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Car Forum / Toyota / Prius / November 2007Thinking 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 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Thanks > Alan 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...  SignatureBream Rockmetteller Donaldson's Dog Joy 509-450-0301 > 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? 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 >> the weather can be a bit >> extreme up here with a lot of rain and some snow in the winter. How does [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Bob Wilson Bob, can you please elucideate on this? How? Where? > Bob, can you please elucideate on this? How? Where? 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 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. 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 > 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. 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. >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. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >Thanks again. >Alan 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 > 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. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > unnecessarily? The Dealer is situated on the east of the country where the > land somewhat flatter so could not answer this. 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. > 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. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > miles before they reach the highest point. Is this an issue or am I worrying > unnecessarily? 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 > However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded > truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed. Rt. 68 in WV? You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph? > > However, for efficiency, I prefer to find a fully loaded > > truck going up the hill and follow them up at their same speed. > > Rt. 68 in WV? > > You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph? 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 > > Rt. 68 in WV? > > > > You'll go up that mountain at 12-15 mph? > > Rt. 68 in WV, that doesn't sound like an interstate. Yup, it is. Interstate 68. And there's one helluva mountain right there. > > > Rt. 68 in WV? > > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > And there's one helluva mountain right there. 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > different. It is spelled differently and doesn't use the "Rt." prefix, > which is misleading. Sorry that you don't have a map. So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? >> 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 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? Wow. Rosie's brother Elmo, the Little Corrector of Stupid Humans, himself gets one upped and corrected and 0wned and promptly ignores the shame of correction. He can give it but he can't take it. Wave. ROFLMAO > >So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? > > Wow. Rosie's brother Elmo, the Little Corrector of Stupid Humans, > himself gets one upped and corrected um, no, not at all. Rt. 68 is still Rt. 68. Sure, it's an interstate. So? I noticed that he never answered the question when I called him on his claim of going up mountains behind trucks at 12mph to maximize fuel economy in his rolling video game. > > 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 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Sorry that you don't have a map. Non sequitor. > So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? The trucks on the interstate that I follow are going up large hills at 55 mph using the extra climb lane. I'm quite happy to follow them. As for I-68, I've never had occasion to take that route. My experience in the past is if the truck is doing 12-15 mph on an interstate, it is due to a construction or accident delay. In those cases, all lanes and all traffic have been going at the same speed. Bob Wilson > > Sorry that you don't have a map. > > Non sequitor. I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. > > > Sorry that you don't have a map. > > > > Non sequitor. > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. Non sequitor. Bob Wilson > > > Non sequitor. > > > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. > > Non sequitor. I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. > > > > Non sequitor. > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. Non sequitor. Bob Wilson > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. > > Non sequitor. no, at this point it *is* the topic. I'm sorry you don't have a map. Further, I'm sorry you refuse to get one, and to know what's going on in the world. That you have never driven up a mountain, is pretty damned sad. > > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > That you have never driven up a mountain, is pretty damned sad. Non sequitor. Bob Wilson > > no, at this point it *is* the topic. > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Non sequitor. The fact is, you've never driven up a mountain--or if you do, you've admitted that you'll follow a truck at 12-15mph so you can keep your fuel economy up. That you're an idiot *is* the point here. It's your attempt at "non sequitor" that's non sequitor. > > > no, at this point it *is* the topic. > > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > It's your attempt at "non sequitor" that's non sequitor. Inaccurate. Bob Wilson > > The fact is, you've never driven up a mountain--or if you do, you've > > admitted that you'll follow a truck at 12-15mph so you can keep your [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Inaccurate. Perfectly accurate. > > > The fact is, you've never driven up a mountain--or if you do, you've > > > admitted that you'll follow a truck at 12-15mph so you can keep your [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Perfectly accurate. Inaccurate Bob Wilson > > > > That you're an idiot *is* the point here. > > > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Inaccurate Really? Then explain what you said during this thread. > > > > > That you're an idiot *is* the point here. > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Then explain what you said during this thread. Done. Bob Wilson > > > Inaccurate > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Done. no, you haven't explained anything. > > > > Inaccurate > > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > no, you