1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Does Prius Fit Among Americans Thirst For V6, V8 Acceleration?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012.

Page 1 of 2
  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    * Sorry, don't think the thread title is great. ... How about .... Can V6, V8 overpowered SUV / trucks fit among Prius, cars of the future? *

    Yesterday pulled onto a ramp I didn't know, sharp right, then steep climb up Edgewood Rd ramp to 280N (fairly near San Mateo,CA) and the freeway is a climb too! Jeep Grand Cherokee behind.

    Hey, I was doing alright getting up to speed, but he wanted to put the 230 HP V-6 into action. I could see him behind, head in hand, acting like he's all bored behind the slow Prius. HSI was buried through PWR zone ... was in normal mode.

    Guess this guy was late for a plane, geez. Some Americans sure do like acceleration, 200 something HP V6 or 300 something V8 for towing. That's another thing, some naysayers don't like Pri because it can't tow. I'll bet half the cars on the market have 200 HP or more, many 300 HP.

    Next time ought to turn on PWR mode and let it rip some more.

    Anyone else had this happen? Have the bored driver in rear view mirror in SUV?

    ---------
    fyi, Americans invented drag racing. Yes we did. Bunch of soldiers came back from WWII, built hot rods and raced them around the streets. Then came the National Hot Rod Association.
     
    #1 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  2. d2mini

    d2mini Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    519
    106
    0
    Location:
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I've been that driver. Not in an suv and not behind a prius, just behind somebody going too slow. At least be up to the speed of the current freeway traffic BEFORE you need to merge. That's all I ask. Too many people expect freeway traffic to adjust to THEIR speed or they don't hit the gas until the last second as they are trying to merge and this is just plain dangerous, and a huge pet peeve of mine. Sorry, I'm not accusing you of doing this. But these people should be shot. Now I have had people on my butt when merging onto a fwy that must just be in a hurry and then blast past me the first chance they get, even though we are already over the speed limit. I think prius or not, some people just want to be faster or they are running late or something.
     
    #2 d2mini, Mar 30, 2012
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I guess the solution would have been power mode.
     
    #3 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I have the opposite problem. If I am going to go 61 MPH I accelerate to 61 then cruise. The Prius gets fantastic mileage when cruising, so I want to spend all my time cruising, and not spend time accelerating. Sadly, some of the folks that will (eventually) want to go 64 MPH will take 3 miles to get to 61.

    So I pass a great many vehicles that will repass me in 5 to 7 miles.

    Their big pickup has to slow more for ramps than the Prius does, so I carry more speed through the ramp than they do.
     
    #4 JimboPalmer, Mar 30, 2012
  5. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    This ramp was a toughy - Edgewood road passes under the freeway, but before that, turn a right corner, then boom, you're on a fairly steep ramp going up to the freeway, can't carry speed into the ramp because the corner is tight right turn. Once on the freeway, that is uphill too.

    I ought to improve, use power mode if needed and get up to speed quicker. There was more pedal travel left.
     
    #5 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  6. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2012
    810
    313
    0
    Location:
    NE
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I find that the Prius does an admirable job of keeping up ....... So now I really can blame the drivers ....... always did blame the Subaru drivers :)
     
    #6 yeldogt, Mar 30, 2012
  7. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,075
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Power mode produces no additional power. If you need to go faster, floor it.

    Tom
     
    #7 qbee42, Mar 30, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks and I do recall that. I prefer the feel of a more responsive gas pedal in these situations.

    There's a few issues about MPGs, driving mode button placement I'm going to search out.

    Real quick - driving mode buttons might be easier to use on steering wheel. I think they might be more important than 'temp' buttons....

    The PiPers could really use EV/HV buttons on steering wheel as I hear they need to switch. Reaching to right of shifter is not kosher. makes driver takes hand off wheel too much.
     
    #8 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  9. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Not related to your question, but I know that area very well. The view driving west on Edgewood, and the way the hills in the distance are framed just as you emerge from under the 280 overpass (if you were going to take 280 south, for example), is pretty spectacular.
     
