Noob with a couple of questions

Hi

I really only have an opinion on #1 since I don't block my radiator grille.

I have started to reset the Consumption display each time after filling up. My reasoning is that it is a better tool to see how your current driving habits are affecting your FE. If you don't reset, you will see that after many miles of driving, your MPG will hardly change at all, no matter what conditions you encounter.

If you want lifetime FE, I think a better way is to keep all gas receipts and calculate mpg from miles driven / gallons used.

 

Hi MTRKC, welcome to PriusChat! I do like our dogfriend does, and reset it when I fill. I also keep all my gas receipts and note the odometer reading and the trip reading (which I also reset) since it reads tenths of a mile. It's hard to calculate mpg from tank to tank, but over a year it's stable.

I used the black foam rubber pipe insulation and cut the ends at an angle to match the opening and it is aesthetically pleasing. I only blocked the upper grill since the weather here is pretty mild (40°F). It's getting close enough to Spring here in the northern hemisphere that you could ignore blocking and the EBH until next winter. Install the EBH this summer when it's warm and dry and there's lots of light late.

 

I reset the MFD with each fillup. I write the odometer reading on the receipt and then when I have time I enter the information from the receipt (+ the odometer reading) at greenhybrid.com to track my life history mpg.

 

I also reset at each fillup and use GreenHybrid - Interactive Hybrid Cars Resource to track the mileage for lifetime. Another thing I like about greenhybrid.com is that whenever a relative or friend asks me if I really get the mileage advertised I just email them a link to my car (in my signature below). It really tends to silence any critics who think I am exaggerating, especially since it will show all your lesser tanks as well.

 

OMG! I haven't picked up my car yet, I am trading in the car of my dreams for it. But, now I am scared! What is a scanguage, a block heater and what is grill blocking? Why or when would I need to do any of them? I was reading a few posts about poor handling in the wind, I test drove it in the wind and it felt fine, is this going to be a problem I should consider before I hand over the rest of the down payment?

 

Scanguage - A device that can be used to give info that the normal instruments don't give. Totally optional. I waited a year to buy one because I like geeky stuff.

Engine Block Heater - Used to prewarm the engine and give better mileage in the first 5 (or so) minutes of driving. Totally optional. I don't have one.

Grill Blocking - Used to preserve engine temperature in cold conditions and improve mileage. Totally optional. I don't do this.

Handling in Crosswinds - Some drivers notice that the Prius does not handle as well as their previous vehicle in crosswinds. This can be due to several factors: shape of the car, sensitive steering, wheel alignment, et. al. My car, for example, had an alignment problem but I fixed it and it is now completely acceptable in crosswinds. Others do not notice a problem. If you didn't notice in a test drive, it probably won't be a problem for you.

General note - the people who post are sometimes very obsessive about their car. But its just a car, all you really need to do is drive it.

 

Thank you dogfriend, I feel better already. I am looking forward to picking up the car later this week. I had a Toyota 4 Runner LTD and was afraid I was giving up too much for the Prius, but it only took the next fill up to remind me of how much I will gain. I opted for a 5, but added heated leather seats (just need to keep the lower back warm in these Ct. winters). Now it will pretty much have everything I had except size, an ac plug for my computer and oh yeah, the large gas bill. The salesman at one dealership said we could use it as a genterator for our house should the power go down, no one else seems to know anything about that, have you ever heard that? Oh, one more guestion, does the child restraint latch system have a center latch or are they just one either side?

 

Some people have actually used the Prius as a backup power source, but this is not something the average owner would ever do. It takes some technical knowledge and confidence with working with high voltage systems.

The child restraint system (Latch) has a center position (3 positions).

 

Thank you so much for the info on the latch system. The 4 Runner only has it on the side so we had to use the seat belts to put the seat in the middle, not the recommended way to do it. It was so difficult to do, we had to take it to a fire department several towns away to have it installed. I won't let anyone take it out because I don't want to have to go back to have it re-installed. My fear is that with the car seat in place, there won't be enough room for passengers back there, so I want to be able to put it in and take it out myself so I can use the back seat when the baby is not with us (he is a grandchild). We probably have him two or three times a week while my daughter and i go shopping or visiting. Why the 4 Runner only had the sides is beyond me, don't they know the safest place is the center? They should have my daughter explain it to them!

 

Thank you so much for the info on the latch system. The 4 Runner only has it on the side so we had to use the seat belts to put the seat in the middle, not the recommended way to do it. It was so difficult to do, we had to take it to a fire department several towns away to have it installed. I won't let anyone take it out because I don't want to have to go back to have it re-installed. My fear is that with the car seat in place, there won't be enough room for passengers back there, so I want to be able to put it in and take it out myself so I can use the back seat when the baby is not with us (he is a grandchild). We probably have him two or three times a week while my daughter and i go shopping or visiting. Why the 4 Runner only had the sides is beyond me, don't they know the safest place is the center? They should have my daughter explain it to them!