Huge loss in fuel economy with wheels

We're "2 Slo"

 

I will agree on that one. When you are disabled, arthritic, and have to walk with a cane one would be slo... Oh, I almost forgot, I wear bifocals too...

Ron

 

Let's give him some slack. After all, it looks like his primary objective is for his Prius to look good as his list of preference is narrow. However, he has yet to come to grips (no pun intended) that the incidental bite to the MPG losses he sees may in fact also come from tire choice.

I think and it may be the fact also that since he's so used to driving high-horsepower cars, that he still has a lead foot. I was like that before also at it took time for me to adjust to my current car.

 

For the total miles my household keeps cars, that 'jack squat on gas' for a non-hybrid turns out to be considerably more than the purchase price of the car.

I buy cars for my reasons, not for someone else's demands.

 

Something that I didn't add to my post is that there's something to be said for the psychological effect of a very low cost to fill vs. a car that's a guzzler in comparison and knowing that one has amongst the most efficient non-plugin vehicles sold in recent times, esp. when driving by gas station.

When I used to have a long commute, I'd get ~46 mpg in my Prius vs. ~23 mpg tops in my Z. To go 300 miles, based on average prices for my city at http://fuelgaugereport.com/ of $3.981 for regular and $4.181 for premium, was just a tad under $26 for the Prius. My Z would cost $54.53!

Most people here would be griping like crazy when gas passes $5/gal, but driving the Z instead of the Prius is like raising gas prices from $3.981 to $8.36/gal, which most Americans would consider insane.

Perhaps if Americans thought of things that way and could easily compute this via a web page, app, spreadsheet, etc., they be more inclined to pick more efficient vehicles.

 

I have a Subaru too, acquired before the Prius existed anywhere. At today's local gas price, it has already burned $13,000 more fuel than the Prius will for the same miles.

While that Suby has some expensive repairs looming (center viscous coupler, head gasket), it otherwise should have plenty more life left. If I keep it as long as my previous car, its extra fuel cost will expand to $17-18k compared to the Prius.

 

Rhetoric, through and through.

Those who trade car every 2 to 3 years do it to keep high values of their cars. And most of those who do that are the one's who are buying late models to new. Their mindset is resale values, not that they are bored.

When you look at the folks here on this board who post regularly you will find that they have owned their Prius for a long time. Generally the only reason why they get a newer one is if the car went out of the hybrid warranty or an accident which caused the Prius to be totaled.

All cars have expensive parts. And all cars have expensive technicians who charge to work on them. Yeah, any shade tree guy can change and engine for $500, but will everything work properly.

Getting back to the beginning of this string, you complained about loss of MPG. But then you discount it because the look of your car is more important. Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Finally for someone who claims they have done a lot of research, I find it hard to believe that you don't know how to disable the back up beeps that annoy you so much. It is a very easy task and is well documented online. Furthermore, the default on the MFD can be easily changed with one touch of the MFD. Also it is clearly documented in the owner's manual that the doors on the Gen II can be modified concerning the touching of the handle to unlock one or all doors. There are actually three options that are user controlled.

I still say that all of your actions have brought your problems on yourself. If you would have left the stock tires and wheels on your Prius alone the Prius would be giving you at least 3 to 4 MPG better than where you are now.

Bottom line is this. It really does not matter how a car looks. What matters is if it gets you from point a to point b. When you start obsessing in how it looks, you usually end up spending a whole lot of money for nothing which sometimes can create more problems further down the line.

I drive a 09 Prius that looks very similar to the logo I post. It is 100% stock including the 12 volt battery. It has more than enough power for this old man. And I smile every time I fill the tank. I bought it used rather than new, and when it comes time to replace it if I live that long I will get another used Prius or a Leaf. I am not concerned about the cost of the traction battery. There are many sources out there for that type of thing. Besides that, if I worried about that then I should also worry about the transaxle, inverter and all the other expensive items that on the Prius. Like I said earlier, all cars have something expensive on them.

Last but not least, I generally drive a car for ten years. I buy them used with 35 to 45K on the clock, and usually don't get rid of them until the clock shows at least 150K or more.

 

Seems you're a wise old man too.

 

From page 32 in the owner's manual:

CHANGING THE DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED​

Each time you push the lock button together with the panic button on the​

smart key for about 5 seconds with the hybrid system off, the setting for door​

unlocking will change as follows:​

1. Driver’s door unlocking mode: If you perform smart unlocking operation on​

the driver’s door, it will unlock. Performing unlocking operation on the​

front passenger’s door or back door will unlock all the doors. When the​

system switches to this mode, one beep sounds inside the vehicle and two​

beeps sound three times.​

2. All doors unlocking mode: Performing smart unlocking operation on either​

front door or back door will unlock all the doors. When the system switches​

to this mode, one beep sounds inside the vehicle and two beeps sound twice.​

3. Single door unlocking mode: The driver’s door or back door on which​

you perform smart unlocking operation will unlock. However, performing unlocking​

operation on the front passenger’s door will unlock all the doors.​

When the system switches to this mode, one beep sounds inside the vehicle​

and two beeps sound once.​

​

DISABLING THE REVERSE BEEPING​

1. Power on the car to IG-ON or READY. IG-ON will do for this purpose.​

2. Using the Trip/ODO button, set the Trip/ODO display to ODO (not Trip A or Trip B )​

3. Power off the car.​

4. Now power the car to READY (brake on). This is required so that step 6 works correctly.​

5. Within 6 seconds of powering on, press and hold the Trip/ODO button for 10 seconds or more (there is no indication... just count)​

