A few notes re: sound system in the Prius.<br><br>Cabin: Though doors sound "tinny" when opened/closed, the cabin is well insulated from road noise. Tires are not bad for road noise, either (though I haven't verified they are at full psi). Conversation & cell phone calls do not require raising your voice very much, but you do talk louder than in a living room or a Saturn LW2.<br><br>Fan: At maybe 65 db, it's loud enough that it will interfere with your sound quality. Also causes you to raise your voice when conversing and using a cell phone. Below 35 mph, it's actually quieter to open the passenger-side windows (and crack the rear driver-side window) than to run the fan.<br><br>Cell phone: use with a hands-free earpiece/microphone, of course. Haven't tried integrating a fixed cradle & stereo interrupt yet: has anyone else done this? An extra belt clip can be tied to a loop of sting or whatever and hung on the shift lever for a convenient place to clip the phone. There doesn't seem to be anyplace in the console area for a phone to lie around.<br><br>Stereo: No, you only _think_ it sounds good. Huge hole in the 300-900 Hz range. Turning down bass to -3 and treble to -1 helps a lot, but the 500-800 Hz dropout is still bad. These settings (-3 & -1) consistently improve sound accuracy from low volumes to high volumes. THD (distortion) is not bad up to perhaps 90-100 db (shouting levels), but the rear-view mirror shakes to the bass and the front doors rattle (but not audibly). I may try new speakers someday, but I don't want to give up the handy-dandy touch screen control of the stock head unit & CD player.<br><br>On the whole, the sound system is noticably inferior to that of the Saturn LW2 with its stock "premium stereo system" (a paltry $220 uplift from the LW2's stock system). Since I'm used to the AutoPC's 10-band parametric equalizer and all-digital sound processing, the Prius' sound equipment can best be characterized as "quaint". But the Prius' touch screen controls are endearing and effective, making for an overall good experience of the stereo. And the quality of the overall sound environment (more important than the actual stereo units) is surprisingly good for such a car under 3000 pounds.

Thank you for the very useful information!<br><br>I have a few CD-related questions for everyone who "go the call" indicating their Prius had arrived "in port":<br><br>1. Did the person who called give you a choice between a single-CD player and a 6-CD player?<br><br>2. Did anyone get a 6-CD player installed by _Toyota_ (not the dealer)?<br><br>3. Has anyone gotton the single-CD player "upgraded" to the Toyota brand 6-CD player after delivery by the dealer, and if so, how much "extra" did it cost?<br><br>Thanks in advance!<br><br>- Peter

I was told by two different Toyota dealers that the CDs are installed after the car has been delivered.

My dealer called to tell me that the factory hadn't installed any of my options (6-Disc CD changer, wheel locks, and glass breakage sensor). The 6-Disc CD changer will be installed by the dealer, and the wheel locks are easy enough to slap on by the dealer, but, I am going to forego the glass breakage sensor. What I really wish is that this car had a cruise control. I can't beleive any car this nice would come without one.

3. Has anyone gotton the single-CD player "upgraded" to the Toyota brand 6-CD player after delivery by the dealer, and if so, how much "extra" did it cost?<br><br>We were told by Toyota and the dealer that a 6-CD player is not an option for the USA 2001 Prius. We paid $70 for floor mats and $335 for the CD player (or was it $105 for the mats and $300 for the CD...?) We said we wanted to know about everything, and these were the only options offered by Toyota _or_ the dealer.<br><br>I would be very interested to know if the CD changer is operated through the touch screen, and if it fits in the spot the current CD player is in (behind flip-down door, above the no-smoking tray & 12 volt power outlet).<br><br>If it's operated via the touch screen, we'd want the changer. If there is a better head unit and/or graphic equalizer operated via the touch screen, that would be a great upgrade too.

Have you considered moving your AutoPC to the Prius? Can it be installed?

Have you considered moving your AutoPC to the Prius? Can it be installed? <br><br>Maybe when AutoPC 2 comes out, late this winter or early next year. I'm sure it can be installed, but you need a lot of "gee whiz" factor to make up for leaving that center touch screen in the Prius. And if the navigation was actually _available_ on the Prius, I'd go for that over AutoPC, even though it'd cost more and do less.<br><br>Who knows, maybe I'll luck out and someone will port the AutoPC screen output/input to the Prius touch screen!

I have not received my car yet. However, my sales contract for the car includes a 6 disk changer for $550.00. My understanding is that the changer will be installed by the dealer.

When I "got the call," the lady on the phone said that the single-CD and the mats were going to be installed at the port and not the dealer.<br><br>Then she called my dealer's sales rep. and to him the same thing.<br><br>Of which my sales rep. called me and told me the same thing. ;-)<br><br>I am fairly certain that my sales rep. did not know that this was possible.<br><br>