Prius test drive

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TP - 20 Nov 2005 00:38 GMT

Took my first test drive in a Prius today, Great car! The
salesman claims no maintenance has to be done on any of the
hybrid system, is that really true? Also I was told the Prius
has special fabric and insulation in the passenger compartment
to enhance the climate control. No leather or sun roof
available. I thought the car handled very well, seemed a lot
like a corolla. You have to get on a buyers list and hope that
they will deliver you a car in 3 to 6 months. Even then you may
need to be flexible on the cars options.
Anyone have any Prius buying comments? I’m also worried about
all the electrical connections, living in a rust belt state.

TP

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Andrew Stephenson - 20 Nov 2005 01:53 GMT

> Took my first test drive in a Prius today, Great car! The
> salesman claims no maintenance has to be done on any of the
> hybrid system, is that really true?

Glad you like it. Mine, acquired on August 1st, has behaved well
in UK conditions. No maintenance on the hybrid system? Hmm, I'd
say it depends where you define the limits of that system: eg, is
the petrol engine part of it; do we stop short of the spark plugs
and their routine servicing? He probably was a tad sales-hungry.
Maybe he should have said "little" and "most of". <g> The car is
like many modern ones: loaded with sensors and issues warnings at
the drop of a hat. The annual service probably reveals impending
troubles when the car's diagnostic memory is read out.

Example of a warning...

The other night, about six hours after sunset, I was heading home
and was alarmed by the sudden appearance of a new-to-me dashboard
icon like a yellow wigwam with a big fire inside it. Not wanting
to add to the UK's road accident statistics, I held off searching
through the fine manual until parked off the main road. It seems
the car was concerned to tell me that outside air temperature was
3 deg Celsius or less. The "wigwam" was actually a road reaching
away into the distance, while the "fire" was a snowflake. I have
since seen the icon come and go; every time, a small yellow alert
appears on the central info panel for a few seconds. Panic over.

> [...] No leather or sun roof available.

ISTR leather being an option in the UK versions. I may be wrong.

A sun roof IMHO would screw up the airflow dynamics and wreck the
mpg. Its extra weight, ditto. Maybe Toyota don't expect to sell
many to green-minded owners who may also be farsighted about skin
cancer from excess sun exposure.

> [...] I’m also worried about all the electrical connections,
> living in a rust belt state.

I hear it sometimes rains in Japan and the UK. We survive. ;-)

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Andrew Stephenson

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Brent Secombe - 20 Nov 2005 14:12 GMT

> > Took my first test drive in a Prius today, Great car! The
> > salesman claims no maintenance has to be done on any of the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> many to green-minded owners who may also be farsighted about skin
> cancer from excess sun exposure.

My Prius is the first sunroof-less car I've had in the last 10 - 15
years. I almost never slide it back. I tilt it to promote the flow of
air through the cabin. That's quieter than opening the back windows,
and the airflow keeps me more alert than the radio does.

I'd accept the rise in gas consumption if I could get a sunroof in my
next Prius.

Brent

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Andrew Stephenson - 20 Nov 2005 23:37 GMT

> My Prius is the first sunroof-less car I've had in the last 10 - 15
> years. I almost never slide it back. I tilt it to promote the flow of
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I'd accept the rise in gas consumption if I could get a sunroof in my
> next Prius.

Not exactly a Prius-only issue: I'm not being dogmatic here, but
raising a possibility. Apparently (a report I read in the 1970s
in "New Scientist" magazine) not many drivers know subsonics can
be generated by part-open windows. If they were audible, they'd
be very loud; but they are below audible frequencies, so cause a
generally unpleasant feeling leading to various symptoms such as
fatigue, irritability and the like. That "NS" article cited the
case of the Bristol aircraft works, where engines for "Concorde"
were being tested -- way over the far side of the airfield site.
A new draughting building was found to be unpleasant to be in if
the engines were running; tests showed it was resonating at sub-
sonic frequencies. Just a word to the wise. The car's air vent
system may be the best way to bring in that Outdoors Experience.

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Andrew Stephenson

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Brent Secombe - 21 Nov 2005 04:52 GMT

> > My Prius is the first sunroof-less car I've had in the last 10 - 15
> > years. I almost never slide it back. I tilt it to promote the flow of
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> sonic frequencies. Just a word to the wise. The car's air vent
> system may be the best way to bring in that Outdoors Experience.

Very interesting information, Andrew. Thank you for your contribution.

Brent

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Dan J.S. - 21 Nov 2005 15:25 GMT

> Took my first test drive in a Prius today, Great car! The salesman
> claims no maintenance has to be done on any of the hybrid system, is that
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> TP

They have them in showrooms ready for immediate pickup around NW Chicago
land area..

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Chris Hill - 23 Nov 2005 15:18 GMT

> Took my first test drive in a Prius today, Great car! The
>salesman claims no maintenance has to be done on any of the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Anyone have any Prius buying comments? Im also worried about
>all the electrical connections, living in a rust belt state.

Things look pretty well sealed electrically. As far as the hybrid
system needing maintenance, only thing I note in the manual is
changing the inverter's coolant along with the regular coolant at
something like 100k. The '06's will have leather available, and a
better tax break can be had after January 1. Those reasons combine
to make 2005's more available in many areas. Our '05 averaged 49mpg
for the last 3,000 or so miles; beats the F350's 17 on a good day all
to hell.

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