Prius worst car in history in winter

The 3rd gen is still not perfect, you will still get the shut down every now and then

 

As my name shows, I'm from South Jersey. I drove the car last winter and this winter. I never have the problems that the OP has. All that's necessary is to drive cautiously, which you should always do in the snow and ice. My gas mileage declines in the winter from about 50 mpg to about 42 mpg. There seems to be a relationship between temperature and gas mileage. And there are days when I turn on the car, turn on the front and rear defrosters, and go out and chip frost. Of course this lowers gas mileage. The rear defroster is very powerful. The front is not, but you can't very well put strips on a front windsheld.

I understand that *all* cars get worse mileage in the winter, and I think 42 mpg is more than adequate, and so, while there are things I don't especially care for about the car, winter is not a problem for me.

 

Yup - that's my primary complaint also. I'm willing to live with it given how great the car is in just about every other area.

BTW, I have an '08 and I can disable traction control. I don't know if the same process works on gen 3, but I now disable before climbing up our developement and driveway if there is any snow at all on the road. I'd be doing a heck of a lot of walking if I hadn't found out how to do this. In fact, I was in the market for a AWD auto until I found out how to disable TC.

-Brad

 

How do you disable it? I didn't think there were many changes from 2008 to 2009 so maybe I can also but just don't know how? Or maybe you can tell me where to go to get the info?

Thanks for any hints Brad!

 

As you can see below, we get a bit of snow where I live (The ground under the snowbank is level with the road.)



I agree with all the earlier comments that decent tires, some common sense, and a bit of experience driving in the snow go a long way. Our car has a set of WS60 Blizzaks and my son's 2007 has the WS70's. Even though several of his college friends have 4wd SUV's they always take his car on their weekend ski trips even during nasty storms. He's never had any issues, even when other cars have been all over, and off, the road.

On one of the steep hills heading up to to our town (a 10+% grade) it's not uncommon for me drive around some big SUV from some southern state with summer tires basically parked in the middle of the road spinning it's wheels and either going nowhere or sliding backward. Time permitting, I like to pull over and help them on their way again. Every single time that has happened they have always seemed a bit baffled as to why I don't have any problems when they are basically immobilized.

 

I have had over 130 vehicles in the last 54 years and have logged over 1.7 million miles. The Prius is our daily driver and I put about 2000 miles a month on it in all kinds of weather. Here in Illinois we have had the most snow in recorded history. Also one of the coldest winters.

I have used it every day this winter during storms and below zero weather. The Prius performed as well or better than any front wheel drive car that I have had. Never a problem with the heat or defrost mode.

I would suggest that maybe you are inexperienced and driving too fast for conditions. Slow down with letting off the gas peddle long before a stop intersection be fore you apply the brakes.

Every complaint that you listed is simply a lack of skill sets on your part.

 

BS. The car will shut itself down climbing steep hills. That has nothing to do with driver. You have never experienced it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

 

This argument has turned into a hair splitting event. I can speak with authority about my 2006 Prius, Michigan winters, gravel roads, and traction control. Here is my acquired wisdom, in a nutshell:

1) Tires make a big difference. Slippery tires will render any car helpless in the right kind of ice and snow. Good tires help, but there are still limits. Even the best tires can't overcome impossible conditions. I learned this the hard way with my Jeep C-J5. It was a real "go anywhere" vehicle, but in fact it couldn't go everywhere. I managed to get it stuck, a lot.

2) Traction Control on the Prius generally improves its winter driving characteristics. Note that I said "generally" - I'll get to the exceptions in next section.

Traction Control mostly eliminates the common problem of spinning tires on slippery surfaces. This improves acceleration and helps maintain directional control.

3) Traction Control sometimes gets in the way. The TC on the Gen II Prius is rather aggressive. It generally works well as long as the vehicle can maintain speed. It can be problematic from a dead stop, and it is horrible on some hills where you need a little more wheel spin.

There are a few special circumstances where a little more wheel spin is useful. The two that I most often encounter are uphill in slush and/or loose gravel. In both of these it is useful to have enough wheel spin to pile up the loose stuff behind the driving wheels.

Just this week I encountered a classic example: We had a thaw-freeze cycle that left wet snow on top of ice. Multiple attempts to get up a friend's driveway left us stopped at the same point each time. That driveway is a Prius nightmare: uphill, 90° turn, and then steeper to the top. You lose speed through the turn, and then can't make it up the steeper part at the top. I tried six times, each ending at the same spot. Finally I disabled traction control and was able to make it up the hill.

It wasn't easy without traction control, but it was possible. What I really needed were studded winter tires, but they are not legal in Michigan.

Tom

 

Excellent summation by Tom (qbee42). Nothing more to say!

Zhe Wiz