Thinking of getting a prius

I live in north Scotland and am seriously thinking of getting a Prius, I had a test drive and was very impressed. However the weather can be a bit extreme up here with a lot of rain and some snow in the winter. How does the Prius stand up to these more extreme conditions? I have checked out the internet and users comments and have seen one which reported a problem with snow, where the traction control locked because of slippery conditions and the car would not move, has anyone else experienced this in snow? Thanks Alan

Reply to
Alan
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I live in Idaho - inland northwest US - and we get snow and ice here. I found the traction control to be superb and my wife felt safer driving her Prius on ice and snow than with any other car we have owned - and we have had a number of 4-wheel-drive SUVs. The only negative is that fuel economy - particularly in city driving - goes way down in the winter months. I believe that is primarily because the ICE (internal combustion engine) has to run a lot more to keep warm and to keep the catalytic converter up to working temperature. Where I average mid-50s mpg in the summer, I dropped as low as high

30s in the middle of winter.

Dave

Reply to
dayoff53

Alan,

The tyres that come with the Prius are not very good (at least in the US). Here, in eastern Washington state, we have several months of sub-freezing temperatures, typically little snow, but normally a layer of ice on the roads. I replaced the stock tyres with Goodyear TripleTred and have been very happy. Sadly, they weigh almost 5.5 kilos each more than the stock tyres, reducing the fuel efficiency a bit. They are wonderful on wet pavement.

I, too, have read of those having trouble with the traction control mechanism preventing them from moving on slick surfaces, but I've never experienced it myself, nor has my wife, who still has the stock tyres (although, the roads she drives are better maintained than the one I must.)

Also, snow tyres are a possibility, or some sort of seasonal traction tyre. I've also seen a sort of tyre sock from Norway or Sweden that seems to be an easy alternative.

I couldn't recommend a better vehicle, but, it's not for everyone. In cold weather or on short commutes, the engine may not get warm enough to realize the full mileage potential. Please let us know how you decide...

Reply to
Bream Rockmetteller

A lot of us have found block heaters and front vent block improve cold weather performance. In North America, we have 120 VAC block heaters designed for the block heater plug. They run about 450 W.

Bob Wilson

Reply to
Bob & Holly Wilson

Bob, can you please elucideate on this? How? Where?

Reply to
Richard Warren

During the engine warm-up, the car runs at about twice the rate of fuel consumption than after warm-up. The trigger appears to be 70C. The North American Prius has a hot water thermos to accelerate warm-up but this is missing from the Asian and Eurpoean Prius.

The block heater brings the engine block to a temperature closer to 70C, which means the engine controller goes into higher efficiency, lower fuel rate burns, than when coold. This shortens the warm-up cycle and reduces warm-up fuel burn.

In North America, we can use a block heater that fits in a receptical located behiind the engine, close to the firewall. We have 120VAC power for this 450W heater element. In other countries with different power, they will need either an interface transformer or a block heater that works on their power grid.

If you look at your mileage graph, you'll notice the first 1-3 bars usually are ascending and the the milege levels out. The engine block heater reduces the number and lengthens (improves) the warm-up mileage.

GOOD LUCK! Bob Wilson

Reply to
Bob & Holly Wilson

I live in the Midwest USA and have driven through blizzard-like conditions and severe thunderstorms in my 2005 Prius with no problems while driving below the speed limit.

Reply to
Doug

Thanks guys for your help in responding to my initial question. I managed to get a longer test drive today and was even more impressed. One other thing I wanted to check up on ,which the dealer was unable to answer was how real is the possibility of the battery completely discharging when going up hilly roads and the car reducing its speed significantly because it only has the petrol engine left. I am asking the question because the NW of Scotland where I live does have some rather steep winding roads up the hillsides. I know I am only talking about sea level to about 1500 feet which is small by US standards but some of these are roads are 7 to 10 miles before they reach the highest point. Is this an issue or am I worrying unnecessarily? The Dealer is situated on the east of the country where the land somewhat flatter so could not answer this. Thanks again. Alan

Reply to
Alan

OK, listen up. I'll say this once:

the car is a gasoline car. Period. It runs on gasoline. The only source of energy that you put into the car is gasoline. Everything in the car is powered by gasoline.

It is NOT an electric car. At all.

It is a highly engineered gasoline car, with some goodies to maximize the use of that gasoline--in other words, designed to extract as much energy out of that gasoline as is practical and reduce waste of energy. One--ONE--of those goodies is a battery to store gasoline energy that would otherwise have gone to waste.

The mechanism for storing/releasing this energy is managed not at ALL by the end user, but by a computer. The computer takes its cues from the driver's gas pedal use and the car's speed and acceleration. It also takes its cues from the state of the battery.

The computer NEVER lets the battery get below 40% charge and NEVER lets the battery get above 80% charge. This is designed specifically to protect the battery and maximize its life.

Thus, the battery will NEVER discharge completely.

The system--yes, it's a system, not just an engine--is always balancing the driver's needs with the battery's needs, and is figuring out where to apportion the gasoline's energy at any given moment.

