Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius questions and answers

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Q: Toyota Prius.....?
The Toyota Prius is electric powered for city use and petrol motor for highways.. Why didn't they put a diesel motor in it to make it more fuel efficient?

A: That is a very good question. I think the future is with these type of hybrids that can use bio-diesel/electric. If Mercedes with their new diesel engines and Toyota's Hybrid technology were to get together, they could probably create a great system. But then the big oil companies and Governments probably will not allow this to happen until the price of oil reaches $100. a barrel and people start to demand change.

Q: toyota Prius?
Prius a hatchback? how fuel efficient is it? please also share your experience if you have a Prius.. thx

A: Yes, the Prius is a hatchback. Mine gets about 50 mpg in the summer, 44 mpg in the winter. City and highway driving get about the same mileage. It's really a great car. Roomy, comfortable, reliable, fuel efficient, cool features, and it's the greenest car on the planet. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2733658020070727?feedType=RSS I don't know of any Prius owners who aren't thrilled with the car.

Q: How much does it cost to get a Toyota prius cost to service?
I wanna get a toyota prius but my fiance doesnt want me to get one because it might cost too much to service since its a highbrid. How much does it actually cost to service it?

A: hybrid* and.same.as.any.other.car

Q: Are the people on the toyota Prius commercial real or animated?
My mom and dad think that on those Toyota Prius 2009 commercials that the people are real, but my brothers and I think that they are animated. The only thing I could think of is posting something on Yahoo to see what someone else thinks.

A: Real, but duplicated many times with the help of computers.

Q: Would a Toyota Prius or other hybrid be suitable for this type of commute?
My spouse commutes 55 miles one way to work, for a total of 110 per day. The commute has toll roads, heavy merges and lots of other commuters. Would a Toyota Prius or other hybrid be suitable for this type of commute? Please explain why or why not. Thanks.

A: It would be a great car for that purpose. If you are looking for a stripped-down car with no frills, go for the Corolla that a couple of other people mentioned. HOWEVER, don't compare the Prius to the Corolla and start talking about how long it will take the Prius' fuel savings to pay for the difference -- that ignores the fact that the Prius is a much better equipped car than the Corolla. If you add enough options to the Corolla to make it similar to the Prius, the difference is far less than the $6000 that people like to spout. The first generation Prius that the former Prius owner mentioned (1997-2000) was a Japan-only vehicle. The first model year available in the US was 2001. And there are plenty of Prius drivers out there with more than 200,000 miles, still on the original batteries. They are covered by a full warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles; if bought in a state that follows California emission regulations, then it's 10 years or 150,000 miles. And very few batteries have been replaced outside of warranty anyway; if you're unlucky enough to have that happen to you, the cost is about $4,000 though it can be about $1000 less if you shop around. And the people that love to suggest VW Jetta diesels...they may be fine, but they don't get 50MPG. Try 42. Calling it 50 is a 19% exaggeration.

Q: What is the name of the song in the toyota third generation prius commercial?
i love the way the song sounds but i have had trouble finding what it is. the commercial is for the toyota prius where the sun powers the wind in the car and then people come out of the ground to create the scenery. i know that is confusing but if you know what i am talking about i would love to hear from you. thanks.

A: The new 2010 Toyota Prius commercial "Harmony" is part of the “Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine” campaign. http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota-reveals-third-generation-91263.aspx The "Harmony" commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq4nrmnqY9o The making of the "Harmony" commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_M-WaCg27k&feature=channel_page The artist is Petra Haden, performing the song "Let Your Love Flow." She does it a cappella! http://www.petrahadenmusic.com/ http://www.myspace.com/petrahaden Sorry, I don't have the info for the even newer "MPG" commercial, but it certainly sounds like the same artist to me! The "MPG" commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7vI-L4Lfmc&feature=channel Toyota claims that they'll make the audio tracks available for download later, in June. ("Let Your Love Flow" is scheduled for free download on Friday, June 5, 2009, but toyota.com is having server problems so maybe next week...)

Q: Can a navigation system on a 2002 Toyota Prius be activated?
I would like to activate the navigation system in my 2002 Toyota Prius and was wondering if that is possible to do through a dealer or online? Also about how much does the navigation system cost per month? If it is even possible to activate it at this point.

A: All 2001-2003 model year Prius have those buttons on the dashboard, regardless of whether they actually have the navigation system installed. If you have the navigation system, then the buttons work; otherwise, they don't (you get a message that says something like "external system not connected"). The navigation system was about a $2100 option on those cars, and you're missing several components: The DVD unit under the right front seat, a cabling harness, and the GPS antenna buried inside the dashboard. Equipping your car is possible, but enormously expensive due to the large amount of labor involved in ripping-apart nearly everything inside the dashboard to position the GPS antenna correctly (and then putting it all back together again). You'll be dollars ahead by just buying an aftermarket navigation system for a tiny fraction of the price and sticking it onto your windshield.

Q: What happens when a Toyota Prius runs out of gas?
Okay, first things first. My girlfriends' mom/dad seem to think that if they ever run out of gas in their 2007 Toyota Prius (hybrid) that the car's engine or some part of the car will "blow up". Now I don't think this is quite the case and I've tried some mild research with inadequate results. Does anyone know of anything like this ever happening, or is this just a myth.

