Long-time reader. First-time poster. Funny answer from Toyota re: snow handling problems

Wow.

Toyota has finally come clean that their "traction control" system is meant to protect the HSD system, not to aid in traction

 

copy this thread while you can! you know its going to get deleted LMAO.

 

Actually that was a very good response! Good snow tires will make a world of difference.
Cheers,
Hal

 

Zig-zagging is a common technique with front wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles. You don't zig-zag into the other lane, you swing the wheels from side to side to give them a fresh bite and to keep snow from piling up in front of the tires.

Tom

 

I don't believe that this is a secret. The Toyota technical docs make it clear that the behavior of the system is intended to prevent overreving MG1.

 

Good snow tires make all the difference. I ice-autocross my Prius and have won my class (bare tire FWD) at many events. I am currently using Blizzak WS70s. I'll take my Prius in snow over an SUV with stock tires any day.

 

+1

And it can be disabled if needed. But if you do not know about the zig/zag technique then I doubt you receive any snow that cannot be overcome with more driver training.

 

+1

 

I've known about this since I bought my first Prius new in '05. Appearently it's a fairly well known "secret".

 

I was being sarcastic

 

Don't blame the vehicle if you still have the original Goodyear Integrity tires... absolutely the worst tires I have ever had for driving in rain (major hydroplaning). Bought the Nokian WRs and recently the newer WR G2... fantastic traction in any condition I have faced in Pacific NorthWest and mileage does not suffer.

 

Of course, if Toyota had actually done product testing in a real winter climate, they would have quickly realized their "traction control" would be a major problem for getting around

Another goof they made is with the FJ Cruiser. I'm not talking about defective rear axles, frame cracks, or fender bulges. Nor about the traction control, which actually does work

I'm referring to the amazing oversight of a vehicle apparently intended to operate in winter climates, but without heated mirrors. Every other Toyota, except base model Yaris and Corolla's, offer heated mirrors

 

The UK Prius don't have heated mirrors or the thermos, such a shame. Have overcome mirrors but I doubt the infrastructure is there to reverse the lack of thermos bottle.

 

Your European Prius also doesn't have:

• Fuel tank bladder
• Drum rear brakes

Eliminating these make the European Prius superior to the US version.

The elimination of the Thermos is also a reduction in complexity:

• Thermos assembly
• Thermos Water pump
• Coolant valve

Each of which has caused some US customers expensive problems. You can regain the heat savings by installing an inexpensive electric block heater that fits into an existing hole in the engine block.

These were good decisions by Toyota Europe.

JeffD

 

I can't believe Toyota would make a car that won't allow you to spin the wheels so fast that you melt the snow under the tires. I mean isn't that the most efficient way to drive in the snow with a car made for saving fuel? lol

Isn't it interesting that the the majority of vehicles that I see spun off the side of the roads are SUVs? Maybe its the drivers and not the vehicles.

 

You are missing the point here. The Prius simply won't go uphill in the snow relative to other FWD autos with traction control. That is the point.

I understand traction contol and why it's there. In the Prius, the traction control is very different and MUCH more aggresive. There may be valid engineering reasons for this, but the bottom line is that it make the Prius a pretty weak snow machine.

MY EXPERIENCE
I only found out this year (bought mine in spring of '08) about the traction control problem as I moved to an area with legitimate hills. With just 1 or 2 inches of snow on the road, I could not drive up my development. I though the road must just be icy/unpassable. That was up unitl a Toyota Camry (and a few other FWD cars) passed me. The Camry went up and down the development at will. I spent 30+ minutes trying not to crash my car.

I parked at the bottom and walked the half mile up to my house. I really don't think I should have to do this every time it snows this Winter. I'm looking at a 4WD alternative now.

-Brad

EDIT: FYI, I have almost new all season Michellin tires on my Prius. The Camry had worn out tires - maybe even summer tires.

 

What type of tires do you have? My experience is that my Prius does as well as the average front-wheel-drive car in snow, but only if you replace the really horrible OEM tires with real tires made for snow.

Tom

 

It's been nearly 3 years now, it's still here!