Newbie with ton of questions (hacks, recommendations, etc)

Questions:

1) I can't stand the reverse beep. Does anyone know how to disable to make into single beep?
Already answered...yes, dealer can turn off. It's annoying, we know.

2) The navigation. Does anyone have the hack to allow passenger to input destinations while driving?

You mean as in telling the Nav to go to an existing preset desitination? Yes, this can be done while moving. No hack required.

3) Is there any navigation override to play dvd's Movies?

Why? While driving?

4) Is there any hack to display the rear view camera while not in reverse?

Yes, but expensive mod.

5) does anyone really notice any benefit from the solar air recycling functionality?

On warm, sunny days...absolutley.

6) I am only (and I say only very loosely) getting 48 mpg. I must not be doing something right. I drive 75% on freeway and 25% on city, most of my driving on the freeway is at 72mph. Street is generally around 25 mph. How can I optimize gas mileage?

Your MPG will depend on (1) Driving "attidute", ie, how aggresively you back off on the peddle to maximize use of the generator, etc; (2) Terrain travelled, (3) Outside air temperature - ie, the engine will run far more often when it's cold outsie (to keep the cabin temperature warm, among other reasons); (4) Running on Winter Blend gas will easily drop you MPGs by 2-4 MPG when compared to driving without winter blend gas. ; and (5) speed. Generally speaking, the faster you go (particualry at highway speeds), the more demand there will be from the engine. At lower speed, with careful driving habits, you can minimize the engine use, while maximizing electric.


I live in the Chicago area, and I've seen my average MPGs drop from the mid-50's to the high 40's, or low 50's just with the onset of colder temperatures ( (1) Winter blend gas, and (2) engine running more often, and longer because it's cold outside. I fully expect the MPG's to jump back up to the mid-50's this Spring.

7) Should I really be playing around with the ECO and Power buttons? If so, what are the optimal uses for each?

I run in the ECO mode 99% of the time. About the only time I will switch to thew PWR mode - in real time - is when I am trying to cross a busy intersection, and/ or merging on to a busy highway.

8) How can I make the most of the EV mode? Also, is there a way to convert it to allow use past 25mph?

Sometimes I will drop into the EV mode if I'm stuck in stop and go traffic, where the traffic only moves about 10-50 feet, then stops, and the sequence repeated for miles...like if their is an accident, or coming out of the stadium after a sporting event, etc. If you look at the display that shows the engine, the generator and the battery, with arrows flowing to indicate the direction of energy....you will see that you can be in electric mode (ECO button pushed) , ie the gas engine is NOT running, at much higher speeds than 25...but the operating conditions have to be just right, such as, driving on flat terrain, not accelerating, but simply trying to maintain speed by gently depressing the accelerator pedal, etc

9) What are some other "cool" modifications that people are doing to it?

Already mentioned above. In addition, I've tinted the windows, and ran a pinstripe down the side....oh, and also removed the plasitic covers on the wheels to expose fairly decent looking alloy rims. They are only on the 15" wheels. Eventually, I plan to replace the H11 headlight bulbs with brighter and whiter after-market bulbs.

 

There are decent looking alloy rims under those plastic caps? How about that, I have to take a look, any difference in MPG with them off?

 

The answers provided already are so good I can't think of a thing to add, for once. So I'll just say enjoy your new Prius. :rockon:

 

LOL! Yeah, those 15" alloy wheels are kinda like an extra treat, didn't know about them till I stumbled across a thread here about it, neither did my salesman! You'll probably want center caps for them as shown in this post by Boo:

* * * * * *

You can get these center caps from your dealer or any of the numerous online Toyota OEM parts sites. Prices below are from the parts.com site, which AFAIK generally has the lowest prices.

A. Part # 42603-52030

This cap was for the 2004-2009 Gen II Prius 15" wheel.

But if you go to any of the Toyota OEM parts sites, you will have to plug in that you're looking for parts for a 2004, 2005 or 2006 Toyota Prius (don't ask why ... just accept the fact that the Toyota parts database that everyone uses is stupid, makes no sense, etc.).

This cap is domed, smooth and with the Toyota logo recessed. It looks like this:



It is available at parts.com for $10.48 each, plus $12.99 shipping for 4 caps.


B. Part # 42603-52110

This cap was for the 2007-2009 Yaris wheels.

So if you go to any of the Toyota OEM parts sites, you will have to plug in that you're looking for parts for a 2007, 2008 or 2009 Toyota Yaris.

This cap is flat (or flatter), textured and with the Toyota logo raised. It looks like this:



It is available at parts.com for $10.43 each (that's 5 cents less than 42603-52030 lol), plus $12.99 shipping for 4 caps.

* * * * * *

 

Stop worrying about the difference between 48 and 50 mpg. At 15k miles per year, at 48 mpg you'll use 312.5 gals. At 50 mpg you'll use 300 gals. 12.5 gals @ $2.75 = $34.38 PER YEAR! FUGETABOUTIT!

I think hypermilers have a screw loose.

 

I just replaced my wheel covers with the center caps this morning. I have given up expecting good mileage from the car (I average in the low 30s) so I just did what I think looks the best.

 

They're not bad. Not as good as those on the 17", but still an improvement over the plastic covers.

None that I've noticed? If there is, it's in the noise.

 

In the "low 30's". Yikes. I ran one tank entirely in the PWR mode, and accelerated like I wasn't driving a Prius...and I still got in the low 40's. Granted, that's before the temperature dropped, and we went to the winter blend gas, but still...low 30's sounds very low to me.

 

Actually today I did about 115 miles strictly highway at pretty much constant speeds, no power mode, no speeds over 63. It brought my average up to 37 for this tank. The rest of the 140 miles are trips of about 5 miles or so. Not very impressive.

 

I think a lot of hypermilers would happily AGREE with you.

- D

 

You can use the voice recognition thing to put in an address while you're driving. I did it twice and it wasn't that bad. I doubt that it really takes any longer than typing it in. And you can do it while you are moving. It's nice because it gives you 2 other options for roads or cities that are close to you and sound similar to what you said.

Plus it's safer because you don't have to take your eyes off the road because it repeats it back to you to make sure it's right!

 

If allmost all the driving is short trip, 5 minute hops in cold temps I would expect to see a tank as low as 25mpg.