We're up here at the base of a 14,162 volcano where the water is clean and the air is clear. That's the good news. The bad news is we're at the mercy of snow and ice in the winter and pollens and dust in the summer. Does anyone have experience on how the Prius handles environmental extremes like these? BTW, GREAT forum!!
Claritin will help with the pollen and dust. Snow and ice can be an issue. You should invest in good snow tires if you routinely need to drive on snow and ice and be prepared for issues when trying to hill climb on snow or ice due to the sensitive traction control. Also consider installing an engine block heater to improve winter fuel economy by reducing ICE warm up time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]466943[/snapback]</div> I echo what efuso said. I live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and took delivery of my Pri in Dec 06. I immediately swapped out the OEM Integrities for Nokian WR tires. I had absolutely no winter driving problems whatsoever. That lil car handled the conditions like a trooper! Check out the Nokian WR's they are a LLR (low rolling resistance) tire from what I am told.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 01:04 PM) [snapback]466943[/snapback]</div> Thanks, efusco. We have a 7 mile commute to the shop and a Ford Escape to get us out onto county plowed roads if the low ground clearance won't get us out of the driveway. I could use the semi-retired Expedition, but it burned a half a gallon just sitting there with the engine turned off...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BGreen1 @ Jun 23 2007, 04:17 PM) [snapback]466953[/snapback]</div> I was just going to ask if the Prius would be your only car. Since that doesn't seem to be the case I don't know that the Prius is significantly weaker than other similarly priced cars. The vehicle stability control is an issue and you definitely want to look for better stock tires, perhaps even before you buy the car...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]466974[/snapback]</div> Are you offering to write him a prescirption? :lol:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 02:27 PM) [snapback]466974[/snapback]</div> Actually, I was sneezing so violently due to Pine pollen that I totally missed the reference to Claritin. I'm sorry. Do you recommend regular or Claritin D? 35 years of engineering kinda clouds the mind. I hope the decongestant can help with that...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]466974[/snapback]</div> Do you put it in the radiator or the air filter?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jun 23 2007, 04:02 PM) [snapback]467008[/snapback]</div> Powdered aerosol delivery! I believe that Sadam Hussein had something like that to mount on small planes and attack us!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mad Hatter @ Jun 23 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]467050[/snapback]</div> A weapon of mass decongestion. B) Kinda sad to waste my first post on a joke, but the bait was dangling out there... SD
I think Evan did mean that you put the Claritin in the car.... right Dr.?? (he he he ..... B) Actually, we live about 10,000 below you, no wait, I didn't really read it eitther.... so you live at the base, so what's you altitude ?? i got the engine block heater and what a huge difference in mileage, and in winter it's gotta be better for the motor to start out warmed up than cold.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Jun 23 2007, 06:12 PM) [snapback]467055[/snapback]</div> Actually the town is at 3500'. I'll research the EBH before the first snow. I just hope I can find the whit Pri in the snow... Any trout out your way?
Great trout fishing this weekend, put 5 in the fridge today.... we're eaten trout (rainbow) for the last three nights, but they sure are good!! BTW, just downloaded your catalog, nice products..!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rangerdavid @ Jun 23 2007, 06:23 PM) [snapback]467063[/snapback]</div> Thanks Rangerdavid, BTW, did you know that you can get a 9 foot 5 wt flyrod rigged and ready to cast in a Prius? Wife won't let me sit on her Bisque Leather with wet waders... What's up with that?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 04:04 PM) [snapback]466943[/snapback]</div> Benadryl: Numero Uno in many folk's book. Mine too. Generic at costco, the Benadryl are way less money than the Claritin. It seems like the cost for Claritin IS finally comming down a bit. Benadryl's nice side effect: gives you that la la land ~ drowsey buzz ... especially when you wash 'em down with a beer or 2 I did NOT say driving afterward was an option, BTW.
I'm over on the NH/VT border and I'd say clearance should also be on your mind. I crushed some real expensive exhaust tube on the bottom of my '04 Prius on a rutted road that Subarus and other cars didn't have a problem with. So be careful when not on improved roads! The Prius is a bit lower than you might be used to. On the same theme, be careful going through snow, you might be plowing more than you think. And as said above, get snow tires.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BGreen1 @ Jun 23 2007, 04:01 PM) [snapback]466940[/snapback]</div> At least you don't have a 2004 like mine, the standard Traction Control cannot be defeated and is hyper sensitive to any wheel slippage. The last straw was this last winter when I was stranded several times at my hobby farm. I was looking for a second vehicle anyway and now drive the FJ out to the hobby farm. Good winter tires are a must for the Prius. If you search the forum I've had very good luck with my latest tires, studded Goodyear Nordic from Canadian Tire. In the EU they're known as the Goodyear Ultra Grip 500 http://eu.goodyear.com/home_en/tires/repos...p?page=benefits You can click on "Profile" and get a nice flash movie of the tire For summer, if the car is parked outside you can get buildup of debris in the HVAC intake cowl. That can plug the drains and cause nasty odors, water backup, etc. It's fairly easy to clean the cowl out, forum member "Hobbit" has posted very detailed instructions on this here and at his own site. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 23 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]466974[/snapback]</div> Nah, pretty tame. But if you would have suggested Cialis, or Viagra, that would have got my attention. And perhaps made me wonder if you were back on the prescription pain killers again. BTW how are you feeling? I assume the operation was a complete success??
I'm pretty good. Some odd needle stick pain remote from the surgury scar, but nothing I can't deal with.