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Car Forum / Toyota / Prius / January 2008Some more questions by a new Prius owner
After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So this past Thursday, I bought a new 2008 Prius with package #2 and I am happy with it, although I have only driven it 175 miles so far. First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for about 50% city and 50% highway driving. Second, I like the car a lot, but the seats seem much too firm for my taste. My dad sat in the car at the dealership for an hour while I went to the bank to get money to pay for it and he had no complaints about the seats, but I find the driver's seat too firm. I am wondering if anyone else agrees and what my options are to fix that. I guess I will need to buy a seat pad or something for it. Third, how long did it take you to stop reaching into your pocket to get the car key before you got used to the idea of not needing a traditional metal key to start the car? I keep doing that. Speaking of keys, forth, how do you handle valet parking? Do you find that parking valets know how to start/stop your Prius? Have you mistakenly walked away without leaving a key with the parking attendant? Thus far, I haven't had my Prius valet parked, but I am concerned that I will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park the car. > First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for > about 50% city and 50% highway driving. That's an ambiguous question, all the more so since the gas tank on the Prius has a bladder inside which will prevent you from seeing any consistency from fillup to fillup, for quite a number of reasons. So, pay attention to your MFD and ask the question, "what sort of mileage is typical?" And *that* depends on where you are in the country, how you set your climate control, and other factors. I'd say around 45mpg in summer, 35-40mpg in winter--that is, if you live in a climate that has four seasons. > > First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for > > about 50% city and 50% highway driving. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I'd say around 45mpg in summer, 35-40mpg in winter--that is, if you live > in a climate that has four seasons. Thanks everyone for the advise. I will definitely check out priuschat.com Congratulations on you purchase. If you haven't already found it, I recommend that you go to priuschat.com. It's a chat forum that covers almost everything concerning the Prius. I, also, found the seats uncomfortable. During the first test drive "around the block" of about 10 minutes, I didn't notice it. When I did my second drive of around 30 minutes (checking out Interstate driving and ability to go up steep hills, I found out about the seats. Due to figuring that I would do some long distance driving, I opted for the '07 Camry Hybrid. Many people use seat cushions while others go all-out and completely replace the seats. > After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old > car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park > the car. Hi Shawn, Congratulations on getting your new Prius! And if you're new here welcome to the newsgroup too! Per your "typical on a tank of gas" question, that depends on both climate and driver variables, as with any "normal" vehicle. In my '04 Prius, I get low to mid 40 MPG in the winter and about 10 MPG more in the summer here in northern Indiana. As for the seat being "too firm", if it's too uncomfortable, you could try using an extra cushion. But you'll probably get used to it as it as you and the car get broken in to each other. ;-) You're gonna love that Smart Entry/Start option! Most all valets are familiar with it, so you shouldn't have a problem. But as you mentioned, don't forget to give them the the key fob. > After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old > car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So > this past Thursday, I bought a new 2008 Prius with package #2 and I am > happy with it, although I have only driven it 175 miles so far. USENET is good but you may want to checkout a couple of other web sites: GreenHybrid.com - excellent mileage database PriusChat.com - excellent Prius specific web site Both sites have information specific to the Prius and how to get the most out of it. There are other sites and I would recommend reading first to get a feel and flavor. You have choices and I've found these sites work for me. GOOD LUCK! Bob Wilson I've had my Prius for almost 6 months now and still reach in my pocket for the key occasionally. I don't know how long it will take me to learn. Don D. > After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old > car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park > the car. > I've had my Prius for almost 6 months now and still reach in my pocket for > the key occasionally. I don't know how long it will take me to learn. For some reason this morning at first intersection I reached for the gear shift. Only been driving this car a year. Has been 2 weeks since I drove my truck. Biggest problem I have is pulling on the door handle of the truck before I am reminded it requires a key. > After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old > car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park > the car. There is a slot on the lower dash to the right of the steering wheel. Just slip the smart key into the slot and you don't have to hand the attendant anything (except a tip). The