6. WHILE STILL HOLDING ODO *after* the 10 seconds, shift the "gear" selector to R, then press the P button. Now release the Trip/ODO button.​

7. If the last step was successful, "b on" or "b off" should be displayed in the location where the Trip Odometer or Odometer is normally displayed (front dash area). "b on" is beep on (default), and "b off" is beep off.​

8. Press Trip/ODO to toggle the mode.​

9. Now power the car off to exit the toggle mode.​

10. Power the car on to READY and confirm the reverse beep status by shifting to R. The beep should not be audible if "b off" was selected, and should be audible if "b on" was selected​

​

​

Give these a try and see if they work.

 

I guarantee the steps above will work on the Gen II Prius if they are followed in the steps shown above.

You can even turn off the seatbelt beeps if that bothers you by doing the following.


And to disable each of the front seatbelt warning beeps, follow these instructions:

1. Be sure someone is sitting in the seat which seatbelt beep you wish to disable.

2. Without your foot on the brake, turn on your Prius and make sure you are in ODO mode (not Trip A or B). Power off the Prius

3. With your foot on the brake, turn on the Prius. As soon as the ‘Ready’ light is lit, press and hold the ODO button for at least 10 seconds.

4. Keeping the ODO button pressed, insert the seatbelt that you wish to disable the beep for. At this point, ‘b- on’ should appear on your dashboard display.

5. You can now let go of the ODO button, and each press of the ODO button toggles between ‘b- on’ and ‘b-off’. To disable the reverse beep, simply set it to ‘b-off’, the power off the Prius.

 

The voltage thing becomes a non issue as soon as you undo a certain connector in the back.
About the only typical maintenance repair issue that's going to be more involved than a conventional car will be brake bleeding. For that you need TechStream or an ebay knock-off to cycle the valving. Many of us prefer to do our own repair work. It makes us happy.

As far as the car's concerned of course my Prius makes me happy. It's small on the outside, big on the inside and gets twice the mileage of just about any other car that would work for us. Mine has a solar panel that circulates outside air into the car when it's parked in the sun. Traffic jams and long waits at railroad crossings don't bother me anymore. My engine's off but the HVAC keeps me comfortable.

Fortunately I don't have to care about what other people think about my wheels and I'm not compelled to "shut someone up and hurt their ego".

If you want to get the most out of this forum also consider working on your opening lines

 

If you would rather buy a nice Camry, then why do have the Prius???

Your statements contradict one another.

Like I said earlier, you can't have your cake and eat it too!

As far as the Prius being more expensive than a traditional car, I disagree. The little bit you pay extra is more than repaid by the savings in fuel alone.

A Prius driven 12000 miles per year for three years will pay for the difference in cost just by fuel savings alone. Any thing after that is money in the bank. Not only that, the maintenance of the Prius is considerably cheaper than many cars out there.

Now if you throw away the LRR tires and run something NON OEM such as you have done, you are actually defeating the purpose of why you bought the Prius to begin with. 3 MPG does not sound like much, but over time every penny adds up. Furthermore, you have to add to the mix the money you spent to make the changes that are in fact costing you more money every time you push the Power button.

You might as well drive the Subie and be happy. That way you won't have a reason to be complaining about the poor MPG your Prius is delivering which is due to the changes you made.

 

Do the math, I did it 12 years ago when the Prius first appeared. The threshold was $3.00 per gallon for the 3 year payoff @ 12K a year. Truth in numbers. Now if you drive 50K @ year, the payback is even faster. Now if you buy used, the payback is faster still.

I drive 10 to 12 K a year now. I used to drive 15 to 18 K a year commuting back and forth to work. I hesitated for a long time before the Prius came into our household. Looking back, I now know without a doubt that the Prius is worth the difference in the purchase price providing that you keep the car for a long time.

It is foolish to change cars every couple of years. It is wise to get every penny out of your car you can. That includes NOT wasting money on vain things such as fancy wheels and tires to make it look better. What looks good to you might look hideous to another person. It is all in the eye of the beholder. Remember that whatever you spend for that look is money that is essence thrown away. Because it does not matter how a car looks, what matters is whether it will get you from point a to point b. Being economical about it is a plus. Lowering the economy for the sake of looks in a minus.

What do you want? To save money? If so, stop doing things that lower the MPG of your Prius. Try putting your effort into getting the MOST MPG you can for your money and be happy with that. In the end, it does not matter what other's think about your car or say about it. The only thing that really matters is that you arrive safely. If you can get there by saving a buck or two, that is the icing on the cake.

 

You just proved my point. There is a $6000 difference between the Prius and the WRX. I rest my case.