I have my 2005 Prius for 5000 miles. Is the break in period done and good enough for the long distance drive? What do I need to watch out in this car when doing a long distance trip? One time I was driving to a ski area with my prius. The battery almost drained and last level remained on the screen. The car was so weak and hard to clime to the top. Will I damage the battery or pushing the engine too hard?
nah, the car won't let you damage the battery. it'll use the engine accordingly. we've done a few long trips- once to key west which is 1000 miles each way and once to our home state which is about 1300 miles each way. each drive was done in one long shot with each of us driving shifts. had no problems whatsoever with the car, it seemed quite happy the whole way. the only thing is that the seat may get uncomfortable for long drives if you're a taller than average person or have back problems. i was fine for about 9 hours, then it was time to get up and move around. but i think i'd probably feel that way in any car with my back the way it is. i'm sure you'll be fine, good luck and have a safe trip!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yoyoman @ Apr 10 2006, 09:56 PM) [snapback]237867[/snapback]</div> No you won't damage the system. In fact, the slow down is to protect it... which is actually rather amusing, since on a long & steep climb up like that your Prius is basically acting just like a Corolla does under the same conditions.
I've made 2 long trips in my newish Prius and am only at the 4500 mile mark. First trip was ~800 miles round trip from OC to San Jose/Santa Cruz and back, and 2nd trip was ~700 miles round trip from OC to Mammoth Mountain and back. Long, steep grade just north of Bishop en route to Mammoth. About 10 miles of 6% uphill driving. Got my battery 'drained' to 1 purple bar but made it up to the top just fine, didn't notice any 'weakness' in the car's ability to make the climb, and was travelling at ~65-70mph the whole way up. The Prius won't let its battery completely drain, even with 1 purple bar remaining, it's still at ~40% SOC.
The Prius is quite capable of driving up the Mount Washington Auto Road. Several members have done that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Apr 11 2006, 03:11 PM) [snapback]238157[/snapback]</div> I am planning on taking my 06' Prius to upper michigan from chicago in the summer, it will only have about 100 miles by the time i take it there, do you think it will be ready for a trip, most of you were saying how you took yours on trips at the 4500-5000 mile mark, just wondering, thanks.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 11 2006, 02:18 PM) [snapback]238210[/snapback]</div> I'm sure it would be just fine! There are many people here on PC who purchased their Priuses in a location other than where they live, usually in another state or region, who took a one-way flight to do the purchase transaction then drove their Prius home, over several hundred miles distances and their cars were totally fine with the long trips! I had just over 1700 miles on mine before I made my first long trip, but that's because I didn't have any trips planned in the first few weeks of owning the car, otherwise I would have been completely fine driving long distances that early in its life.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Apr 11 2006, 05:00 PM) [snapback]238246[/snapback]</div> Alright thanks, just wanted to make sure, dont want anything happening to my prius, its great!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 11 2006, 03:03 PM) [snapback]238248[/snapback]</div> I hear ya! I have a strange love for this car that is beyond explanation. The Prius is most definitely a car that is meant to be driven a lot. It loves travelling and the open road.
You nervous nellies can relax about taking a "long" trip in your new Prius. As an example, I bought mine in California and drove it back home to Michigan. So at the two week old mark, it was getting its first oil change with 4200 miles on the odometer. The Prius will do fine. I'm not sure about some of you owners though!
