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Advice on used Prius purchase

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by radiodoctordan, Feb 10, 2016.

  1. radiodoctordan

    radiodoctordan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2016
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    Location:
    Easton, PA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Oh, and just to clarify, my commute is 74 miles each way 4 days a week, 60 miles each way one day a week, taking my about 1 hour 20 min each way, typically, with total mileage about 650 miles weekly including errands around town on weekends. I currently drive a Mazda CX-5 crossover and this is best in the winter, and expect to use the Prius once the weather clears up, certainly not on a day when snow is expected.
     
  2. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
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    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    You probably got a lot more snow than we did this season. We had one significant snowfall and two dustings. A 74 mile commute from Easton would be Harrisburg or NYC. I don't envy you the ride. And I thought 350 miles/week was long. For that kind of distance I'd buy a Prius, too.
     
  3. radiodoctordan

    radiodoctordan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2016
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    Location:
    Easton, PA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I want to thank all for their opinions. I picked up my car today and drove it home 100 miles, mostly highway at 70 mph. It seems to run fine. I got 50.3 mpg over the trip, and within 10 minutes had green bars showing, only one white bar on top stayed white throughout. I assume that is normal.
    This car has package #2 with base trim, meaning the radio is a single cd non JBL NON NAV unit. It does have an auxiliary jack in the console. My first reaction was to go out and replace the radio with a new Bluetooth unit, but now think I will save some money and try a simple Bluetooth add on with auxiliary plug to see if that is adequate. Thanks again for your input. I will ask for advice only if I can't find info already posted.
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
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    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    In the winter, you often run the engine to provide cabin warmth, and so 'overcharge' the battery to green. Come summer when cabin heat is not needed, you will run the engine less and you will stay blue until LONG downhills.

    The battery trys to stay less filled so that you have room for braking down those long downhills. If it was 'full' you would not be able to capture energy from braking.

    Empty (purple) and Full (green) are relative, the CPUs will not let you overcharge or undercharge the battery enough to damage it.