How do I highway merge when my 2015 Prius C takes 11-12 seconds to even get to 50 mph?

okay, and what is the speed limit?

 

it's exhausting, but it sounds like you are just squeaking into the merge at the minimum speed. put your hazards on while heading up the ramp.

 

can you return it?

 

This is the way I think it is in every state. The people already established on the highway has the right of way and merging means "the car coming onto the highway" has to fit in. It's nice if somebody moves over to let you in but by no means do they HAVE to. Merge means "the car coming onto the highway" has to merge.

 

Based on my own experience with the "C", then yes your experience with the acceleration is normal if what you said in Post #43 is correct. (slight uphill acceleration).

I had a big problem getting used to it myself. When I leave work, we have a 4 way stop, slight uphill on the direction I need to take to go home. It's unbelievably slow - and there are 2 people at work which have told me that when they see that "Orange" car ahead of them at the 4 way stop - they say "well S*^t". (I do believe their story is true, as I remember being a "non-prius" owner and I absolutely hated seeing one of them in front of me at that 4 way.)

Anyways, if it's help at all, I will tell you that you'll get used to it, and it'll seem like there was never a problem at all. And if anyone here ever tells you that the "ECO" button doesn't have any effect on throttle response and "feel", well don't believe it. They can read from a book all they want, but that darn ECO button turns an already slow car to get up to speed into what feels like is a car powered with a Briggs & Stratton. But keep the car for awhile, TRUST me when I say you'll get used to it. It really will seem like no problem at all within a few weeks.

 

Where that is the case, the entering traffic should see a sign that says "YIELD", not "merge" or the little lane diagram.

Most of this problem really is drivers who don't know how to drive properly and don't understand the concept of "following too close".
IF......both streams of traffic had spaces at least a couple of car lengths long, the problem would be greatly reduced.

Personally........I look in the rear view while coming up to speed and pick out a car that has a space behind it.
Then I aim for his back bumper and merge into that space.

If there are NO spaces, then the situation becomes a bit different.
Note that the incoming stream of traffic needs to have spaces too.

AND......I don't think anybody here is talking about making the vehicles on the highway STOP to let people in.......unless maybe they are almost stopped already. A simple letting off the gas and getting off of the bumper ahead of you is all that is required.

 

in Texas he with the biggest pickup/SUV wins
I've seen a college student (texas A&M) in a small car try to "force" a semi to give way to her as she was entering highway. I happened to be in left lane, noticed what was about to happen, slowed up and flashed lights at semi and he quick changed lanes to avoid squashing her.

back to topic. my C is no rocket but it goes quicker to 60 on an incline than 15 seconds. of course "incline" is a relative term because what I call a hill some just call a rise in elevation. having a frame of reference in the steepness of the grade you are trying to merge in would help. if it is a 20° or 25° grade or about 40 or 50% slope then yes that would make for a slow to speed acceleration.

 

I test drove a C before I bought my liftback. I thought it was very underpowered on the interstate, which is why I didn’t buy it. I think this is normal for a C. Whether it’s acceptable is up to you.

 

Face it, just admit it, your description is in conflict with the traffic laws of the states where I have lived and been licensed, ID and WA.

Perhaps you could name a specific state or two where the law matches your description?

At highway speed, "a couple of car lengths" is EXTREME TAILGATING!

Here, at 60 mph, the legal minimum following distance is 120 feet, which is 8 car lengths (for typical Prius-class cars). Preferred distance is 2.0 seconds, which is 176 feet or nearly 12 car lengths.

 

Which is exactly what I was trying to say.

But I wasn't aware that any states had put an actual distance in a law about minimum following distances.

Enforcement of that would be cool. Take a snapshot of the freeway and send EVERY car in the picture a ticket in the mail for following too close.

 

You did say "a couple'. That is 2, vastly different than 8.

 

What a few contributors are trying to say, I think:

There are bullies out there, they speed, they're very territorial, prone to tailgate. You should not have to do a drag race every time you enter the freeway. Get up to speed efficiently yes, but don't let yourself get stampeded by the nutters. They are looking for a reaction, if they don't get it from you hopefully they will move on.

Another thought: are there alternate routes?