Interesting review - thanks! (although I note it is based on a whopping 66 miles, I usually wait until I have logged at least 1k mi on a car before I dare to share a review).
Do not all Prii have steering wheel controls for A/C, audio, etc...?
On mine I can change A/C (on - off, temp setting, recirc) on the wheel, and can completely control the stereo from the wheel: on/off, modes (AM/FM/tape/CD), cycle through preset stations, change tracks and CDs, and of course volume.
I wonder whether the fule bladder filling is an issue only in some areas or states that have different nozzles? Never had a problem in TX.
In my view the greatest weaknesses of the 05 Prius is the steering, which I find simply horrible: overassisted, absolutely devoid of any feedback, and the car doesn't track very well. I've gotten used to it by now.
For me the seats are also very uncomfortable, and in terms of these latter points i terribly miss my former MINI, but for my wife it's the opposite, see disliked the stiff suspension and ultra crisp handling of the MINI, and the seats were even worse in her opinion.
Interesting complaint about the braking - you should try a Prius Gen I...
even being spoiled by the MINI, I actually quite like the Prius brakes.
Anyway, personally I think the Prius more than any otehr vehicle out there is one that deserves to be looked at for a few more miles before coming to conclusions about it, mostly on accoutn of it's many idiosynchracies. Sort of like the old Citroens, like the DS19 etc... and what wonderful cars those were (I had a GS for a while years back), but definitely took learning and getting used to breaks, steering and suspension.
Cheers,
M