What are your Dislikes/Wishes on the TCH?

[MightyHybrid]

I know we all love our TCH's. But there's got to be something you dislike or wish it had.

My wishes:
1) SEAT POSITION MEMORY - how can it not have at least 2 settings???

2) FOLDING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS - even if manually operated, it helps when parked in tight spaces. (The Asian version is automatic: Folds when in 'Park' and unfolds when in 'Drive').

3) TURN BLINKER on side view mirrors - not important but would be nice!

4) NAV screen's resolution could be sharper.

My dislikes:
1) "ECO" button is not located on the AC/Vent panel. Why the hell is it next to the Gas Filler button? Imagine driving on the freeway and pressing the wrong button.

2) "READY" indicator light is sometimes blocked by the steering wheel. It should be located higher in the instrument panel.

[Mr. Toyota]

I agree with your list (except the NAV screen seems fine to me) and can add a few of my own:

1) The cheesy plastic interior. I would pay a bit more for a better quality trim material (check out the Accord).

2) Related to above, the hard plastic on the center console where it hits my right leg while driving. Maybe just the way I "rest" my leg against it or something? No big deal, just a bit annoying.

3) I've grown to really dislike the poorly designed armrest with the massive door pull/handle right where I would like to be able to rest my arm!

4) The seemingly random and incessant chimes reminding me of something Toyota thinks I should know about...(yes, some of them actually do serve a useful purpose).

5) I have grown a bit tired of the "whistling" sound (for lack of a better term) during certain throttle positions and speed. I accept this in part due to the Hybrid drive system and regenerating etc. but wish it were more subdued. I find myself modulating the throttle at times just to avoid this annoying sound...

I have NEVER owned a car that did not have some idiosyncrasy or quirk here and there and don't expect to in the future. All in all, I rate the TCH as a solid 9 out of 10!

[Tideland Prius]

well seat memory is still limited to the luxury cars. They haven't trickled down far enough yet. Also, the navigation screen is Toyota's latest and highest resolution screen! It came out in 2006 and it's one of the sharpest in the industry. (It has to be if it is to play DVDs in conjunction with the ML systems on the Lexus models).

Folding mirrors would be super helpful and yea that ECO button is poorly placed.

[GvilleTCH]

Originally Posted by Mr. Toyota

2) Related to above, the hard plastic on the center console where it hits my right leg while driving. Maybe just the way I "rest" my leg against it or something? No big deal, just a bit annoying.

+1 on this one and the ECO button location.

I also wish the dipstick had more that just the two little bumps as level markers. A auto-disabling parking brake feature would have been nice as well as a oil percentage remaining indication. The no fog lamps available is also kinda strange.

The Navi/Bluetooth/Voice commands feature takes some getting used to but with lots of trial and error I've come to like it (please no flames). Overall I'm very happy and I'm really enjoying the MPG...

[cdn_tch]

I wish Toyota would offer (in NA) a different form factor for the Smart Key (SK). My wife just zips it in to a little pocket that her purse has; me? To paraphrase May West "Is that a Smart Key in your pocket or you happy to see me?"

How about a credit card form factor without any buttons, just the RFID and a battery. Or bring in those Citizen watches.

[MightyHybrid]

Originally Posted by Mr. Toyota

I agree with your list (except the NAV screen seems fine to me) and can add a few of my own:

1) The cheesy plastic interior. I would pay a bit more for a better quality trim material (check out the Accord).

2) Related to above, the hard plastic on the center console where it hits my right leg while driving. Maybe just the way I "rest" my leg against it or something? No big deal, just a bit annoying.

3) I've grown to really dislike the poorly designed armrest with the massive door pull/handle right where I would like to be able to rest my arm!

4) The seemingly random and incessant chimes reminding me of something Toyota thinks I should know about...(yes, some of them actually do serve a useful purpose).

5) I have grown a bit tired of the "whistling" sound (for lack of a better term) during certain throttle positions and speed. I accept this in part due to the Hybrid drive system and regenerating etc. but wish it were more subdued. I find myself modulating the throttle at times just to avoid this annoying sound...

I have NEVER owned a car that did not have some idiosyncrasy or quirk here and there and don't expect to in the future. All in all, I rate the TCH as a solid 9 out of 10!

Toyota's "fit & finish" has definitely gone south. And these were all made in Japan! (2009's are made in the US, I think). Many pieces, panels, doors, glove box are not neatly aligned. Yep, Honda's QC is much better.

Agreed again with the interior door handle. It takes up too much armrest space.

New Gripes!
1) The center console should open side-way towards the passenger side. The way it flips vertically makes it almost impossible for me to try to retreive something while driving.