haven't explained anything. On topic. Bob Wilson > > no, you haven't explained anything. > > On topic. Fizzbin. > > > no, you haven't explained anything. > > > > On topic. > > Fizzbin. Answered. Bob Wilson > > > On topic. > > > > Fizzbin. > > Answered. Answered how? >> > > On topic. >> > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Answered how? Plenty of parked cars running at you, Elmo? Wave. > > > > On topic. > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Answered how? Soon. Bob Wilson > > > Answered. > > > > Answered how? > > Soon. Is that AFTER you put on your Holly dress for the weekend, or before? > > > > Answered. > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Is that AFTER you put on your Holly dress for the weekend, or before? non sequitor Bob Wilson > > > no, you haven't explained anything. > > > > On topic. > > Fizzbin. You two fellers oughta get married. >> > > Inaccurate >> > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >no, you haven't explained anything. Come on guys. Move on. - Piper > Come on guys. Move on. I have to say I'm kind of fascinated by this subthread. How long can two guys continue going back and forth, trying to get the last word on something no one else cares about, all the while saying absolutely nothing in the process? Signature<http://designsbymike.info/shop/mac.cgi> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.info/shop/musings.cgi> Muckraking T-shirts <http://designsbymike.info/shop/prius.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.info/shop/dance.cgi> Ballroom dance shirts & gifts > How long can two guys continue going back and forth, trying to get > the last word on something no one else cares about, all the while > saying absolutely nothing in the process? Come on, Mike; you've been on usenet long enough to know that the answer is "years, if not decades". SignatureSupport the troops: Bring them home ASAP. >> Come on guys. Move on. > >I have to say I'm kind of fascinated by this subthread. How long can >two guys continue going back and forth, trying to get the last word on >something no one else cares about, all the while saying absolutely >nothing in the process? I think it's called a 'pissing contest', if you'll pardon my crassness. - Piper > >I have to say I'm kind of fascinated by this subthread. How long can > >two guys continue going back and forth, trying to get the last word on [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I think it's called a 'pissing contest', if you'll pardon my > crassness. Not any longer. I was briefly amused but really, I'm here to understand and share Prius technology. So after using the last posts as leads into Prius content, I'm back on my A-game. Bob Wilson > > I think it's called a 'pissing contest', if you'll pardon my > > crassness. > > Not any longer. I was briefly amused but really, I'm here to understand > and share Prius technology. Bullshit. >> > I think it's called a 'pissing contest', if you'll pardon my >> > crassness. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Bullshit. Please, don't sign your real name to your post. WAVE. >> > > Inaccurate >> > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >no, you haven't explained anything. Rosie O'Donnell's tv brother Elmo is OTR again. "I don't understand so you must not have explained well." Proof that people who won't wave are stupid. _Non sequitur_ from Latin deponent verb sequor. Diako, the linguist >> > > I'm still sorry that you don't have a map. >> > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Bob Wilson > > So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > interstate, it is due to a construction or accident delay. In those > cases, all lanes and all traffic have been going at the same speed. Then your experience is limited, and you've never been up a mountain. > > > So, you'd go up I-68 in WV at 12-15mph behind the trucks? > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Then your experience is limited, and you've never been up a mountain. <YAWN> Bob Wilson > > Then your experience is limited, and you've never been up a mountain. > > <YAWN> Yes, I'd say anyone who says he follows trucks up mountains is indeed a big bore. > > > Rt. 68 in WV? > > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Yup, it is. Interstate 68. Nope, you're just trying to cover your the obvious mistake. Google map or mapquest shows route 68 connecting: Parkersburg, WV Belleville, WV Morgan, WV There is a section of I-68 in WV between: Hazelton, WV Brookhaven WV Google map has excellent satellite images showing on some sections, three lanes climbing a hill while on the other side, just two lanes descend. Trucks are clearly in the outside, climb lane and these are my pace vehicles. As posted earlier, they tend to climb at about 55 mph and one of the best ways for a Prius to climb these hills is behind one of the trucks. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&saddr= Hazelton,+Uninc+Preston+County,+Preston,+West+Virginia,+United+States&da ddr=Brookhaven+WV&sll=39.620499,-79.835587&sspn=0.249117,0.384521&ie=UTF 8&ll=39.660483,-79.804232&spn=0.001945,0.004764&t=k&z=18&om=0 > And there's one helluva mountain right there. Not so big considering the highest point per Google Earth in WV is at: 39 39' 19.41" N 79 46' 19.47" W 683 M. But if you head on I-68 to Maryland, you can find one point at 853 m., considerably higher. But that doesn't matter. As Google shows, there are three lane sections headed up the hills with semitrailer trucks in the outside, climb lane. Had I been under the camera when they took the picture, you'd have seen my Prius following the trucks at a safe distance matching the speed. Climbing hills at 55 mph, as I'd posted, works quite nicely. Bob Wilson > There is a section of I-68 in WV between: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > one of the best ways for a Prius to climb these hills is behind one of > the trucks. You've never been on that piece of road, have you. I can answer that for you: no, you have not. Your statement that trucks "tend to climb at about 55mph" while talking about this specific piece of road shows that you don't have a clue how the world works. Frankly, my guess is you're housebound but want people to think otherwise. > > There is a section of I-68 in WV between: > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > You've . . . As originally posted, I follow trucks up climb lanes, usually around 55 mph although I've seen them as low as 45 on I-75 between Knoxville TN and Lexington KY. Regardless, Google Earth clearly shows you have confused I-68 