Well I have had the Prius for a few weeks now. Here is an update:
- The car is amazingly quite, so much so that sometimes the tyre noise is annoying and occasionally you can hear the break pads scratching against the disks.
- Having no gears is a very good thing.
- The hand brake is located in the same spot as the clutch on a manual. I have already stopped once unexpectedly because of it. Luckily I was going very slowly. I find my self having to resit going for the clutch while moving.
- It has enough power when needed.
- It works well up hills.
- I am getting between 3.9 and 4.9 l per 100 km, averaging 4.6 as measured at the pump. This includes driving with only me and with a 5 people and luggage.
- The heating and air con leave a bit to be desired.
- It takes a lot of getting used to the engine management. You will be driving at 100km and the engine will be revving up and down with no change on the accelerator.
- There is a small jolt when the engine stops when the car is already stopped.
- You can roll along very slowly, and this annoys other cars.
- The lack of noise is not a problem, only had one minor collision with a pedestrian in a car park, no harm done and it does get looks from people.
- 5 people is squeezy.
- The engine breaking down hill is poor because it is using the generator to brake.
- The direction shift is back to front. Pushing the leaver towards the rear of the car causes it to go frontwards, and pushing it towards the front causes the car to go backwards.
