Prius For a Driving School Car?

Hi Hep,
This is going to be an interesting discussion

As much as I think the G2 Prius is a wonderful car, and versatile for a wide range of tasks, I would hesitate to use it as a student driver. The front and middle pillars are quite wide and introduce blind spots the driver has to look around. I remember learning to angle the car in certain situations to help me look around the pillars.

Students have enough on their minds.

 

Seems a bit high, although with gas creeping up everyone is charging a premium for fuel efficient cars. Those numbers would probably jive with KBB, but look at TMV instead.

 

I don't know, it sounds like a good option especially with the price of gas.

When I took the class we used both an Oldsmobile Cutlass and a VW Beetle. Everyone learned to drive a manual trans.

 

I saw a student driver Prius here in the butt of the world NC just this week. Interesting choice, and I wonder if it was a full time school sponsored car.

 

Welding requires special precautions to avoid damaging electronics and the inverter.

But, not too long ago we had a driving instructor stop by for help diagnosing his hybrid battery. So it is definitely possible -- and perhaps a marketing advantage.

The long term maintenance concern that you will have is keeping the hybrid battery and its cooling fan clean. Prii that regularly have rear passengers tend to have this clog up and ruin the hybrid battery. It is worst for taxis.

 

As others have said, is it really a good car to teach someone to learn in? It's got lots of blind spots and is sooo easy to drive. That's not really a good thing when learning is it? Are you but being swayed by lower running losts?

A lot of smaller cars are used here in Europe. Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astras (similar to the Chevrolet Cruze) are popular choices and I see the popular 1.4 litre turbo petrol engine is also available for you in America.

 

Be VERY VERY careful drilling holes especially where the big orange high voltage cables are! You do not want 300v (or whatever it is) DC going up yr arse! It will kill you if you get it wrong.

Maybe work with a specialist conversion company or check with a Toyota dealer. Do you need a steering wheel on the passenger side or do you just have duplicate pedals like we have in Europe? A second steering wheel might cause issues because it's electric rather than hydraulic.

 

The HV battery cables run on the other side of the firewall on the driver's side. They are inside a plastic cable tray. Just avoid that, like you would the fuel lines, which are on the passenger side firewall. It can be done if you are careful.

 

I think a Prius is viable as a driving school vehicle.

But it really wouldn't be my choice if I was charged with choosing a vehicle.

Despite the savings as an operator of the said school, in terms of fuel use, I think I would have to pay heed to the value to the students.

And as unpopular as it might be to admit within Prius Chat? The majority of the vehicles on the road are regular ICE vehicles.

So if I'm charged with teaching 1st time drivers, with little or no driving experience, I'm going to teach them on the "type" of vehicle they are most likely to encounter and own and operate.

I'm not going to confuse the issue or potentially complicate the learning process by throwing "hybrid" regenerative brakes at them, or initial electric motor acceleration.

I'm afraid I just offended Prius owners, but I don't mean to...

I'm just saying, I think if we are being honest....there are differences in driving a Prius, brakes...acceleration, and Planetary Gear based CVT transmission, that don't exist in what is still the most popular and common tool of transportation the ICE based vehicle.

I just think the important thing, with a 1st time driver, is learning HOW to drive period. The traffic laws, safe procedures and habits. And I think that is best learned in as simple and basic a vehicle as possible.

Once they have learned to drive? THEN I'd hope someday they choose a Prius. But as a tool to 1st learn on? It wouldn't be my tool of choice.

 

I like this idea. Kids will pick up driving a hybrid fine, "blind spot" and all. It's just like how babies are using iPads now. It's a new generation. Kids born today (and the last decade for that matter) will see hybrids as completely normal. They will have never lived in a world without hybrids!!

 

I don't know.

When I first learned to drive. My dad forced me to LEARN on a stick shift.

I wanted to learn on an automatic first...and once I became comfortable with all the other aspects of driving...THEN learn the stick shift....

Was I right? Or was my Dad?

Sure, once I mastered it all, then driving an Automatic was a cake walk....

But I think it was harder to initially learn.

I just think if you have NEW drivers...and the world IS still ICE based. Why throw CVT transmissions, Regenerative Brakes, Electric Motors...and a nasty blind spot at them to start out?

My Dad...would agree with you...

But due to circumstance, My Brother learned on an Automatic...THEN learned to drive stick...the process seemed far less taxing and easy for him.

However, I think I'm a better driver than him today.

So I don't know...The Prius adds complication in some minor area's that I don't necessarily think you need to throw at new drivers. But I do come from a back ground that say's Swim With The Sharks...then the regular Swimming Pool will seem easy.

 

Interesting. I learned automatic first, then tried stick shift on my dad's 2003 Mini. Couldn't do it. I was pretty sure I was destroying his car, so I gave up. And I used to play the drums. I thought I'd be good at the foot-pedal coordination thing. Everybody's different I guess.

 

This statement I don't understand. The CVT transmission doesn't change how a student learns how to drive, whereas stick shift actually requires coordination and a different set of actions. And we're not teaching the kids how to hypermile...YET! (lol). Blind spot? For a new driver they'll never know the difference. Basically, the Prius drives like a normal car. Now the only palpable difference between the Prius and any other student car is the screen. It's very distracting, so I'd turn the screen off.

 

That seems far overpriced

The traction battery automatically disconnects when the Prius powers off.

 

Only in America do they teach people how to drive in a CVT equipped car...

I concur with many of the other comments. The Prius is a great car to drive (mostly) but I would check with my insurance company before I used one as a trainer. They have a glass jaw, a LOT of blind spots, and the bifurcated rear view (on the G3) is pretty interesting.

I guess if for nothing else....it would teach them to use their mirrors more, now wouldn't it?

Like I said. I'd talk it over with whomever is going to be insuring the car(s). You're going to get some ramp strikes and other battle damage, so if you're persnickety about how the cars look---that's going to be something to factor in.

Good Luck!!!