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Just drove 350 miles today - Impressions

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Penny's Dad, May 11, 2010.

  1. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I took my first long trip today since getting my Prius!...up till now it has been around town and a few 60 mile round trips to the beach.

    Today I went around the Orlando/Ocala/Tampa Triangle. These were my impressions:

    Pros...

    - Car seemed quiet enough. Engine noise no drone even at high speeds. Road and wind noise were fine.
    - Power more than adequate...I could keep up with the fastest traffic and get out of any situation.
    - Brakes were fine...I had an emergency stop when someone decided to cross 3 lanes of traffic and suddenly stopped in the middle of the road.
    - Cruise control and climate worked very well.
    - Averaged 48.5 mpg...drove it like a sports car...power mode all the way...90 degree day.
    - Seemed invisible to law enforcement

    Cons...Definitely needed more lumbar support...Prius II seat not adequate...Found it better to adjust higher because I am tall and long legs folded go uncomfortable after a while. Once I raised seat it was better...but If I drove long distances Lumbar would be a must.
    - Lots of angry drivers when I would try to pass or keep up..BMW/Audi/Mustang drivers incensed when I would pass them. They would speed up to keep me from passing or overtake me again after the pass (only to slow down again...don't you hate that?)
    - I need tinted glass...this thing is a greenhouse...would heat up quick and hot every time I stopped.
    - There was a light 10-15 mph wind today and I really felt it...at 75mph I was distinctly buffeted from side to side with no other traffic around. I released the steering wheel and the car would wobble back and forth (while tracking straight) whenever the wind was blowing. No sensation when the wind was at my back or head.


    I am looking forward to my next road trip. All said it was actually fun!
     
    #1 Penny's Dad, May 11, 2010
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  2. GBC_Texas_Prius

    GBC_Texas_Prius Member

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    Did you use cruise control? I notice that cars seem to slow up after passing me when I have the cruise on, but I think it's because they or their cruise aren't properly adjusting for an incline while the Prius cruise is maintaining speed almost dead on.

    The best car I ever owned for not feeling cross winds was a brown two door 1972 Lincoln Mark IV with a big block 460 engine. Heavy, low and wide. I bought it used and thought it was cool. I wonder if Mike Judge bought it after I owned it because an exact facsimile of it is in the '96 Beavis and Butthead movie.

    The Prius isn't as bad as some other compact cars I've driven in a cross wind.
     
    #2 GBC_Texas_Prius, May 11, 2010
  3. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    BMW & Audi drivers are like that the world over! and they never let you out of a junction but always show their objections if you don't let them out.

    I'm sure there's a good reason why they're like that but I'm too tired to go into it tonight.
     
    #3 GrumpyCabbie, May 11, 2010
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  4. seb33

    seb33 Junior Member

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    I agree with you about the greenhouse feeling. I'm not used to using air conditioning so I have to battle with my reluctance to put it on. I hardly ever used A/C in my Corolla and its not even summer. My car is usually at least 10 degrees hotter inside (oops, sorry, that's in Celsius) than the outside temp when its sunny. Must start using the A/C!
     
    #4 seb33, May 11, 2010
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  5. Sneezy

    Sneezy Member

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    My 2000 Trans Am with T-tops is way more of a greenhouse! Thanks for the comments though. I have to go out of town in a few weeks with one of my employees and we are taking my wifes Prius because my HHR is stick and she can't drive that! It's about 4.5 hours one way and we are going round trip the same day. I'll do my best to post my thoughts afterwards. The most I have been in it now (because it's not mine) is about 25 minutes.

    I had surgery last Oct for a herniated disc at L5 and while recovery is going well I'm curious how the long trip will be for me. I did 2 hours in my HHR at Christmas and it was tough but I was still in PT then.
     
    #5 Sneezy, May 11, 2010
  6. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    Thank you for giving me a reason to test my newly strengthened dollars...Looks stunning.

    At least the BMW and Audi's get their commupance at the Pump. I do not envy these driver's in any way now that I have the Prius...I have just as much room (3-series / A3/4) I am just as comfortable and though I did enjoy the driving experience of the 328i...in traffic you are mostly just commuting...I never actually did any pleasure driving. Sure the interior quality is way over the top compared to the Prius...but as you squeeze the pump handle you can imagine all those dollars flowing into your pocket...enough to buy a nice trip to England!
     
    #6 Penny's Dad, May 11, 2010
  7. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I stayed in Bloor last summer and was stunned by the Toronto roadway system...major highways just sort of end and become 2-lane city streets...seems like a recepe for disasterous traffic...wait you do have disasterous traffic...anyway Smarts were thicke on the ground...

