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I have a few questions regarding the 2010 Prius that's referred to in Canada as "Touring" level. I believe in the States the rough equivalant is "V". The Canadian Touring package starts with the one-step-above-base Premium level(III in the States?), and adds:

•Fog Lamps
•LED Headlamps
•Auto-leveling Headlamp System
•17" Aluminum Alloy Wheels

Plus a few more goodies. Anyway:

Any opinions on the Auto-leveling LED headlamps: do they reduce electricity load? Improve visibility?

Also, regarding the 17" wheels: impact on mileage, driving/steering feel?

FWIW, locally the one Touring (V) we've seen, and will test drive today, was fitted with Michelin Pilots, signif. pricier to replace, but a very nice LRR low profile tire.

Luckily the test drive vehicle is Silver, not our color preference: Blizzard Pearl. ;)

Still not settled, will likely ask them to check for our color preference in several levels: basically everything without Sunroof and/or Tech package.

I went with the III because I couldn't justify the additional cost for all the high-tech toys.

Like the solar powered fan and the remote activated AC mode.

$35 Sun Shade off Amazon.com on top of having a Blizzard White Prius solved that interior heat problem.

As far as the 17" over the 15" wheels go the fuel mileage hit is between two and three mpg.

the fuel mileage hit is between two and three mpg

Yeah, and I think the mileage hit is sneaky: according to tirerack there's about 2% more rev's (per mile or whatever) with the 17" wheels (their O.D is slightly smaller). If the odometer's not adjusted for this, you would be getting a rosier picture of your mileage, either in-dash or calculated.

The 17" wheels have about 1 foot increase in turning radius, approx: 18' vs 17'.

Hi Mendel:

The ODO offset has been taken care of by the mfg by law so you will not see a difference between each over a given number of miles traveled. You will see it at the pump however as that 2 or so mpg loss is real due to the 17" wheel/tires additional weight. If only Toyota would have made the 15" alloys more 17" looking, we'd all be in heaven as they are definitely much sharper looking then the hubcaps on top of the alloys the Base Prius comes with :angel:

Good Luck with you new ride!

Wayne

they are definitely much sharper looking then the hubcaps on top of the alloys the Base Prius comes with

Oh yeah!

Hmm, might be slinking back to Base (just what it sounds like) or Premium (in Canada: the 6 disc changer, bluetooth, backup camera, etc). Base makes me feel a little more righteous, or a little less nauseous.

Blizzard Pearl with Bisque interior and it will be a dead-ringer for our HCHII ;)

The III comes with the blue tooth, the JBL stereo and six CD changer.
Save your money and get a Garmin Nuvi over the factory Nav system.

There is also a company named Gentex that sells a back up camera system that is integrated into the rear view mirror. It runs around $400.

rear-camera-display-mirror (http://store.blendmount.com/rear-camera-display-c97.aspx)

Hi Al:

Mendel lives in Canada so they have different options/features for a given trim available than our -III with Bluetooth HandsFree.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne

I missed where he lived.

Al

Oh yeah!

Hmm, might be slinking back to Base (just what it sounds like) or Premium (in Canada: the 6 disc changer, bluetooth, backup camera, etc). Base makes me feel a little more righteous, or a little less nauseous.

Blizzard Pearl with Bisque interior and it will be a dead-ringer for our HCHII ;)

Be sure and look at a Bisque interior closely in sunlight. On the US version: Seats and door panels are bisque, carpeting is light grey,headliner is light grey, the light grey starts half way up the door post, back of rear seats and cargo area are light grey, dash is black, and floormats are black. If I would have noticed that, I would have ordered a light grey interior instead of the bisque.

Luckily the test drive vehicle is Silver, not our color preference: Blizzard Pearl.

Yeah, right: Well, we snapped... :Banane06::Banane04::Banane06:

Went for a test drive, in the on-the-lot Touring model, in Silver with dark grey interior. Not clear on the US levels, but in Canada Touring is one level up from Base (6 disc changer, bluetooth, backup camera, etc), and then the 17" wheels, LED self-level headlights and Fog Lights. No sunroof.

Toyota's running a $3000 off cash incentive, and dealership took off a further $800.

Very pleased with the feel during our drive, we decided it was ours. Picking it up next Saturday. :)

Hi Mendel:

I cannot tell you how happy you are going to be but I can tell you how pleased I am of your choice to purchase the premiere hybrid on the market today. That 50 mpg thing just keeps paying back again and again and again.

Are you like Manuel now with both an HCH-II and a Prius-III in the drive or are you getting rid of the HCHC-II?

TIA and congrats is indeed in order!

Wayne

We will very likely have 2 hybrids "in the family": one of our son's is very interested taking it over, and swinging by for the occasional oil change. ;)

Congrats Medel! We wish we could trade my wife's CR-V for the Prius, but we're not in the position...yet.