A: Just another myth conception. When you run out of gas in the Prius, all that happens is that you get an array of warning lights on the dash. You can still drive a short distance on electric power but don't count on more than half a mile or so (this distance will vary by the amount of charge in the battery, speed, and terrain). Put more gas in and the lights will go out. Some Yahoo group members have run out dozens of times on purpose (for testing). The manual indicates it's possible to run the traction battery down so far that you won't be able to start the Prius and will need to have the traction battery charged. However, Prius group members who've run theirs really far when out of gas indicate that the Prius shuts down before then, so perhaps it's only the earlier years this applies to. If you shut it off while there are still two bars on the battery icon, you'll never have to worry. As in most modern cars, the fuel pump is located in the gas tank and is cooled by the gas so running out of gas won't be that good for the fuel pump. I've never heard of anyone actually having to replace one due to running out of gas. In 80,000 miles on a 2001 and 104,000 miles on a 2004 my wife and I have yet to run out. Just fill as soon as you see the "Add Fuel" light and the blinking fuel gauge bar. If it's cold out or you are in an unfamiliar area, then fill when there is one or two bars left but before it starts blinking. This is really no different than what you would do in any vehicle.

Q: How much should I haggle for a Toyota Prius?
I was initially going to buy the Hyundai Elantra due to cost efficiency, but many suggest that I get the Toyota and I will be going to the dealer this weekend. I know the base line MSRPS for around 23K, but if I wanted a blue tooth feature, how much could I bargain down? Since Toyota had the recall, do you think they would be more recpetive to lower prices? How much should I pay for a Toyota Prius II?

A: $2.37 a pound.

Q: How much would a Bluetooth system cost for a 07 Toyota Prius?
I found an 07 Toyota Prius with 11,000 mi for $15,995 and no previous accidents, so i'm almost positive i'm going to buy it but it doesn't come with Bluetooth and I was wondering how much it would cost to get it installed and if it is worth it.

A: Hi, short answer: this is not something that can just be added simply or inexpensively to the Prius itself. You would be much better off getting a handsfree wireless earpiece/boom mike unit and linking that to your phone. Google Consumer Reports for Bluetooth headsets. The tiny Motorola unit I have cost less than $50 on sale, much cheaper and easier than modifying your vehicle. full answer: Just FYI, Bluetooth is simply a communication link between computers. It allows them to speak to each other, such as a Bluetooth-enabled phone connecting to a Prius and turning that Prius' stereo system into a big handsfree unit. The Bluetooth controls are part of the upgraded stereo unit in the generation 2 Prius (the gen 3 is the upcoming 2010) and require a change in the stereo, upper door speakers (caller's voice comes through the driver's upper door speakers), ceiling mike (which transmits your voice to the caller), and touch screen/sterering wheel buttons to access it. Some of these basics are already there, they just need to be linked and activated for the system. This won't help with the '07, however, Toyota offers what's called a "BlueLink" Bluetooth accessory that will allow linking with a variety of vehicles using the same unit, including the '10 Prius. I just called one of my contacts for Toyota Direct (Toyota's parts supplying unit) and he confirmed the BlueLink availability, as well as confirming having to switch your stereo to get the Bluetooth capability. So, my advice would be to stick with the wireless handsfree unit and just enjoy your Prius. Good luck.

Q: Where is the best country in Europe to buy a Toyota Prius?
Hello, I am curious about where in Europe I can get the best deal on a Toyota Prius. I live in Poland, where it is sold for roughly 100,000 PLN (about 36,000 USD at the current exchange rate). This seems ridiculously expensive to me, and I am certain that one can be purchased for less elsewhere in Europe. What do you think? Thanks in advance! -Brian

A: In Britain you can buy them for £20,000. Zarago.

Q: Where can I find instructions for the 2006 Toyota Prius?
I just bought a toyota prius yesterday, but there are quite a few features I want to figure out in order to get the most out of it. Are there any manuals or other sources I could use to figure everything out? online resources are preferable. Thanks!

A: The best online resource for the Prius has to be http://www.priuschat.com . Lots of knowledgeable Prius owners there who will answer all your questions.

Q: Should I buy a new Toyota Prius, considering the brake problems it has proven to have?
If I buy a new Toyota Prius now, would it have the brake problems everybody's so hyped about?

A: The "brake problems" are just a different feeling, not even a safety issue. Out of the over a million Prius sold there were 200 complaints. However, because of Toyota's reputation the media was able to make a big deal out of it so the government had to do something to avoid similar media attention. There are several braking systems in the Prius: 1. Regenerative braking. This kind of braking is done by the electric motors and is the normal way the Prius does most of the braking. 2. Friction brakes. These are the brakes like are on every other vehicle. They engage when: A. The amount of braking force asked for is more than the electric motors can provide. When this happens the electric motors continue to regeneratively brake assisted by the friction brakes. B. The vehicle speed is below 7 mph. The regenerative braking stops at this time. In some cases you can feel the transition, but it's very subtle. C. Any of the safety devices such as traction control, vehicle stability control, panic assist, etc. engage. The regenerative braking stops at this time. The transition is more noticeable. D. The traction battery has reached the allowed limit of charge. In order to protect the battery, the Prius stops charging it and tries to discharge it. I've never actually experienced this, but I don't live in a mountainous area where it might happen. Use of B mode when descending long steep hills will prevent it from happening if you happen to live in those locations. 3. Engine braking. Shifting to B mode uses the engine to brake the Prius. Regenerative braking and friction braking may also be used, depending upon the amount of braking force necessary. 4. Parking brake. Normally only used when the vehicle is stopped. In addition to all of the above there are a number of secondary systems built into the Prius' braking system. These can be seen in the New Car Features manual available at http://techinfo.toyota.com/ (Note there is a nominal $10 fee for a day's unlimited downloading). IMHO, you have to really work at it to not to be able to stop the Prius, and the media hype is just hype to get higher ratings. Once folks tire of hearing about the "awful Toyota problems" it will go back to page three just like it did for Ford and GM. Honestly, you'd think this was the first car company to ever have a recall, and this is a really silly one to boot. So go ahead and purchase the Prius. It's one of the safest cars out there.