2) No 'HORIZONTAL' adjustment for the headlamps. WHY NOT??????

[MightyHybrid]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

well seat memory is still limited to the luxury cars. They haven't trickled down far enough yet. Also, the navigation screen is Toyota's latest and highest resolution screen! It came out in 2006 and it's one of the sharpest in the industry. (It has to be if it is to play DVDs in conjunction with the ML systems on the Lexus models).

Folding mirrors would be super helpful and yea that ECO button is poorly placed.

True but you would think a $30,000+ would be equipped with such. I'll rather have that then the "Voice Command" which can be considered a luxury option.

I guess I was used to the sharpness of the portables by Garmin.

[MightyHybrid]

Originally Posted by GvilleTCH

+1 on this one and the ECO button location.

I also wish the dipstick had more that just the two little bumps as level markers. A auto-disabling parking brake feature would have been nice as well as a oil percentage remaining indication. The no fog lamps available is also kinda strange.

The Navi/Bluetooth/Voice commands feature takes some getting used to but with lots of trial and error I've come to like it (please no flames). Overall I'm very happy and I'm really enjoying the MPG...

Toyota thinks that Hybrid drivers do not venture out in the fog. haha! It gets very foggy here in San Fran so I would install one myself. I just wish they would at least provide a pre-cut opening for the switch.

Man, you've actually got the voice command to work??? I gave up trying to use it.

[MightyHybrid]

Originally Posted by cdn_tch

I wish Toyota would offer (in NA) a different form factor for the Smart Key (SK). My wife just zips it in to a little pocket that her purse has; me? To paraphrase May West "Is that a Smart Key in your pocket or you happy to see me?"

How about a credit card form factor without any buttons, just the RFID and a battery. Or bring in those Citizen watches.

Sounds good! But that's a bit too high tech for me. I like how it is now with a little conventionality.

[Tideland Prius]

The Lexus LS has those "wallet-sized" smart keys which is exactly what you described cdn_tch. It's a credit card sized card with no buttons.

[razol]

1. The entire sat nav system. In my area the maps are woefully out of date (running 6.1). To get a map update Toyota will charge me $250, when I can buy a new portable for that price. The way you navigate between screens is odd at best. To drive to NYC, I have to change regions. I cannot do anything unless I am totally stopped which is fantastic when the system guides me through southeast DC rather than taking the loop. Even a passenger cannot make an update. I do not fancy my car telling me how I should operate it.

2. Chime, ding, beep, gong, bong - FFS! I want to take the seatbelt off to get the mail, the damn car does not need to go nuts for the drive up my driveway and into the garage.

3. +1 on the ECO button, it is at such an angle that I cannot read it well while driving without taking my eyes off the road.

4. The parking brakes is on the FLOOR! WTH! The lever jabs into my shin all the way down the road.

5. Song titles and artists are limited to only 10 characters on the display screen.

6. The handling on this car is sloppy, the battery weight in the back makes it corner terribly on twisty mountain roads.

7. ++1 on the cheap plastic interior. I feel like I am driving a cheap economy car. For this price I expect more. The person in charge of ergonomics at Toyota should be sacked.

8. The styling in the rear, the deck lid looks as if it were abruptly chopped off. It is ugly.


Overall, I like the car mechanically, but the poor ergonomics make me want to get rid of it as soon as I can.

[Suprtrd]

Why is there not back lighting on all switches for use in the dark, i.e., tunnels & night time? Especially the commonly used switches such as windows & mirrors!

[Pipemajor]

Dislikes:

1. Interior materials. Our '92 LE has much nicer materials
2. Door/window button illumination - they're not, save the driver' door controls. Again our 16 year old Camry did it better with all 4 window buttons lit.
3. Fuel latch/ECO button - why are these on the UNDERSIDE of the dash curve?
4. Visibility. Airbags require thicker pillars and the rake of the windshield limits vision.
5. Lack of trunk space. You can carry 5 adults in comfort but not their luggage.

[johnny5]

The blasted center console with the bright blue back light is aweful on night drives, should be more subdued.
Another really observation is the cheapness of the center console nearly coming apart when I pulled my power adapter out for my cellphone.
Finally, the incessant squiking noise from the bad upper dash fit while driving on slightly rough pavements.

[Pipemajor]

Originally Posted by johnny5

Finally, the incessant squiking noise from the bad upper dash fit while driving on slightly rough pavements.

There are several TSBs related to dash squeaks. Your dealer should be able to apply one to your situation.

We had the sqeaks and rattles in colder weather. I called the service manager, made an appointment where we left the car overnight and... viola! Now our TCH is quiet as a mouse. They will remove the dash and add better padding/insulation points. It takes the tech about 8 hours.