Any Prius side effects from the sweltering heat?

Yes probably less aerodynamic. What surprised me was how far the "shadow" region extends beyond the physical deflector. (I had at least 3 inches of vertical gap and a lot more opening from the front of the window to the back.) On the other hand I get nice breeze inside if I crack open all four windows (virtually no vertical gap as described above). Why would the deflector not prevent the air flowing into the car in this case? We need an expert here to explain it.

 

Well i did expect to take a hit on the mpg and i am ok with that as i am cool. I have been more worried about my inverter and battery's staying cool so far no problems. Also with that test it took 20 minutes for the ice to start

 

These deflectors are intended to keep rain out when the window is opened slightly?

 

Yes. I have always stayed on the safe side: when it rains I only crack open the window a little - far from starting to have a vertical gap. Next time it rains I will try to take a picture to record where rain drops hit the window glass and where it remains dry. (IIRC the dry area does not extend beyond the edge of the deflector much at all.)

 

Our '06 loves the warm weather. when it's 90 plus it will get 50 plus MPG at 65- 70 MPH. Never does that in cooler weather. Of course that's with the AC on to cool the inside to 77-78 F.

 

I have dash warp above the glove box too. I use a screen shade, but there is minimal shade in our parking lot. I worry about my battery.

 

***** Living in So Fl has given this owner of less than a week, CONCERN. I'm grateful for this forum & go here like a daily college course. May i share this: Last night was the FIRST night in years (well since this "depression" began that my wife, puppy & me took a 'JOY RIDE.' we werre expecting thunderstorms, the sky was an evil grey, the wind was increasing & I had the idea to turn down ALL the windows & drive 2 get nothing in particular-just drive.
It never rained yet we drove some 25 miles total...EXPLORING w/ our '07 PRIUS. My wife still can't believe we got this.
I'm down to 3 clicks on the gauge, 324miles-the P-computer tells me I'me @ 44.1MPG--which includes 5-6 stops where i let the A/C run w/ both of them in the car. Just wanted to share a simple yet, relaxed experience of NOT worrying about GAS. Enjoy your day. DJ from So Fl.

 

THANKS for JOINING us. HOPE you ENJOY PC. Haha, just giving you crap...seriously though, enjoy your time here.

 

Thanks "M"-Here's to a great football season for your Cornhuskers in the BIG 12, or is it 14 ? (Been awhile since the Big 10). Take Care, DJ

 

haha ya kinda weird that our BigTen has 12 teams while our old Big 12 now has 10 I think.

and thanks!

 

You're Welcome. I guess it's an upside-down world after all (a play on Disney). All I can say is the PRIUS is THE biggest step that allows the common man TAKE CONTROL over his own destiny by cutting in 1/2 the price of gas.
I cut out D-tv; wouldn't consider cable; I have OTA TV for pristine 1080HD w/ ,ma roof antenna; I use Free Home Phone Service | Ooma, since 2008 and PAY NO PHONE BILL. I only pay a monthly Uverse intenet bill-and use that line for my TV (
Roku Streaming Player | Watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Crackle and More on Roku Player
) and my telephone. Now w/ the PRIUS my wife can search for a job that's not so far away & I can travel w/o the once ever-present worry of "do we have enough $ for gas ??" I did not mean to go on a tangent here. I just wanted to SHARE how I've been skipping, saving & PRAYING for a PRIUS. Hell, I even use Solar Clothes Dryers in my back yard--my Mom, in the 60's, called it a "clothesline." Lol I have 3 ! Now, we have a PRIUS. WoW. Believe me I'm grateful for that and that ESPN360 puts many NCAA Football games on the net FOR F-R-E-E !! Hey, Have a good day there in the 'Cornbelt." A Buddy, DJ (ps i didn;t add those Xtra ads yet, it IS true-a lot of good TV content on a roku box that u can buy @ Sam's Club, Best Buy even from the website-1 price-1 time-YOU OWN IT. Cool huh ? Ciao, DJ

 