in WV with the significantly higher sections in Maryland. You've been caught again. Bob Wilson > > There is a section of I-68 in WV between: > > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > You've . . . I've been wondering about your fixation on I-68 versus Rt. 68, what you'd originally posted. After a little Google clicking, I discovered that your fixation is probably on "Sideling Hill Cut," a Maryland, not West Virgina feature and marvel of engineering. It is the man-made equivalent of the Grand Canyon in the Appalacians: http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I68_MD.html One of the earliest photos from this web site shows the three lanes climbing the grade to "Sideling Hill Cut." The best Prius was to approach Sideling Hill would be in the right most lane at 55 mph or behind the slowest truck ascend in the climb lane. What this does is put the ICE in as efficient of a high power mode as possible so you are getting excellent conversion of gasoline into potential energy, altitude. Literally, just keep on truckin' up the hill. In 1974 after returning from Okinawa, I drove a 66 VW MicroBus from Coffeyville KS to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington DC. It is very likely that I would have taken parts of I-68 and the "National Freeway" to avoid having to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I vagley remember a lot of construction but that was a long, long time ago and another vehicle. I came into the DC area from I-70 and had to figure out the Pentagon maze. Fortunately, the same practices that worked with the VW MicroBus work even better with the Prius. Curiously, the VW also had a 1500 cc engine and had about as much power as my Prius ICE. Bob Wilson > > > Google map has excellent satellite images showing on some sections, > > > three lanes climbing a hill while on the other side, just two lanes [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I've . . . been a dipwad all your life. We know, Bob/Holly. We know. > After a little Google clicking, I discovered > that your fixation is probably on "Sideling Hill Cut," a Maryland, not > West Virgina feature and marvel of engineering. Nope. Not at all. See, there's a VERY big hill--mountain--on I-68 in WV. The road is a few miles long. Trucks go up it very slowly. And you insist that the trucks go up it at 55mph. You're a dipwad. You've never been there, you've never been on a mountain, yet you continue to make these claims. > > After a little Google clicking, I discovered > > that your fixation is probably on "Sideling Hill Cut," a Maryland, not [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > a few miles long. Trucks go up it very slowly. > [. . . . off topic content deleted] The slower the better when going up a hill. An efficient Prius driver simply follows the slow traffic of choice. Interesting, it appears that some trucks, probably the empties, handle hills rapidly while moving vans appear to be the slowest. In fact, I look for moving vans, which makes a lot of sense that they would be relatively slower. The ride in a truck trailer is fairly rough between the stiff springs and 90-100+ psi tires. I've had equipment ripped from the rails in a rack during shipping. Given household moving companies have to pay for breakage, it makes sense for them to moderate their speeds and minimize vibration leading to efficient Prius climb speeds. When trip plannning for a Prius, knowing the heigths along a route allows making choices between different routes. For example, Google Earth has a feature that allows you to move the cursor along a route and read out the heigth: I-68 in WV highest point on highway: 683 m 39 39' 19.41" N 79 46' 19.47" W I-68 in MD has a highest point: 853 m 39 41' 23.46" N 79 14' 59.38" W These are lattitude and longitude in degrees, minutes and seconds. Both Google and Google Earth allow you to put these coordinates in to read out the altitude. Topozone works well too. Just use -79 for the longitude degress for western hemisphere. When I drove to NC to pickup a spare Prius battery, I drove to Knoxville and I-40 at a higher Prius speed to get detailed engineering data. Speeds of 70 mph on the flats with climbs of 55-60 mph on the mountains gave 50 MPG. On the way back, I took the Interstates to Altanta, doing an 'end run' around the Smokies at a speeds of 65-68 mph with a fuel economy of 54 MPG. BTW, here is some hill climb data that shows the relationship between climbing speed and efficiency on a 6% grade: http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_hill_climb.MPG As a general rule, stay below 65 mph on Interstate climbs since they are typically grade limited to 6%. A 6% grade can be handled all day long without draining down the battery. As speeds increase over 65 mph, more and more power is drawn from the battery and the battery capacity is limited. Once the traction battery is too low, the Prius will automaticly slow down the car and there are reports of speeds even lower than 55 mph. Bob Wilson > I-68 in WV highest point on highway: 683 m > 39 39' 19.41" N [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > out the altitude. Topozone works well too. Just use -79 for the > longitude degress for western hemisphere. Minor correction: Google earth shows the location and reports altitude. Google map shows the location but not the altitude. Topozone shows the terrain heigth from topographical maps. Trip planning in a Prius is important regardless of which route or interstate might be used. But often, we have choices and can select the route and speed that most makes sense when trading off: good, fast, and cheap. Bob Wilson ps. Most newsreaders have filters that can help reduce the amount of 'noise' in a news group. > 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 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > snow, where the traction control locked because of slippery conditions and > the car would not move, has anyone else experienced this in snow? 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: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Prius-UK/ http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Prius-Europe/ 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. 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 >> I live in north Scotland and am seriously thinking of getting a Prius, I >> had [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] > 2. the petrol engine has to run more often to provide "waste" heat to > the passengers, and to keep itself warm. |
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