[Rimini]

How's it going?

I'm dating a girl that has a hybrid. We get along excellently until we start discussing politics. Other than that we're doing well. She is from the Los Angeles area and moved out here to go to school. Her car is a white prius.

I'm trying to get some more information about these cars, mainly on safety and performance. She is wanting to go on a road trip to visit family and friends back home but I don't wanna take her car until I get more info. Plus it's summer and she doesn't have window tint. I've noticed how much better an Air Conditioner works with window tint. I want to go on this road trip to meet her family and such, plus my sister lives in San Diego/Ocean Beach.

I'd rather fly and rent a car just because it's faster, but she insists on driving.

Here in West Texas the average vehicle is a truck or SUV. Myself being no different, I have an F150 4x4 and a couple Land Rovers.

I do have two vehicles that get good mileage. A Kawasaki Z1000 and a Mustang GT (it gets 25mpg) the next best is the Land Rover Freelander 2/LR2 gets 23 on the highway which is awesome for a 4x4 SUV.

Thanks y'all!

-James

[jdenenberg]

The Prius is one of the safest cars on the road so no concerns there.

It does 0-60 in about 10 seconds and will comfortably run smoothly at 85 MPH. You will notice the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) RPMs increasing when you are running uphill or accelerating, but the computers make sure to protect the ICE, Electric motors and batteries in all conditions.

My wife and I regularly drive round trip CT-IL (about 900 miles, 14 hours, 20 gallons of gasoline each way) to visit with her elderly mother.

Just keep the cold tire air pressure at the right level (I run mine a little higher than the Toyota suggested 35 front - 33 rear (42/40) to get better tread life and MPG, but you should reset the TPMS (in a newer Prius) system if you change the tire pressures.

Enjoy the trip.

JeffD

[Rimini]

Thanks for the reply.

85mph would probably be the minimun speed we travel when I'm driving and we're not in the larger cities like El Paso or Tuscon.

I called my Marine buddy and he said he is gonna set up a chance for me to shoot on the range with the Marines so I'll take some rifles and ammo, and since she is packing a lot of stuff, we'll need something with a larger boot. I'll probably set the cruise control at 95-100mph which the Land Rover does very well. I've noticed her car has a lot of tire noise, it could just be the tires she has on it, or is this common? Land Rover at 100 is like her car at 40.

Advantage Land Rover.

I'm still thinking I'd rather take my vehicle for the window tint and my car is much more comfortable.

[bwilson4web]

The only likely problem is going up long grades at speeds in excess of 65 mph, you are likely to over-run the engine. The traction battery will take up the slack until it is discharged to a low level ~40% when you'll see a distinct decrease in speed. You can monitor the traction battery charge level and if it slacking off, slow down a bit on the climb.

When climbing hills, my practice is to follow truckers up, matching their climb speed, which seems to be perfect for the 1.6L Prius. When descending grades at high speed, consider using "B" instead of "D" with brakes to be gentler on the vehicle systems. The shifter is completely electronic so changes at any speed between "D" and "B" is always OK. BTW, the newer, 2010 Prius can handle a 6% grade at ~75-80 mph due to the larger, 1.8L engine. Your friend is likely to have the NHW20 model, 2004-2009, with the 1.6L engine.

The only other thing to mention is the vehicle is speed limited to about 105 mph. Although some have gone faster, they did it by mounting larger diameter tires.

Bob Wilson

[Rimini]

yeah, different size tires is like changing the ring and pinon gear in a rear differential.

I wanna say hers is an 07 but I'm not sure.

[bwilson4web]

You'll have a lot of fun. Just be attentive when you hit the 'high hills' and moderate climb speeds work great.

BTW, the A/C works on an electric compressor. What this means is if you need to take a 'cat nap' in the car, just keep it in "ready" and the inside will remain quite livable. The engine will only cycle as needed to keep the traction battery at a good state of charge. It really is a very efficient A/C system.

One quick request on the trip ... can you keep a record of MPH vs MPG? This typically means breaking up highway segments into 1.5-2.5 hour legs with 'potty breaks.' Just set the car at a given speed, reset the MPG indicator and then just as you pull off, note the MPG at that speed. We'll also need temperature, altitude if available, and local winds. We've got a goodly amount of data already:

Some other 'tricks of the trade:'

• tires at maximum sidewall pressure - harder tires reduce your rolling friction yet also improve your rain stopping and cornering performance. If the ride is too rough, you can always let a little out, but harder tires is better.
• engine oil - make sure it is below the "F" level. Too many shops will put in more than 3.9 quarts and the extra oil tends to hurt mileage. Perhaps do a Mobil 1 and extended wear filter change before the trip??? Everything is under the passenger side and can mostly be reached by turning the wheel or lifting that part of the car.
• new air filter - some people just vacuum them but for $10, just drop in a new one and be done with it.