Jess

Thanks, Jess. We ended up getting it last Tuesday night, worked out well. Managed to wax it this am ;)

Hi Mendel:
You have the same options that are on my 2006 . I do not have the 17" rims or the back-up camera. I use a Nuvi for nav. Enjoy the week-end as we know what you will be up to,<grin>:woot: H

Nice!!!

The Canadian premium model also as a back up camera in the mirror
We have a sunroof since the wife likes how much bright the interoir is with the sunroof
I thought about 17" but did not find any difference in ride
We also have a BMW 323 CIC for our weekend ride

Hi Mendel;

Congrats on the new purchase. You definitely made an excellent choice.

By the way, has anyone in the HCH community shown any comedic resentment regarding your recent purchase yet? ;) Just make sure you stick around in both camps otherwise you'll miss the good stuff now and then.

In the meantime there's always much to learn about the Gen3 Prius and if you want to take it to the next level then there's always a technical subscription to purchase. It is critical if Prius mods and specific maintenance are up your alley. :D



Airbalancer:

Welcome to CleanMPG !!!
As you may have noticed, we have quite a few Canadian hybrid owners in our community and always something related to chat about. :D

Cheers;


MSantos

By the way, has anyone in the HCH community shown any comedic resentment

Do you mean terms like "traitor"? Yup ;)

Just make sure you stick around in both camps otherwise you'll miss the good stuff now and then.

Oh yes: for one thing, our HCHII hasn't fallen far from the tree, one of our sons is taking it on: good deal, money back if Honda leaves him in the lurch...

there's always a technical subscription

Is that online access to the Repair Manual? Or more? I have ordered one DVD, hopefully it will pan out.

Hi Mendel:

I took these pics both looking into the lenses head on and with both shining up against my parents garage at night when I had a 2010 Package-V last year and comparing it to my parents 2010 Package-III.

2010 Prius: LED vs. Halogen

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/2010_Prius_LED_vs_Halogen_Collage.jpg
LED’s are left on the top and right on the bottom.

Not that it matters now but the LED’s look nicer at night but really do not light up any more of the road imho.

I have some side-by-sides of the Lexus HS250h LED vs. Halogen's (same assemblies) in a parking garage if you want me to post those as well?

Good Luck

Wayne

....

Is that online access to the Repair Manual? Or more? I have ordered one DVD, hopefully it will pan out.

Correct. In my opinion that is the the most accurate (up to date) and complete source of technical information on the 3G Prius.

If I am correct, there are cheap DVD's being sold on here and there that are neither complete nor are they legal either. Yes, they are still better than nothing but still not representative of the entire "encyclopedic" collection details, schematics and diagrams for this model alone.

Cheers;


MSantos

I am not trying to change the subject, but I have a question and I am not sure where to put it ;-)

I am considering a new Prius to replace the Accord my wife drives.

Does anyone know of any changes to the 2011 models that would make additional wait worth it?

I would hate to buy one today only to find out the 2011 has some new super gizmo that we would really enjoy.

The prices for the 2010 seem good right now.

Thanks for your input,
Frank

Not that I have heard of or expect except the phev option as a 2012 version and the overpriced 10th anniversary edition.

If I am correct, there are cheap DVD's being sold on here and there that are neither complete nor are they legal either. Yes, they are still better than nothing but still not representative of the entire "encyclopedic" collection details, schematics and diagrams for this model alone.
MSantos

Yes, I'm a little incredulous. It didn't set me back much, and so far my credit card does not appear to be hijacked...

The four volume Prius Repair Manual is available, in paper format, through Helm Inc for $70 per volume. Another option: the part department lady has kindly offered to print out a few of the basic maintenance pages for me.

Wayne,

Thanks for the pics. I assume the LED's are in upper left and lower right, the cooler lights. Ok, so LED's consume less energy, and are used in the low beams. For daytime running lights I wonder if it's the low or high beams running at diminished brightness. Easy enough to check out, I'll have a look tonight.

Also, I keep thinking about the 98% circumference factor, due to the low profile 17" wheel on the V, vs higher profile 15" on the rest. I just swapped our 215/45R17 for 195/65R15 snows.

Was it you that was saying the ODO on the V is likely adjusted for this difference? Either way, swapping tires thus is making the gearing slightly taller, and skewing the ODO slightly as well.

If you still have access to both a V and another, it would be interesting to convoy both with trip meters reset at the outset, and see what they show at destination.

Hi Mendel:

Toyota makes the adjustment for the OEM 15's or 17's form the factory but if you swap them, I would try to purchase 15's are high profile to closely match the 17 low's you took off.

Receiving another package V to drive might be a while :)

Good Luck

Wayne

Thanks Wayne.

We put on 195/65R15 Michelin X-Ice (on 15" steel Corolla rims) withing a week of purchase. They feel fine, no problems.