    I open the boot...One thing that would really help is keyfob all windows auto down feature the BMW and the Murano had...It was a great way to cool off the car as you approached...Perhaps some enterprising hacker will enable this (there are some really good engineers on this site).
     
    #7 Penny's Dad, May 11, 2010
  8. Jameso

    Jameso New Member

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    I have found the seats uncomfortable after about 150 miles of driving. Does anyone make replacement seats? I will try your trick - raising the height of the seats. I am also about 6 ft. tall/
     
    #8 Jameso, May 30, 2010
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Time to start using the Prius' A/C. It's really efficient (I've sat idle with the A/C on for nearly 20 mins before the battery was down to 2 bars. That's amazing. In the old Prius, it would be down to 2 bars after 8 mins.

    He has a 2010, you have a 2008. The 2008 doesn't have a height adjustment on the North American models.

    Or a solar roof option with Remote A/C ;) :D:D:D

    just j/k around with ya.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, May 30, 2010
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  10. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Believe me, in a 2008 Prius, you definitely DO NOT need to raise the seat ... the seat bottom is up almost all the way already.

    See the round bar in this picture of Prius seat ... If height could adjust all the way down, the bar would be in the plastic notch. It's up 2" . Know how high round bar would go on a height ajustable seat? 2.5"

    IM002554.jpg

    The 3rd Gen Prius II seat and telescope wheel is a dream compared to any 2008 North Am. Prius driver's seat. Many have loathed the 2nd Gen seat.

    Take a look at my mods list below, done in steps over period of a year - that's just to get the seat decent for me. If I had known up front I would instinctively react 3 months after purchase to what was clearly an unusual seat, I would never have bought this car. Seating completely unfit for this class of car. A 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid faceplants any Gen2 Prius in driver's seating. 'Nuff said.
     
    #10 cycledrum, May 30, 2010
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  11. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    He has a 2010, you have a 2008. The 2008 doesn't have a height adjustment on the North American models.



    Or a solar roof option with Remote A/C ;) :D:D:D

    just j/k around with ya.[/QUOTE]


    Thanks...I will note that if I could have waited just a couple of months I could have driven a IV for what I am now leasing a II...Ouch...anyway as someone else on this forum said a good deal is the one you made....no regrets!

    I do feel that the Prius II AC is awesome...it is really heating up here in Orlando and I actually have to turn the AC up to around 76 to feel comfortable after a while as it actually gets too cold...That said the heating up problem is when the car is parked even for just a few minutes...I suppose tinting will cut short term gain but it will probably do nothing about long term gain.

    Is there a thermodynamic analysis of tinting vs non tinting somewhere on this forum?
     
    #11 Penny's Dad, May 31, 2010
  12. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    You think it's bad in a mid-sized Prius?

    Try driving a sub-compact Honda Fit.

    - Lots of angry drivers when I would try to pass or keep up..BMW/Audi/Mustang drivers incensed when I would pass them. They would speed up to keep me from passing or overtake me again after the pass (only to slow down again...don't you hate that?)

    I thought it was my imagination but other drivers just seem to absolutely hate it if I pass them. It is extremely frustrating because they do seem to be agressively speeding up once I've passed...but then they do slow down to the speed inwhich I passed them in the first place.

    I guess they have the insultable fragile ego, the money to buy the sports car, but not the intelligence to understand concepts of momentum and speed.
     
    #12 The Electric Me, May 31, 2010
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  13. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I actually think it is the perception of entitlement...I paid way to much to get from point A to point B so....I am entitled to get there first!

    I believe once you stop thinking of life as a competition and accept the idea of obeying traffic laws...BMW's Audi's and Mustangs (and any number of high performance track capable vehicles) stop making any sense...especially when there are no twisty canyon roads anywhere to enjoy their handling prowess on!
     
    #13 Penny's Dad, May 31, 2010
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Tinting could help along with a heatshield or similar sunshade. I found the Prius' HSEA glass to work well. The smart didn't have any sort of fancy glass (just normal light tinted glass) and it was HOT as heck in the summer even with the sunshade (black interior didn't help either). I'm amazed how much that HSEA makes a difference.
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, May 31, 2010
  15. Downrange

    Downrange Active Member

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    Can't resist. You know the difference between a Bimmer and a porcupine?

    With a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside!
     
    #15 Downrange, Jun 1, 2010
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  16. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I guess that makes me a reformed porcupine....
     
    #16 Penny's Dad, Jun 1, 2010
  17. Jameso

    Jameso New Member

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    Great info! I am looking at another Prius - I will check out the 2010.
     
    #17 Jameso, Jun 2, 2010
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