You will never, ever reduce speed to any degree going up hilly roads. The system is designed to give you everything it's designed to give you at any time.

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

I'm not technical at all, and I'm sure one of these guys will tell you why you don't have to worry about this. All I know is that my Prius can manage hills and mountains like any other car. Better, in fact, than some I've had. Besides, I don't think the batteries ever completely discharge. The engine is constantly recharging them. That's the beauty of "hybrid".

- Piper

Reply to
Piper

Do be aware that there are some differences between the Prius available in the US and the UK. For example, in the US on the NHW20, we get the CHHS (thermos), 15" tyres, and rear drum brakes, while the UK doesn't get the thermos, has 16" tyres, and 4 wheel disc brakes. Also, I assume that you're looking at a new NHW20, and not a used NHW11, or even the NHW10 that has been imported into the UK from Japan?

Stock tyres are different between markets, as well: US/Canada 2004-2007 NHW20 OE Prius tyre: Goodyear Integrity (Standard Load) P185/65 R15

86S Treadwear 460 Traction A Temperature B 44psi max. cold pressure 2004-2007 NHW20 UK tyre Bridgestone Turanza ER30 195/55R16 87V

Most of what you'll probably find on the 'net is for the US-style Prius. I'd suggest checking in with the more local groups:

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In the US, the Goodyear Integrity tyres are barely "all- weather" (barely the 3-season they really are) tyres. Once they're worn a bit (after the first winter), traction is not very good and you'll be sliding a bit. Reports on the 'net (both usenet and at places like tirerack.com) for the Goodyear Integrety shows that they're common as OE tyres on several cars and that most people don't seem to like them, with some even swapping them out before taking delivery of the car!

Yes, the traction control can be a bit agressive in shutting down power to the other non-slipping wheels, to prevent damage to the transmission when the slipping wheel catches again. You cannot manually shut this off. (Avoid Inspection Mode while driving, if you find it while searching the 'net!) Rumor is that it is less agressive in the newer models (but I don't know if that is true or just newer with more traction...). Sometimes, a bit of throttle control can still get you up an icy hill if the traction control kicks in - either a feather light touch on the accelerator, or a full mash to the floor of the accelerator - I don't recall which works best for the NHW20 vs. the NHW11. But if you find yourself having too much trouble, then you may want to invest in some dedicated winter/snow/ice tyres (Bridgestone Blizzaks and several Nokian models are often suggested) or at least a better "all-season" tyre.

And yes, any vehicle has lowered fuel economy in the winter months. It's just more apparent in the Prius because:

  1. you have the display telling you your fuel economy
  2. the petrol engine has to run more often to provide "waste" heat to the passengers, and to keep itself warm.
Reply to
mrv

Thanks for your help. The Prius I am looking to buy is a new "Spirit" which is the top model in the UK, so assume it is the NHW 20. Thanks also for the links to the various groups, the only UK group I had picked up on was filled with spam unfortunately which everyone had seem to have deserted! I think I am now persuaded that this is a good buy for me and will put the order in tomorrow. According to the Dealer it should be available by 2 Nov. Very much looking forward to it. Again thanks to all you guys for your help/advice which is invaluable!

Alan

Reply to
Alan

People in North America drive them through the Rockies so your hills will be no challenge. The engine will be loud and you may have the sensation of a slipping clutch, but these are completely normal in a Prius.

Reply to
richard schumacher

What I've found is any speed below 65 mph (USA) or 105 km/hr will climb all day long. However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed. I often use fully loaded trucks as my 'pace car.' I don't follow close behind but just use them to set my cruise control speed.

What I've also found is this strategy preserves the excellent cross country efficiency. It seems an efficient climb gets converted into potential energy very efficiently and then plays out nicely on the downgrade.

GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson

Reply to
Bob & Holly Wilson

Rt. 68 in WV?

You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph?

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

I have a nice setup locally to test the hill climbing power of a car: red light leading to the motorway onramp, then on to the motorway and around 3-4 km steady upwards with an average 6%.

Pedal to the metal till around 150 km/h - I don't dare more because I somewhat enjoy having a license - and keep it there. Prius gets a bit noisy but keeps the speed till we're on top. The display shows that even at this speed it manages to charge the battery.

cu .\\arc

Reply to
Marc Gerges

Rt. 68 in WV, that doesn't sound like an interstate.

Following trucks up grades works quite nicely on 4-lane, interstate highways and I notice many of them in mountainous areas have a climbing lanes, 5-lanes. For example, I-81 between Roanoke and Bristol.

Bob Wilson

Reply to
Bob & Holly Wilson

Yup, it is. Interstate 68.

And there's one helluva mountain right there.

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

In ordinary English, Rt. 68 stands for "Route 68" as in a state or country road. For example, Parkersburg has route 68 also called "Emerson Ave" that passes through Larkmead, Lubeck and on to Muses Bottom,

Normally, I-68 stands for "Interstate 68" and is something entirely different. It is spelled differently and doesn't use the "Rt." prefix, which is misleading.

Bob Wilson

Reply to
Bob & Holly Wilson

Sorry that you don't have a map.

So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks?

Reply to
Elmo P. Shagnasty

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