Hi DJ,

Just wanted to say "Enjoy the ride". I have been following your posts, and I understand everything you have been saying. The newness will wear off after a while. But if you are diligent and get away from running the A/C while you are stopped you can get even better mileage. Yeah, my average is under 45, but I don't hypermile (correction - just started this tank). So far with 285 miles on this tank, the guess gage is showing 4 pips now, and it just clicked over in the last five miles. The MFD is showing over 55 MPG for this tank, usual reading is 45 or less, so hypermiling definitely works. Today was very hot, I had to lower the temp down to 72 just to be comfortable. I usually have it on 76. Ambient temp was 102 @ 3:00 P.M. when I got back in our Prius after leaving Wally World. Yes, it is a nice feeling to be able to go for a joy ride now and then. Like yourself, we too (wife and I) haven't done that in a long time.

Anyway, I am glad that the Lord blessed you and yours with the new to you Prius. You will smile big time when you go to fill up.

Welcome to the club!

Ron (dorunron)

 

Wow, that sounds right out of urban legends. We've had our Gen II at the Flathead river when it was 107 .... and at the colorado river and Vegas when it was over 115 - and no ... the rubber didn't melt. I did. But not the gaskets.

 

*******Hello Ron, I've been waiting to find the time to reply to you (& my other new friends here) about the 'Euphoric feelings' I get from my '07 PRIUS. A quick note: just late this AM; it was so HOT here in So Fl (How hot was it Don ? Later, Jay) It was so hot that I now back in my "P" @ nite so the eastern sun's rays broil the front & not the rear. But that's not the story--I finally threw my clothes on & w/ all theintentions of simply opening all the windows to let out the hot air--I did that and just HAD to take "HER' for a short drive around the block-then park 'her' on the lawn where there's shade. It felt like i was in my super-duper-go-cart. My history of the "Love Affair" w/ "P" started when i 1st rented an '08 from national rent-a-car AT Bradley Airport in Ct. Once my wife & I figured out how the "thing" started--it was LOVE @ 1ST FLIGHT" 2 weeks of driving by gas stations & showing them they were #1. My heart broke as I just had to return her less than 2 weeks later. That was the longest 3 1/2hr flight in my life as I could only dream & fantasize of the day I'd "adopt" my very own PRIUS. Am I CRAZY ? You bet I was then & NOW. Do I feel Blessed ? You Bet but even more so when as i searched near & wide to find a decent place for a religious pic I have...Well, there's that storage space under the radio o the '07. I opened it, found a clean, black felt piece of material which was "protecting" a plasticized 'prayer card' to St. Jude. My wife turned to me the same time I looked up at her and said--this seals it. I mean, I had prayed to St. Jude (and others) a lot since I fell in love w/ Prius. Praying that somehow the finances (and life) would somehow come together to make the dream come alive. I respect what religion others may have, I only ask the same in return as I share this story w/ all. Ever wonder after making such a LARGE, EXPENSIVE purchase you talk to yourself...Lord, did i make the right decision ? Should i have waited ? Would there have been a better deal ? Should I have bought a pendant for my wife's Pandora bracelet ? Should I finally payoff the bookie ? (no no just kidding)> Well, to us_that was the closer. No More Questions. Then the gas prices started soaring again>>>any PRIUS under $15K ( w/0 a million miles on it) disappeared from the sales pages. So do you think i feel Blessed ? (Imagine Vincent Price laughing in the intro to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller" LP--That's how i feel after beating the devil-big oil companys at their own game. ONLY, ON MY TERMS.
****As for changing the oil & READING the MANUAL**** You bet I've been. Sick & all. I change the oil on my 1st used 1965 Ducati; my 1969 T-Bird (a lot-it was a F.O.R.D ya know); 1973 PINTO WAGON (not a burner as the T-bird; MY other love: YDS6B-Yamaha bike. Soon, (well not too soon) I'll report on the tricky-Dicky filter washer of the '07 "P". Here's the kicker for ya, my good friend Mike who bought a NEW 2010 on MY word & OCDing--ASKED ME WHAT YEAR was mine ? I said, i a st8-face, a 2009 ! He looked a bit envious as he said--yea, good deal. Badda-Bing--I need a cold drink.oh ^^^1st FillUp=8.5 gal at 363.5 miles (that was at $3.39/gal & the Mg. was going upa dime just as I was finishing. Talk about "Signs." So far= 118miles=no pips down.
Thanks for reading me. I may be long-winded yet, w/ all the crap in the world you could be reading, I just wanted to SHARE W/ YOU ALL---some HAPPY CRAP.

