Thinking of buying a Prius, but in a cold climate. Are there negatives?

Not really. We have a pretty cold climate in northern Michigan, but our Prius does just fine. Mileage drops off in the cold, but it does that for all cars with internal combustion engines. The traction control on the Prius is a bit fussy, which can cause some trouble in the snow, especially if you have bad tires. You will want to replace the Goodyear OEM tires with something better.

Tom

 

The stock tires are lousy, and even more so in the winter. Problems have been reported with the traction control systems, mostly on earlier models, and using good snow tires seems to be the cure. You won't get as good mileage when it's cold, partly from having to run the defroster more often. A block heater will help, and so will using a radiator cover. Other than that, it seems to work pretty well.

 

I live in Massachusetts. With no block heater or radiator cover, in the winter I got about 38 MPG city, 45 MPG highway. While that is nowhere near what our friends in CA are getting, it's still better than any other car on the market.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aed1 @ May 15 2007, 02:57 PM) [snapback]442627[/snapback]</div>

That depends on how much gas you want to use. If you can stand to sit at a signal and have the engine running because you have the heat on, it is pretty quick. If, like me, it just KILLS you to have the engine running when you aren't moving, it takes longer <_< Either way, once the interior is warmed up, you can kill the ICE at red lights by hitting the 'auto A/C' (which REALLY means 'automatic climate control, not automatic air conditioning). Hit the button (on the steering wheel) again when the light changes. Unless it is REALLY cold, you dwon't even notice a change in cabin temp. And yes, it gets REALLY cold in Vermont.

One tiny tip - keep the cargo cover closed - it somewhat lessens the volume of air that must be brought up (or down in the summer) to temperature.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bruceha_2000 @ May 15 2007, 04:38 PM) [snapback]442748[/snapback]</div>

Interesting idea; it makes sense, but I'd yet to hear about it on here yet. Do you notice a significant difference between "cover closed" and "cover open"?

 

'hi!

no big issues/problems that ive experienced last winter when its comes to temprature. Was down to
-27Celcius.
It behaves like a normal car . And i dont find the heater warming slower or faster than other cars i had.
engine actually gets warm pretty fast.
just drive it

Cheers
Ola


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aed1 @ May 15 2007, 08:11 PM) [snapback]442573[/snapback]</div>

 

You get a LOT of snow in Rochester. The only real thing i can think of is perhaps removing the front lower air dam before the end of October as I have been through Rochester enough to know that you folks will drive through just about anything. Oh yea.. Like any car... Get some really good studded snow tires for those wonderful winter months.

 

If you plan on owning a Prius in a cold climate, definitely buy a block heater and power it for a few hours before you plan on leaving. Also you should block off your radiator openings to help hold the heat in. lastly, you shoudl plan on running your car for around five minutes if you want actual heat prior to beginning your drive on the coldest mornings.

The Prius heater is a little inadequate for my location durign the winter and I tend to leave the block heater on constantly when I'm at home. The hot coolant storage bottle is insufficient for my needs. The windows clear fairly quickly (especially the rear), but cabin heat is often lacking.

Snow tires are a must! I use Blizzaks and have only gotten stuck once (my fault for high-centering on a pile of icy snow). The traction control will still be very active, as will the ABS, but it's completely controllable. I don't have VSC.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Boxster...WRX...Prius? @ May 15 2007, 08:25 PM) [snapback]442863[/snapback]</div>

I'm in New Hampshire no problems with the cold here, but I did purchase Nokian WR's and had an EBH installed too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aed1 @ May 15 2007, 01:11 PM) [snapback]442573[/snapback]</div>

Bought an 07 in Oct 06 and drove it thru a winter here in the other Rochester (Minn.) and it worked fine - I found the stock all season Bridgestone tires to be adequate if you are careful and plan ahead and keep momentum up, my Sienna has Michelin Arctic Alpines on in the winter for really brutal icy conditions, but the Prius handled the worst conditions we had last winter O.K. Use foam pipe insulation to block the upper grill openings below freezing - helps the heater and mileage tho expect mid 30's for short trips in cold weather.

 

You may wish to check my winter mileage by clicking on my signatures. The Winter FE figures you'll see were accomplished with:
-Basic hypermiling techniques (DWL, DWB, CS P&G).
-Contant use of Block heater.
-Front grill blocked.

I am very happy with the mileage I am getting now in the warmer weather, but the winter time mileage was not what I expected despite all my efforts. Granted, not many folks get -30F to -40F temp but still, the Prius changes into a completely different animal when the ICE does not stop.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

I live in north central New Jersey and get between 38 and 44 MPG in cold weather. However, my average MPG all weather considered is 49.4 over almost 13,000 miles. I am very happy with that gas mileage, however, driving the Prius in snow is another story entirely - unless the roads are cleared you will have traction problems. I get around in the snow using my other vehicle, a Jeep Rubicon Unlimited. My wife has a Prius also, so we have to share th Jeep.

 

Yeah... it gets cold in Northwest ohio too...
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Yet my prius did great for our first winter together and I had no problems in the snow in town or on the interstate.
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Of Course the car is great in warmer weather too... he is how I have been doing this week...
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