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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/05/2019 in all areas

  1. which is exactly the mistake I made when I got my 4th generation Prius three years ago. Once inside it's very comfortable, but to get the superb aerodynamic drag coefficient (0.24, which at launch was one of the 5 best world production car figures) one thing they did to achieve this was to make the car lower. After about a year I started having hip problems (I'm now 63) which have got steadily worse to the extent getting in and out is now very painful and puts awful pressure on my hips due to the clumsy way I have to do it. It was until the last 6 months that in discussing with my GP Practice's physiotherapy team that the car may have aggravated or even caused the problems. Reluctantly, I've arranged to trade the car for a new RAV4 Hybrid which is currently somewhere en route from Japan (I hope!). Interestingly, two other (slightly older) friends have recently had to change their choice of car for the same reason. Ironically, when I bought my first Mk 1 Prius in 2002, the floor and seats were much higher, and somewhere in the marketing material was a diagram that showed how this made getting in and out much easier!
    2 points
  2. I must admit I cringe when I hear people calling them "headrests" - they are, as you rightly say, "head restraints" and are a very important safely feature, and certainly shouldn't be interfered with or removed. Yes, they are a protection against whiplash which is why it's important to correctly adjust them. Some rear head restraints are designed to dig into the passengers shoulders if they are too low to encourage correct adjustment when the seat is occupied (because they can be lowered to aid the view in the mirror when there rear is not occupied).
    1 point
  3. Maybe it’s just me but Prius has has always better seats than Auris / Corolla, probably same with the latest generations. Prius seats are softer to touch especially on the sides and has better all around comfort. Maybe it’s just me.
    1 point
  4. I'm sure it's been noted that the original poster is from New Jersey and is driving a 2015 Corolla (maybe a bit similar to an Auris?).
    1 point
  5. Yeah, I've got a new Corolla but I do find after long drives that my left foot feels a bit numb. It's a hybrid so of course my left leg has nothing at all to do but it's not been a problem with other cars. Also I've noticed that if you raise the driver's seat height it puts your head at a perfect height to hit the pointless grab handle above the window. I was also a bit surprised that the head restraint can only be adjusted up and down. Luckily it's at a comfortable angle for me anyway. I've managed to find a reasonably good position eventually but it was harder than with other vehicles even though this is the first one I've owned that had a telescoping steering column. One problem with that is that if you push it too far back your fingers can catch on the central console. I also find that the car is a little bit low for getting in and out. At 52 years old I'm okay with it but I'd be concerned if someone older decided to buy the vehicle.
    1 point
  6. Your AC is fairly conventional apart from the use of ND11 compressor oil rather than conventional PAG oil. ND11 is non-conductive for electrical safety. If you go to a general AC repairer they are unlikely to have a separate set of equipment for ND11 so there is a risk of contamination of your system with PAG oil. A large Toyota dealer should have separate kit for hybrids, but whether they have an experienced technician is another matter. If its lost most of its gas over 4 months then you should be able to see compressor oil at the site of the leak. Use a good torch to inspect all the pipe joints and look for oily residue. With a newish car I'd suspect a leaking O-ring as opposed to corrosion or fracture of the evaporator or condenser. A stone impact on the condenser is a possibility. A favourite place for leaks on most cars is the pipe joints to the evaporator behind the dash. There are three sets of joints (two O-rings in each) because the expansion valve is sandwiched between the evap and the pipes to it and then there is a joint at the firewall. I imagine its the devil's own job to get access to this area on an Auris Hybrid. Sometimes the evap drain water (under the car) will look oily and/or have dye in it if there is a leak in the evap area. Dealers usually hate aircon work on warranty because it can be labour intensive and they get only a low hourly rate for it. Also many new car warranties don't cover AC gas, its considered a consumable - not sure with Toyota - check their T&C's. With AC problems a lot of it is down to having an experienced tech on the job. These days the dealers tend to buy a fully-automatic regassing machine and send someone on a three-day course - which may not help much in the case of an obscure leak.
    1 point
  7. Based upon Toyota's on screen MPG, my 2011 TR tourer gives me 37/38 mpg short trips knocking about, 31/32 city driving, but my regular 120 mile trip on the M1 can show over 50 mpg driving at 70mph. PS. even now to me it's still the best looking car in the supermarket car park!
    1 point
  8. Fuse box diagram for Avensis: 2009-2017 Toyota Avensis (T270) Fuse Box Diagram » Fuse Diagram.pdf
    1 point
  9. If it had been left in gear (or park if automatic) it wouldn't have rolled: If you park on a hill or slope you should park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill use ‘park’ if your car has an automatic gearbox.
    1 point
  10. Different Tyres (makes and models), and different pressures make a huge difference in steering wheel respond and weight, also age of tyres too. The lightest steering you will get from a car fitted with winter tyres, even they are 17” size the steering may feel lighter than a car fitted with worn out summer tyres on size 15” for example. Wheel alignment is also important factor, if the car is out of correct settings may put strain on steering wheel and make the car feels unstable on higher speeds
    1 point
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