Record Straight on Prius Convertible

Tell me more about the fest, time date, etc.

 

Re: Record Straight on Prius Convertible UPDATE

Hill,

Server was down for days then no posts to my email until yesterday so now trying to reply on various questions.

The Prius was, unfortunately, not reinforced underneath. I had to in the weekly then daily updates from Engineering Group, as work was progressing, get possibilities of what could be done, what couldn't be done and what they wouldn't do.

Although the safety reinforcement was a concern, the added expense was way too great to undertake. The same was true in reconfiguring the side air bags although working now to see if a side air bag solution can be brought back in.

This Prius the first one ever done; even with all the CAD drawings and mathematical figures drawn on masking tape covering the car, to work through solutions, various issues were decided on liability, cost and time. (It had already taken 6 months) The same was true for the window frames being removed which they simply refused to do making a more true convertible unless I only agreed to show the vehicle at car shows.

Toyota has issued a statement the car " may" not have warranty coverage in certain areas; I didn't want full car with no warranty at all.

The hydraulic system on the top explained to me is extremely light weight. The whole main section of it, tucked in the trunk behind the rear seats, can be lifted up with one arm easily. Even with the side pump and metal frame of the top, the only question ever was not if lighter than hardtop but as safe.
They took great pains to make every piece as strong as possible keeping the weight to a minimum. The flexibility feel in driving at freeway speeds is similar to other convertibles I have owned by no need for a spoiler for any corrections.

Originally noted gas mileage and comments blasting my figures. Only can say that Prius is still averaging 40 mpg with top down with 1100 miles on odometer. Top up, (infrequently) appears in highway driving to PU a mile or two. The top was designed with German Canvas; lines on drawings as close as original top as possible if not even better.

The bonnet was matched to the car interior color although I had initially requested black. When they showed me various choices; I saw other black covers with light interior, on other vehicles they were converting; decision was easy. Black did not look good as pictured in my head.

The car was taken on flatbed past week for photo sessions to independent journalist/s who along with another Japanese group did some road testing as well to present to main car mags. Future may have as well additional road testing by outside sources if I keep agreeing to give up car again. Hopefully when published by reliable sources will support the information I have been giving on Prius Chat.

exproducer

 

Re: Record Straight on Prius Convertible UPDATE

For the Glory,

On the mileage figures, Los Angeles is a bit different than many cities MPG driving stats. I'd be interested in hearing from other hardtop hybrid LA Drivers mpg but here is what I have found in about 5 years hybrid driving. (1000 miles convertible)

It is near impossible, now almost at any time of the day, particularly work time mornings commute and evenings from work traffic flow, to drive with any consistent pace for the Prius to get mpg in the 47.5 mpg range, even with a very light foot on the gas. Someone will probably write and say they do, but I've found it's impossible in normal driving conditions around Los Angeles.

The vacillation of stop and go traffic, on the freeway, from 60 mph to 10 mph back and forth constantly has the graph inside the Prius bouncing from 50 mpg to 30 mpg into average mpg zones that end up at 40 mpg averaging freeway and street.

To give you an idea, from the downtown Los Angeles area the distance is approximately 25 miles to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. The main route, across the 10 freeway, is directly West from these points, to the beach. This is the route most people would take to get to the beach and back. A Google map check will give you 30 minutes (impossible) and 1 1/2 hours in traffic (more likely in rush hour now which extends for hours). From 3 PM on heading back, from the ocean, you are in rush hour traffic stop and go. You could also take Wilshire Boulevard or other direct side streets the entire length of the same route and make the trip in approximately 1 hour hitting traffic lights every few blocks.

No matter which way you drive it, generally, you are looking at a 1 hour minimum, to go 25 miles, at the speed limit, to achieve 40 mpg. I don't believe in a hardtop you could ever get the 47.5 mpg. This plays havoc with getting maximum potential mpg hardtop or convertible from the vehicle.

There are other freeways in Los Angeles obviously that flow, at various times, at the speed limit which could let the convertible possibly get the higher range at 47.5 mpg in course of open freeway driving but not short hop street traffic/ short freeway commutes anywhere in Los Angeles.

I previously owned another hard top Prius (2003) and although a different hybrid system averaged around Los Angeles 38 - 40 mpg. Some freeways 45 mpg. Understand though, this vehicle was equipped with special diamond lane stickers, issued in small quantities by the state of California, which gave the vehicle the right to use special highway lanes, on some roads, basically only reserved for hybrids etc.), in which traffic flowed quickly to get maximum mpg while the rest of the freeway was at a painful stop and go flow. Those stickers could only be issued for one specific hybrid car, not moved to a new hybrid and were limited to believe somewhere to the first 50,000 or so of the first hybrids who applied for them. They are no longer available for anyone with a new hybrid so without these stickers you are in normal (watching paint dry) traffic most days in Los Angeles. If you go in the diamond lanes without the stickers it is a date for traffic court and a big fine.

My wife owns a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid (with the CA State stickers) and makes similar trips daily via diamond lane freeway and also on side streets getting 42.5 - 45 mpg hardtop. Back East or Midwest open highway assume both cars, convertible or hardtop average your figures realisticly at the 47.5 mpg or better.

I'm sure there will always be questions concerning loss of mpg in the convertible but all I can tell you is, it sure is nice, to at least have the top down, when you still get 40 mpg and are stuck getting to the beach.

exproducer