Solar roof and mpg

Added weight up high can affect handling too. If you have to go slower around corners you need to accelerate more after them.

 

Iv sr - 1st tank 49.8, 2nd tank, so far 52.0, with the sr open as much as possible for city driving.

Mosttoysrk mentioned buffeting when open. I have found that if the rear windows are open just a bit the noise is greatly deminished. Front windows work too, but just adds more sound to the front of the car.

I have never owned a sr before, so i had no idea what to expect, but i have to tell you i'm thrilled with everything except the fact that there is no auto-close when the car is off. All there is is a little beep when the driver's door is open. This would be an easy thing to miss if you weren't paying attention.

Sorry for the caps. I'm at work (oh, did i say that out loud?) and that's all we use here.

 

One dealer today told me that I can't get the 3 with a solar package, only the 4 right now. The 3 with the solar is not coming out for 6 months she said. I'm wondering if this is an east coast thing. I am getting very frustrated with these dealers. So much so, I might quit bothering to look.

 

Since it's 60+ pounds it has some effect but from people's reportings on FE I still think driving style has more effect on overall FE. 60+ pounds on the car probably has a much less significant effect than the unsprung weight from the heavier 17" wheels. Bottom line many of us opted for the 17" V and many for the SR, so if we take a 2 mpg hit but really enjoy our car, it's all good.

 

Don't know about other areas, but they are just beginning to be built for the Gulf States area. The dealer showed me the July build sheet--all of 4 Prius III with SR are being built for the 5-state area. :-( I went ahead and put an order in for a IV with SR. I don't want to wait several months for my new Prius.

 

I'm beginning to see it may be an east coast thing. In another thread, someone from CO said he had his 3 with solar already.
I just don't want the leather, I guess I'll have to wait then.
Thanks for the info.

 

I used to car pool with a coworker who was very "portly". Someone once asked me how much he weighed and I replied "2 miles per gallon". (They thought I was being humorous). Anyway, I am sure the solar roof wont have that much impact.

 

I am using the four fifty cooling system on my Prius to get it down to ambient outside temperature. Four windows down at 50 mph. lol.

Actually I think the Solar cooling roof is very cool and I am a little jealous. Good stuff. I would like to hear how people like it. Does it work well, is the car significantly cooler than if the windows were up with no solar roof and it baked in the son for a few hours?

 

I think the solar panel works well. The car IS noticeably cooler on a sunny day.
It is also very sensitive to variances in sunlight. I sat in my 2010 Prius one day while the fan was running and a small cloud momentarily passed by blocking the sun. The fan got softer and shut down just as the cloud was passing overhead and the instant the cloud cleared the sun the fan again came on at full force.

 

I CURRENTLY DRIVE AN 07 AND HAVE A SOLAR IV ON ORDER DUE 7/20. I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT DOES THE SOLAR PANEL DO IN THE WINTER? I'M IN INDIANA, WE HAVE VERY HOT SUMMERS AND PRETTY COLD WINTERS NORTH OF INDPLS.. DOES THE SOLAR HAVE ANY FUNCTION IN A COLD CLIMATE? ALSO, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GEN 2s MPG BEING AFFECTED BY COOLANT TEMP.HAS THIS BEEN IMPROVED ON GEN 3s AND COULD THEY NOT USE THE SOLAR PANEL IN COLD CLIMATES(OR WARM), TO KEEP THE COOLANT SLIGHTLY WARMER SO THERE IS LESS WARM UP TIME AND BETTER MILEAGE?

 

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, USING THE SOLAR ROOF TO HELP HEAT THE CAR! BUT UNTIL SOMEONE MAKES A BREAKTHROUGH IN HACKING THE SOLAR ROOF, IT'S USELESS IN THE WINTER.

 

What is the deal with all CAPS?!?! And is it contagious now? LOL

 

It must be an area thing because i was originally looking for a III w/SR and it showed up yesterday... and it is an option down here. i have since changed my mind and want to wait for the IV so here i sit with no car yet. oh well. hwell:

 

Does the remote A/C option that comes with the solar roof simply turn on the A/C on the last temperature that it was set at?? Or does it automatically go to the lowest temperature setting to cool the car as quickly as possible?

I ask because this could obviously be useful during cold months, if you left the thermostat at a high temp, it would then heat the car when the remote A/C was activated...right?
Or does the fact that it's battery powered mean no heat?

 

It will use the last setting.