reply on April 17, 2006 by Tallrusty

I am 6'4" and wanted to give the Prius a try so I rented one for a 1300 mile trip to Los Vegas and back. While I was surprised at all of the head room I could not adjust the drivers seat to support my legs. My knees were flopped apart with no support for the entire trip except for the door to my left. I got 42 mpg with 95% freeway driving that included some mountain passes. I hope to buy one anyway but only if I can get someone to customize the seat to support my legs.

reply on February 12, 2006 by bmoore8888

Personally, I've found the seats reasonably comfortable but unless they were a serious distraction It would not be the basis on which I would pick a car.<br>I recently had a minor problem when the Dealer where I had the car serviced, accidently locked my keys in the car. He very kindly let me have a brand new Matrix as an overnight "Loaner". I found It did have a bit more pick up but I actually found the Prius had an overall smoother and quieter ride. In my experience so far, no rattles or erroneous warning lights etc. either. I've also found it also handles pretty well in the snow for a light vehicle!<br>I would highly recommend it to anyone who was interested in economy and comfort rather than high speed performance and handling.

reply on November 27, 2005 by Ken Carlson

While I agree with the opinion that the seats could be improved, I did not allow that to stop me from buying the Prius. You have to consider that there had to be some sacrifices in design to make the Prius not only efficient in gas consumption, but also cost effective. Perhaps one should consider the Toyota Highlander of you want fancy seats in a hybrid vehicle?

reply on September 11, 2005 by Bryan Rountree

I took my Prius from South Carolina to Oklahoma approximately 17hrs. I didn't find the seats that bad. After about 5 hours no seat no matter what position you put it in, is very comfortable.<br><br>I agree that they should have optional powered seats. <br><br>The only complaint I have with the seats is that when you recline the seat, it doesn't spring back when you raise up. Never been in a car that didn't do that.

reply on August 19, 2005 by mrghos7

has anyone ever given thought to the fact that the people that think the seat is uncomfortable, may be 350 lbs, or have back problems or something else wrong with them. Or perhaps they just dont think it is comfortable. If this person says the seat sucks, then the seat sucks. For them!<br>Personally reading that persons comments are of no consequence to me since it is quite possible that we have different comfort levels and/or expectations coupled with the fact that I am not going to let someone elses opinion on comfort sway the way I view comfort. I cant wait to test drive one!

reply on June 25, 2005 by lobo1967

I rented a Prius from Enterprise in Montana. The seat is uncomfortable after about an hour for me 5' 9" 190lbs, and bad for my wife after 10 minutes. Gives her a backache. I drove it about 1400 miles in 10 days. Got about 42-43 mpg going up mountains. If they improve the seat for 2006, maybe I could get one. Current cars are both more comfortable Ford Taurus and Ford Focus. Focus (non power seat) has up down adjustment and better contour.

reply on May 18, 2005 by zclayton2

I have had cars given to me that I have ditched ASAP due to two things. <br><br>1. Visibility, which I find problematic on most "cab forward" designs and incudes visibility out the back. Ex. the current Taurus design.<br><br>2. Seat comfort. I will put up with a lot of things, but back pain and seat edges cutting into the back of my thighs are not one of them. Example, 2002 Caravan. <br><br>I want a Prius. But, if the driver's seat doesn't fit me, I won't like driving a car and won't buy it no matter what kind it is.

reply on May 16, 2005 by wayne625

Perhaps Jimz is a perfectionist and wants EVERYTHING to be perfect spot on for him. Fine. I've found out, though, that you set priorities and go with the majority being fulfilled. I own a 2005 Prius and there is enough to like about it to justify buying one. I wasn't expecting a Lexus LS seat in a $26,600.00 car. I find the seat comfortable enough.