I do not own any Toyota products, no Prius, no nothing. The sign up forces one to choose a Prius - but am only looking for information as I consider getting one. That said, my 81 VW Rabbit diesel gets 46-52mpg without any problems, was paid for more than 30 years ago, insurance cost is very low and the vehicle still runs well, is clean and shiny with original paint. But, looking at something that gets good fuel mileage and the Prius is a consideration. Problem is North Dakota winters and a lot of gravel roads. Can a Prius take a tire a bit taller than factory to raise the vehicle a bit for more ground clearance? Works with the VW - but the Prius is new and lower. Would be looking at 08 to 11 models due to cost. See some with batteries already replaced so that would not be much of a worry. Just ground clearance questions - pushing snow rather than driving over it on our roads is not any fun and leads to getting stuck. So - taller tires - anyone with experience here?
While the Prius v has the most ground clearance, and you certainly can put larger tires on it . you may well consider a small SUV hybrid, Toyota or Ford. They make lift kits, this is on a Gen 2 Lift Kit for Toyota Prius Corolla Avensis Matrix Voltz Vibe 1,6" 40mm spacers | eBay It lifts about an inch and a half. (Very few 2008 to 2011 Prius will have the battery replaced yet)
Yap, it is a wrong forum. I reported it to the moderator, I hope he/she will move this thread to an appropriate forum. If your VW is getting that amazing actual milage (of course that is if without any rigged data by VW. lol) and you are happy with the car (still running fine and not costing a lot to maintain), I would not waste money on 08 to 11 models Prius. While the Prius can be a solidly reliable car, 10 years old especially with a lot of miles may need a traction battery replacement and other repairs that will quickly become a money pit. As for the ground clearance, if you can get by with VW Rabbit, I would think PRIUS can handle with snow tire. I am not sure if a taller tire would fit inside of the well. I have never heard anyone trying that to rise the car up.
^ that A Prius is built to absorb unlimited miles in a 10-15 year window, rather than ??? miles over 30 years. Very different engineering goals. Congrats on keeping that Rabbit going so long, but take it as a gentle warning that the Prius just isn't going to stand up to that same challenge.
There are numerous other vehicle choices to select if you scroll at least 1/3rd of the way down the list: Other Hybrid, Other Non-hybrid, Other Electric Vehicle, and some selection of specific Chevy, Nissan, and Tesla models to choose from. So you don't have to fake a 'Prius'.
Maybe they should have a "none" option too. For example: young drivers saving for a first car, people who just occasionally rent a car or those Car2Go concepts, or someone out of the 4 wheel game but still interested, whomever.
If, as you claim, you're getting 52 mpg out of a vw rabbit that's almost 40 years old, I wouldn't bother buying an old Prius. Stick with what you've got!
Those diesel Rabbits were wonderful for economy. And if I remember correctly, it was a 100% mechanical system, no electronics at all, no electricity needed after starting. And just to toss it out there on the lift topic- tema4x4 has parts to lift many models of Toyota.
Yeah, I know what he was trying to say. I was just kidding. But, aren't all car engines 100% mechanical 30 years ago?
1990? No, they mostly had electronic ignitions by then. Fuel injected also. I had a 1988 Accord and that was one of the last carburetor cars. Thing had 50 or so vacuum lines connected to it in some fashion.
My first car would be 58 years old, it had spark plugs, (and no magneto) coil and a distributor, all using an Alternator; so not all mechanical. Last year without a PVC valve. My brother drove a Nash Metropolitan, 6 volts and a generator. Cute car. (googled photo, this one is British, so technically an Austin Metropolitan)
He was talking vs. electronics, and the radio is the only item there that needs electronics. All the rest can be mere electrics, far more immune to EMP than electronics. Though many people today are too young to be expected to know the difference. That series of Accords had a choice between carbureted on the lower trims (DX, LX?), or fuel injected on the top trim (LXi). I bought the injected version. I bought my future spouse a very bottom trim Integra -- still her daily driver -- in 1989, and it is fuel injected.
Prius owners are a weird bunch, and seem to be very happy to tell any prospective buyers NOT to buy a Prius. I have put bigger tyres on my gen2 (2009), they are 215/70/16 Toyo Open Country AT2 and required removing of the mud flaps, and inner plastic wheel arch liners, there is also some slight rubbing on big bumps. I wouldnt reccommend going this big but one size smaller would be perfect. I have also ordered the 40mm lft kit from Rising Tuning but its been in the post for 2 months now and im starting to think its not coming.
I purchased a 79 Celica from a military member who used it overseas. The Germans had 'tuned' it for their emissions, it had to be returned to California emissions upon re-entry to US. This car had 40 vacuum lines under the hood of which 33 were in the wrong place. 2 days of schematic reading later, finally passed Inspection. Sorry to say, but the car was not worth the trouble.
