Road Trip!!!

There are plenty here who have driven hundreds of miles to pick up their cars, they'll be able to tell you how it runs - I myself will be taking a 524mi (1048mi total) trip this weekend, so when I return I'll let you know how it went!

-m.

 

2781Km on holidays and no problems Vancouver to Edmonton on to Saskatoon down to Regina over to Drumheller to Calgary to Kamloops and back to the coast. Averaged 5.3Lper100km and you know the mountain passes posed no problems if fact what I found was the electric drive motor doesn't know what altitude is. Surprised more than one vehicle that got passed on the Coquhalla between Hope and Merrit. Hope elevation 196 feet Coq summit 4320 distance 21 miles and the climb starts 9 miles out of Hope. There are 9 Audi patches on that strech of the #5, where they have burnt up. Late 80's models used to catch fire on that strech. That was with a 2K1, my 2K3 hasn't done that trip but I bought it in Regina and drove it to Vancouver no problems. The wifes 2K4 hasn't been on a long trip yet but the seats are as comfortable for me as the 2K3's and for my build no problem. Others have said they don't fit in the car comfortably, but for me no problem. Regular 87 octane is all she sips.

 

We'll be loading up the car and taking a 600 Mile trip to the bay area this weekend. With two kids, wife, and a little dog, I'm sure it'll be more than eventful. Details to follow!

 

I took the 04 from Monterey, CA to Lake Tahoe (6300 ft altitude and 630 miles RT) last weekend. The car has 2000 miles now, and I averaged 46 mpg. ($2.29/gal this trip) I experienced the same lack of notice of the altitude mentioned in a previous post and the power was plenty to achieve the limit of comfort around mountain curves. It did NOT feel like a 911, but just fine for the purpose. A significant portion of I-5 requires 75 mph to keep from being passed by more than 20 mph by over 50% of the traffic. I did not feel like I was on the brink of anything bad at that speed, although tire and wind noise is quite noticeable.

My wife, dog, and I were comfortable enough on this trip with the cargo area pretty full. We stop every 2 hrs or so in deference to one or another of our bladders and joints. The seats are on the firm side, which limits how long I can sit in the car in real comfort. I could NOT drive the 911 any farther in comfort for the same reason.

When I drive to WA, a two day trip, I need mucho cargo space plus enough comfort for the old bod to last that long and for that, I have a Yukon. The mileage sucks, but that's what it takes. The next choice is a 737!

I had no sign of freeway wander as some have described. I have not had the alignment checked.

The Nav worked perfectly the whole way.

All in all a very satisfying experience and probably a good definition of my tolerance level. It sure feels good to go for over 400 miles and still put in less than 10 gal! I think my mileage could be significantly higher if I drove in the 55 to 65 mph range. My first 160 miles right out of the box last month got 54 mpg on the highway under easy-going break in conditions.

Prii are becoming more plentiful, too. There's 3 or 4 that live within 5 miles of my home, and I saw another 5 or 6 in various places along the way between home and Tahoe.

 

My road trip report is here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1658

 

I have been lucky enough to have to drive 4 "long distance trips" with our '04 since we have got it. 3 times from OH to NH and or VT and once from OH to Wilmington, NC. Awesome road trip car. The last 2 round trips from OH to VT were straight through, 14 hours door to door, one fuel stop, 53.3 mpg, 3 pee stops, and putting up with crazy sections of driving. Also I go over Cumberland, MD route, lots of hills - no problem for this car. I got in a lane of traffic doing 85 mph, no sweat going that speed although I think the human race has gone a bit mad, I would rather do 5 over the speed limit and just drive with respect for my fellow drivers but I am not the norm.

All in all - great car for road trips, comfortable, steady, (one of those trips was in a blizzard). We don't have kids (hence the only 3 pee stops), but the back of the car is roomy and we just fold the seats down, put in our stuff and 90 lb dog and go, she loves it because when she is lying down she can see out the windows.

Good Luck

 

how's this for long road trip: 950 miles in 14.5hrs frm louisiana to ne new mexico w/ 2 huge retriever dogs in the back seat - altitude gain was significant - frm 250' to over 10k feet along w/ headwinds the whole way - drove mostly 75mph and avg 40mpg

return trip - much better mileage due to altitude change, etc - about 45mpg avg.