problem is I sometimes forget to take the smart key out of the slot when I get the car back. > > After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old > > car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for > > about 50% city and 50% highway driving. *** I refill at about 400 miles -- or, when the last bar is lit. If it's blinking, I head for the nearest petrol station. *** > > Second, I like the car a lot, but the seats seem much too firm for my > > taste. My dad sat in the car at the dealership for an hour while I went [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > the car key before you got used to the idea of not needing a traditional > > metal key to start the car? I keep doing that. *** That behavior will last about three or maybe four weeks. After that, you will walk up to your house and expect the front door to unlock when you touch it! *** > > Speaking of keys, forth, how do you handle valet parking? Do you find > > that parking valets know how to start/stop your Prius? Have you > > mistakenly walked away without leaving a key with the parking attendant? > > Thus far, I haven't had my Prius valet parked, but I am concerned that I > > will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park > > the car. *** Where I live (near San Francisco) there are so many Prius that the parking attendants, car wash places, valet parkers, etc. quickly got used to them. It's not a problem anymore. *** > There is a slot on the lower dash to the right of the steering wheel. Just > slip the smart key into the slot and you don't have to hand the attendant > anything (except a tip). > The problem is I sometimes forget to take the smart key out of the slot when > I get the car back. * That works, too. earle * >After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old >car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for >about 50% city and 50% highway driving. I usually get around 400 miles between fillups. The MFD will tell you how many miles on your current tank of gas (I used to reset the trip odometer on my previous car, but that's not necessary with the Prius). >Second, I like the car a lot, but the seats seem much too firm for my >taste. My dad sat in the car at the dealership for an hour while I went >to the bank to get money to pay for it and he had no complaints about >the seats, but I find the driver's seat too firm. I am wondering if >anyone else agrees and what my options are to fix that. I guess I will >need to buy a seat pad or something for it. I have no issues with the seat, so I can't help you there. >Third, how long did it take you to stop reaching into your pocket to get >the car key before you got used to the idea of not needing a traditional >metal key to start the car? I keep doing that. Very quickly. >Speaking of keys, forth, how do you handle valet parking? Do you find >that parking valets know how to start/stop your Prius? Have you >mistakenly walked away without leaving a key with the parking attendant? >Thus far, I haven't had my Prius valet parked, but I am concerned that I >will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park >the car. I've only used valet parking once, but that valet knew how to start my Prius. He won't be able to start it if you get out of the car, of course, so he'll ask you for the fob pretty quickly. While I was hospitalized for 5-1/2 weeks last summer, I had my daughter turn the smart key sensors off (so the 12V battery wouldn't run down). I was pretty weak when I got back, so I didn't turn it back on right away. During that time, I had to take the car in for an inspection, and the mechanic took the fob and spent about 5 minutes in the car, evidently trying to get it to turn on. He finally figured that he had to put the fob in the slot, and I was able to turn the smart key back on not long after that. There is no typical. The only certainty is, when the last pip on the fuel gauge starts flashing you must buy fuel immediately. I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius. >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius. I did, at the hospital. They are all elderly gentlemen, and, I believe, volunteers. > >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius. > > I did, at the hospital. They are all elderly gentlemen, and, I believe, > volunteers. Sometime, its damned near impossible to avoid having my car valet parked, such as when I visit a dear old friend who lives in a high rise apartment building in Manhattan. In all the times I have visited her, I have never been able to find on-street parking and all the parking garages in her area have valet parking. >> >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius. >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >have never been able to find on-street parking and all the parking >garages in her area have valet parking. And you have to tip them. The guys at the hospital don't accept tips. > >> >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius. > >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > And you have to tip them. The guys at the hospital don't accept tips. Yup. Actually, tonight I nearly ended up parking in a garage with valet service. I was in Center City, Philadelphia looking for parking in order to meet some friends for dinner. Just as I was about to go into a parking garage, I noticed a parking spot opened up at a two hour meter, so I ended up parking there instead. |
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