We have had our 2008 Prius for two weeks now and are very pleased with not only the great gas mileage, but also the versatility. We sold our 1998 GMC Land Barge...Suburban...which I loved and got a 2006 Pontiac Solstice...which I also loved, but a whole lot more. Unfortunately I was rear ended by a pick up and send crashing into a semi. The only casualty/fatality was the Solstice, amazingly. After much consideration (and lots of procrastination) we decided to go with the Prius and so far we are very pleased. I am in search of a bike rack that is compatible with the hatch as I discovered that installing a hitch on the Prius kills the warranty. Any suggestions? I had wanted XM radio, but the vehicle didn't come with it and I discovered that I didn't need to install one anyhow. I just use my Pioneer Inno in the MP3 jack. Works great.
I know there have been a few post here on bike racks. Some with pictures. Try doing a search. Hope This Helps!! And Welcome to Prius Chat
I have installed the "Curt" hitch, and I use it with a bike rack. It works great and I can still open the hatch. Installing a hitch does not "kill" your warranty. In fact there is nothing that will "kill" your warranty. You might have to deal with argumentative dealers, but for them to deny a claim they will have to proove that your actions/modification caused the failure.
After looking at the many rack choices I opted for the hitch option and the Saris CycleOn. It is very easy to put the bikes on after a long ride. Unfortunately I have seen a decrease in gas mileage (was getting 42.8 mpg and it went down to 38.1 mpg!) so I will not be leaving it on the car at all times as I would like to have.:canada:
Versatility is one of the things I love about the Prius.. my husband and I are very much "do it yourselfers" and it's amazing what you can get in a prius! Ten foot boards even. It's great.
Winston, thanks for the "Curt" hitch info. I like the low/hidden profile. Looks like it the great fit.