    #9 stream, Mar 30, 2012
  10. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    23 years ago (or so) in the 55 MPH speed limit days, I was taking that on-ramp (to 280 N) in my 1988 Honda CRX-HF. A big rig was traveling about 70 mph in the right lane, coming up on me as I was hitting the freeway (at 45 - 50 mph, floored). I had to merge onto the shoulder and drive there for several seconds for the big rig to pass me so I could merge onto the highway.

    At least the Prius can get up to speed more decently than the CRX-HF could.
     
    #10 Codyroo, Mar 30, 2012
  11. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    As is Edgewood Park :)
     
    #11 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, isn't that ramp something? At least there's a separate entry lane on right now, but have to get out of it .. also an exit lane. :eek:
     
    #12 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I've driven my 2011 just about all the time in Normal, but will try PWR mode every time (if I remember to push button). Reason being is when renting 3rd gen many times, almost always in PWR mode, got great on gage 55 mpg minimum. True it was joy driving with engine warm thru the day.

    I'm halfway thru tank. Will see if gage climbs a bit with usual drives. No other changes just try PWR mode.
     
    #13 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  14. Sabby

    Sabby Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2011
    295
    127
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I figure for everyone that has a car that they think is fast there is always a faster car. It is all relative and we are all dealing with the same traffic and the same speed limits. My wife drives a Jeep Grand Cherokee that has a V8. When I drive that car now it feels like a rocket compared to my Prius. Before the Prius I had a 335 Twin Turbo BMW coupe. It made the Jeep feel very slow. There will always be something faster and newer. That V6 Jeep that was behind you getting on the highway likely holds many people back!

    I think the Prius has plenty of power for everyday activities. Think of how much time the Jeep driver will waste waiting at the pump.
     
    #14 Sabby, Mar 30, 2012
  15. stream

    stream Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2008
    2,977
    452
    14
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Agreed--I used to take my kids there all the time when they were younger.
     
    #15 stream, Mar 30, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  16. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    393
    44
    1
    Location:
    uk
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    True but I have noticed that if I floor it in ECO mode, there is a noticable delay while the prius seems to think "does he really mean it - oh yes, he does" before giving full throttle. In PWR mode, this delay doesn't happen.
     
    #16 johalareewi, Mar 30, 2012
  17. mhmercer

    mhmercer New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2009
    44
    3
    0
    Location:
    Alameda, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Perhaps it's the way you drive, rather than what's behind you. I get the same get-outa-my-way nonsense whether I drive the Prius or the Porsche. For me, life's too short to get upset about it. I just drive my drive; not someone else's.
     
    #17 mhmercer, Mar 30, 2012
  18. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Another note, look at 2012 Camry hybrid ... 200 total HP. Yeah, it's about 10 MPG less than regular Prius and not saying Toyota should bloat Prius HP, but should Toyota at least think about making HP/curb weight equal to Corolla (.044 to .046 repsectively)?

    Camry HP/curb weight is .054, hence 8.x ... again not saying we need a 9.5 second Prius, but I think a wee more ooomph in 4th gen.

    ... I hear it now .... 'sacrilege! ... burn the Prius foe!'
     
    #18 cycledrum, Mar 30, 2012
  19. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2008
    1,483
    137
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    You don't have to put into Power Mode, just floor the throttle and you will be in power mode.

     
    #19 bedrock8x, Mar 30, 2012
  20. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    2,287
    460
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Actually, I'd say that while it's ideal to be matching speed when you merge, it's better to be on the slow side. The faster you're going the earlier you're committed to the merge. It's true that when you commit, you should really commit, but I'd rather have somebody merge at a slower speed behind a car in front of me than have somebody racing on the on-ramp to merge in front of me. What matters more to me is that they're accelerating hard when they merge.

    Fortunately, up here the traffic's light and merging is easy. Not that I like even to drive on the Interstate. It's bad for mileage. :D
     
    #20 ItsNotAboutTheMoney, Mar 30, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2