 

Hang in there Don, Summer will over before long then you won't need the A/C as much on the Prius. Try setting it on 75 Auto and see if you are comfortable. F8L says 78, he is younger than we are. Anyway, try pulse and glide and see if you can get the Pri over 50 MPG for the tank. 42.7 for your first tank is not bad.

Like I said, I am glad that the Lord blessed you and yours. Take care!

Ron (dorunron)

 

Ron, "pulse and glide"--I'm gonna have 2 search & googgle technique. A lot of info I was 'consumming' about the choices in TIRES. I mean, it's a bit overwelming. I belong to Sam's Club, my son is "B.J. Wholesalers" & my buddy w/ the '10 is a Costco member. I'll go w/ the warrenty/PRICE choice tho, I think the "Yokahamamas will give me a "healthy" ride. (they're made from orange peels . BTW-Are you a fan of the musical genius of the guy who produced the "Ronetts" da do RonRon ?' The "wall of sound"-now i forgot his name. Gurrr. ok "pulse and glid, pulse and glide."
Hey, could that be hit the gas...reach 35MPH then back off ?? just a thouht. Take Care. Don

 

ANSWER: PHIL SPECTOR !! I had another senior moment there. I love those arrangements as I include much of that in my own music. Yea, I was once a FT touring musician. Now, until the ear clears up, I'm a monophonic-hearing old rock-n-roll fart who at the moment can not hear stereo, or my wife. At least i own a PRI !! So life is good.

 

Lots of info on Prius Chat and elsewhere. Read some of the links from this google search, pay close attention to the tips on Prius and in general all of the techniques. It takes practice, but with a little effort and conservative A/C use, you should be able to get 50 plus on each tank. Don't forget about the air pressure in the tires. 42front, 40 back. Rides a little rough, but mileage goes up. Here's the link.

Google



Ron (dorunron)

 

Sat Dec 15, 12 (10PMEDT)
Ron, I hope this isn't the 1st time I've replied to u since 8/7 ?? I really don't remember, as my life went into ultra-spin-shock mode when my Dad passed on 10/3. Pop helped make the "Dream Machine" possible. Since I've ''adopted'' this '07 I've had 1 oil change; tinted the windows & replaced the 12V battery ($175.00). We've gone over 5K & using P&G I'm consistently OVER 50MPGs !! Even going 69mph on the Fl pike-then back down to 64-66mph. Yea, w/ the XM radio playin' CHRISTMAS music the long trip to Ocala, Fl to visit my cousin was a breeze !! Imagine a 6+hr roadtrip a breeze. I monitor the tire air pressure & I keep "him'' waxed & clean. Last night I was able to put both rear seats down & loaded ALL my musical equipment into the PRI. That's a PA, Keyboard, 2 level heavy-duty stand, & more all w/ a blanket laid down 1st for 'protection." The economy is still a big challenge for us. Last week I finally sold my spare arranger keyboard that had been in my closet for 10 yrs. When the purchaser offered an xtra $100 to personally deliver the prize to assure it's safety I JUMPED. Everything went smoothly.
My only regret is Dad never got to experience the "new way of life" he helped give my wife & me. I, umm, still feel the newness, still feel blessed and every night b-4 retiring, I open the front door of our home, look @ PRIUS then towards heaven and say "goodnight, Pop...thanks."
This year I am not really into celebrating. On July 24th
I received all I could want for this & every CHRISTMAS in the future.

For anyone considering buying a 1-owner pre-owned PRIUS: this "machine'' is more than a game changer....Prius is a life changer . . .for all the right reasons. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you Ron & Happy Holidays to all-all year long.