Hey there, just joined the forum yesterday. Not particularly new to the Prius or to forums in general, but I am to this one and thought I'd say hello. Lurked for a few days looking for a solution to the silly traction control (found it!) and interested in adding a backup camera someday (found it!) - there's lots of great wisdom in here and I'm grateful! Have a 2012 Prius, level II in winter grey with light grey cloth interior. My brother happens to have the exact same car and color combo, buying from dealer stock in different cities. Additions of note: Curt trailer hitch for a Thule bike rack, Clazzio leather seat covers (love them - the super light colored interior needed protecting!), WeatherTech fitted floor mats all over, and Goodyear "triple tread" tires. Liked these tires a lot on my older VW TDI, not as impressed on the Prius in the snow - partly I'm guessing because of the traction control, and maybe also less mass over the drive wheels. Not sure, but also have a 2003 Subaru WRX wagon for when the snow is actually bad. Thanks again - hope you all have a fantastic new year!
Congratulations and welcome to PriusChat, the perfect place to learn all you are ever likely to need to know about your Prius. Don't agonize too much about the traction control, I've learned not to second-guess the engineers who designed this amazing automobile! As far as tyres go, find yourself a decent set of snow tyres (no, not all-season, but snow) The "search" function can be very useful here on PriusChat. There have been many recent threads on tyres and wheels for the winter on this board, and in my own case, a couple of months ago, I bought a set of steel wheels and shod them with Blizzak WS-80s and in the past couple of days got to try them out in our first winter snow-storm (I live in Southern New Hampshire) - I can only say the Blizzaks are brilliant in snow, and the traction-control never kicked in once, so much different to last year when I was running my summer wheels shod with ½ worn Michelin Energy Savers all winter (see threads passim for the story). YMMV, and I'm sure others will share their different stories. Good luck, and again welcome to PriusChat! - Wil
Exact same car as your brother? Well welcome, but no points for individuality. I think I'd go out of my way to make sure my vehicle wasn't like my brothers.
Thanks all for the welcome! I do love the car, or as I call it, my "transportation appliance." PriusChat seems to be quite the treasure-trove. Thanks for the advice on snow tires/wheels but for me, I'd consider that expense only if this was my only car. As it is, I've made that multi-wheel/tire investment on the Subaru and I'm a believer in Blizzaks, but if I can press a few buttons to get unstuck now and then I will, rather than shell out for more wheels and tires for a vehicle that's so low to the ground. For now, anyway! The engineers could have put together a better TC solution I'm sure (easily turned off, and doesn't endanger your drivetrain when you do), but I imagine there were a few conversations with accountants and lawyers and this was the resulting TC compromise.
I bought mine first, a fact I like to remind him of now and then. But if I was looking for individuality, I'm not sure the Prius is the right move: they're freakin' everywhere, at least in CO!
In the world of sibling superiority, "I bought mine first"- is key. That changes everything. Points awarded for being the imitated as opposed to the imitator.
Sweet...at least there's that. We have some subtle differences - he has roof racks, I have the trailer hitch rack...plus his has a couple baby seats in the back that definitely add some contrast. He did go the snow tire route, too, since his truck won't fit his kiddos.
I have the same 2012 Prius v Three as my sister, i bought mine first, althoigh she had not seen mine when she bought hers.