Now if you' all decide to get real serious, we can discuss some other things. <grins>

So you're going to Camp Pendleton? I was in the Marines 71-75 and appreciated the training ... although there were some moments that were not quite so much fun. It is mostly a question of attitude.

Bob Wilson

[Rimini]

bwilson4web said:

Now if you' all decide to get real serious, we can discuss some other things. <grins>


So you're going to Camp Pendleton? I was in the Marines 71-75 and appreciated the training ... although there were some moments that were not quite so much fun. It is mostly a question of attitude.

Bob Wilson

Yeah, he's stationed there for now. Afghanistan next.

My sister was in the Navy and lives in Ocean Beach near Hodad's now.

I think I may have talked her into flying now. I told her if we fly I'd rent a Mustang Convertible and we could put the top down, she liked that idea. lol

I'll keep y'all updated.

personally, I don't think I'll ever own a hybrid, but I like them. They save all that fuel for me lol!

She likes the mpg and since I'm not paying for her fuel, it doesn't bother me.

[bwilson4web]

Rimini said:

. . .
personally, I don't think I'll ever own a hybrid, . . .

No problem. I've enjoyed sharing some of the hybrid tricks and if you get a chance to use them ... good.

You may find this strange but there is no problem with selling hybrids as much as the supply has remained limited. Urging others to buy a hybrid simply runs up our prices without offering any value in return. <grins>

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

[FastMover]

spinner said:

... Hybrids are generally wimpy city cars; They're not designed for radical or extreme driving conditions.

Respectfully disagree! I have had my TCH up to Canada on I-5 several times in winter and summer. Also down to California and on I-90 over to Idaho. It handles freeway speeds in the 80-90 range with no probelm, and is quiet, comfortable and roomy with an excellent stereo and AC. Plenty of power for passing trucks on climbs and for long climbs. In the California central vally, the temps were up above the hundreds, and the cabin environment was pleasant and cool.

True, FE drops from 44 down to 38 or even 36 at 90 MPH, but you can't have something for nothing. The only other downside is that a small amount of friction braking or downshifting was required for some of the steeper passes in Oregon. A true touring sedan might provide better handling for the mountain curves, but the TCH was more than adequate for the freeway radius curves and grade changes.

RFB

[centrider]

FastMover said:

Respectfully disagree! I have had my TCH up to Canada on I-5 several times in winter and summer. Also down to California and on I-90 over to Idaho. It handles freeway speeds in the 80-90 range with no probelm, and is quiet, comfortable and roomy with an excellent stereo and AC. Plenty of power for passing trucks on climbs and for long climbs. In the California central vally, the temps were up above the hundreds, and the cabin environment was pleasant and cool.

True, FE drops from 44 down to 38 or even 36 at 90 MPH, but you can't have something for nothing. The only other downside is that a small amount of friction braking or downshifting was required for some of the steeper passes in Oregon. A true touring sedan might provide better handling for the mountain curves, but the TCH was more than adequate for the freeway radius curves and grade changes.

RFB

I quite agree. I just returned to Calif. from a 6 week tour into the mid-west. We went as far as SW Indiana. Within that distance the '06 Prius handled I-40, I-70, the US Hwys, state and county roads of Ks., Ne., and In. as the Prius was driven by my wife to support me in riding in Ks. and In.

This car has about 60,000 miles. It ran easily from speeds of 10-11, and sometimes as low as 5 mph as we followed clouds of cyclists on up to fwy speeds which I admit only exceeded 64 mph either in passing or a couple of down-hills.

Returning from Ks., we had our 23 yr old grand son shoe-horned into the seat behind the driver. The rest of the car was filled with a full size bike, it's wheels, 3 people's luggage. Well heck, all I could see rear view mirror was like a tunnel. I did make sure the vent to the battery pack was clear. Also made sure that the AC was blowing lots of cool air back there and over my grandson.

Temperatures ranged from the low 90's across Ks., Ok., Tx., NM., Az., and finally into Ca where the temp got up to 106.

Incedentley, I found little if any difference in the mpg because of having the crankcase a 1/2 qrt low or as usual over-filled by the dealer.

What's more I make this trek annually.

I never thought of the Prius as anything but a good all around sedan.

Oh, yes I too have had it up in Canada (Vancouver) and Toronto. But never in winter.