I'm looking at buying a 2007. I've read how the A/C runs off the battery and uses the engine as needed to maintain the battery charge. Is the A/C powerful enough for adequate cooling in the unbearable heat of the Florida summer?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Mar 18 2007, 10:06 PM) [snapback]408118[/snapback]</div> Even better! It cools you on I. 15 driving through Vegas Summers. Enough Said.
Even though Georgia's not as hot as Florida, my 2005 Prius will cool me down to a shiver in the summertime. Also, your gas mileage goes up in the warm weather, so the offset of running your A/C will probably be unnoticable compared to during the winter.
We get some 100+ºF days here in Chicagoland as well. And though I normally shun running the A/C for the mileage hit, I hear it's quite nice. Welcome to PriusChat, Sheana! What Freke said is true. It will cool you to a shiver. What you said about the A/C running off the hybrid battery is true. Toyota designed it this way so the internal combustion engine (ICE) wouldn't have to work as hard to run the compressor. This keeps the ICE working at optimal conditions doing what it does best, moving the car forward. I mean, why hinder the ICE to run an air conditioner when you could just as easily (or easier) run it electrically, like the A/C in your house?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Mar 18 2007, 07:06 PM) [snapback]408118[/snapback]</div> I should think so. It's one of the most effective AC's I've seen in any car. It handled 105+ here in NorCal just fine.
Handles 110 here in the desert. Although at that temp, any cooling is fine. I have a 12 mile commute. and at the end of the day it will take about 4 miles to get the temp down to about 85 and 6 to get it to 78. Don't really get the AC cooler than that. The only A/C in a vehicle that I have ever found that is better is the one that Mazda uses. That one will bring Ice on the inside of the Window even at 100 degrees. Your mileage WILL vary with the A/C running. Mine drops to about 45mpg with the A/C at full blast.
It works fairly well. I would recommend a dash shade, car cover, or better yet; a garage. I lack all three. that black dash heats up nicely. I heard of potential worping. If i'm in the shade on a 104 day. it cools rather nicely. very quick, and sometimes too cold.
From South Florida When left in the summer sun I open the windows to let the heat out; then it takes a few minutes running at high (kind of loud) to get comfortable. In the morning, evening or when overcast, the A/C has no problem keeping my Prius comfortable (72 degrees) while on low speed. The A/C is not as fast/quiet as my Lexus, but its better than my SUV's (MDX and Expedition).
In north Carolina I was forced to park in the sun in Military parking. The ac works great I just set the auto ac to the temp I wanted annd just drive. Your mpg will suffer just like everyone else around you. But 45mpg beats 15mpg any day. I once got stuck in traffic it was 103 and 100% humidity inside the prius 74. Now when I was stuck for 20 minuts without moving the power bar would get down into the red before the ice turns on. Just sit back and let the car works no need to adjust to it the car takes car of you and itself. Now you can get good mpg on a hot day by setting the ac to 76-78 but somedays you just want to be cool.
The A/C isn't just to cool the passengers but the battery as well. The vent for the battery is in the passenger compartment. Trust me the A/C is one of the better ones on any car out there.
Prius A/C is A-OK in Dallas' >100º summer days. If I park in the summer sun, I do use a windshield shade {bought in the PriusChat Store}, leave a couple of windows open ½" to 1" to help avoid so much heat buildup. I set my A/C System {controls both cooling and heat} on "Automatic" and only occasionally modify settings... as when I'm in an area of noxious odors at which time I change the air flow to "recirculate" instead of leaving it on the "fresh air" setting. Seems many are confused by the term "Air Conditioning" thinking it to be cooling only, but it is "Conditioning" which includes cooling, heating and sometimes dehumidifying.
personally I either use the vent or the old fashioned windows down method. Granted it doesn't get to 110 in LA, but I am happy without using the A/C
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(YodaddyAlex @ Mar 19 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]408430[/snapback]</div> I often wonder if you take a mileage hit by having the windows down. It seems to me like you futz with the aerodynamics of the vehicle that way. I have heard, nor read nothing to support this, I just am wondering if it is so.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Mar 18 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]408118[/snapback]</div> Absolutely! I live in WPB and my 2006 will blow you out of the car after a short time. You will be turning the blower speed down even on the 90+ degrees days. I am very impressed with the A/C in the Prius and mine is black.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bhaynnes @ Mar 20 2007, 11:46 AM) [snapback]409028[/snapback]</div> At highway speeds, absolutely. I doubt it's much of an issue at 35 mph though. This was a great thread, it laid one of my concerns about the Prius to rest. The summers here in SE Texas are brutal and this kid needs his AC. B)
