One thing I really love about my Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by stephensprius, Nov 26, 2013.

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  1. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    I never realized how wonderful the heat is in this car. Last winter my wife drove the car and I had my Subaru Legacy. This is my first winter with it. It's incredible how fast the car warms up after a long, cold, Minnesota winter night in the non-insulated/ non heated garage. it's literally only a couple of minutes. Any car I've had in the past took at least 5- 10 minutes to get truly nice and warm. Is this something specific with the hybrid technology? Would the camry and avalon Hybrids work the same? Anyone else in the cold North experience similar situations? Either way, still happy. With heat blasting, I am getting 49-50 mpg driving in eco mode.
     
    #1 stephensprius, Nov 26, 2013
  2. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

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    What are your heater settings?
     
    #2 gliderman, Nov 26, 2013
  3. CdotK

    CdotK Member

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    i run my heat on HI with 2-3 bars (or whatever you call the speed) every morning and get the same 49-50MPG. Its a small car so it takes less time to heat up the inside.
     
    #3 CdotK, Nov 26, 2013
  4. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    What do you mean? temp is usually set at 75 in the AM and auto.
     
    #4 stephensprius, Nov 26, 2013
  5. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    yeah, my subaru legacy wasn't huge by any means. I was just wondering if it had anything to do with the hybrid/electric technology.
     
    #5 stephensprius, Nov 26, 2013
  6. CdotK

    CdotK Member

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    doubt it
     
    #6 CdotK, Nov 26, 2013
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    The Prius is worse at heating up the cabin that most vehicles because the heat is a byproduct of the waste engine heat. In the Prius the engine is one of the most efficient mass produced. So to begin with there is less heat available. Now add to that the engine shuts down, and therefore starts cooling off, pretty frequently. If you request heat it doesn't have, the engine will turn on and your MPGs will go down. Once operational and up to temperature, it will remain hot enough for people if you request it. Even as efficient as the Prius engine is, you don't want 100% of that heat in the cabin.

    I have had a Subaru before and mine took a while to heat up as well. I could drive 8-10 miles to my destination and the heater would just start to blow warm air. I figured it was just broken since it had a blown head gasket, radiator and water pump problems at the 300K mile mark I was driving it at. I did enjoy the automatic seat belts though lol.
     
    #7 2k1Toaster, Nov 26, 2013
  8. Les_PL

    Les_PL Active Member

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    The technology itself - the excitement, faster heartrate - hence the illusion of Prius having such efficient heating ;).
     
    #8 Les_PL, Nov 26, 2013
  9. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    All the rental Prii I have driven in the winter have absolutely cooked me out of the car [​IMG]

    Mike
     
    #9 WE0H, Nov 27, 2013
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  10. Les_PL

    Les_PL Active Member

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    Well, I did not mention that I'm still balancing between comfort and fuel economy ;)
     
    #10 Les_PL, Nov 27, 2013
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  11. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    Where in MN are you?
     
    #11 stephensprius, Nov 27, 2013
  12. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    I would always choose comfort, especially in 10 degrees.
     
    #12 stephensprius, Nov 27, 2013
  13. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    I'll send a conversation message.

    Mike
     
    #13 WE0H, Nov 27, 2013
  14. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    7F here this morning. Chilly. 40F in my garage where my car is snoozin until spring :)

    Mike
     
    #14 WE0H, Nov 27, 2013
  15. jdk2

    jdk2 Active Member

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    Have you experienced flat spots on the tires after a long winter snooze?
     
    #15 jdk2, Nov 27, 2013
  16. BreakingPrius

    BreakingPrius Junior Member

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    So these are no good in the snow? I've been wondering...
     
    #16 BreakingPrius, Nov 27, 2013
  17. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    it's really not that bad. the only issue is with the clearance.
     
    #17 stephensprius, Nov 27, 2013
  18. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    Do you regularly start it up and let it run? Is that a problem with the hybrid tech?
     
    #18 stephensprius, Nov 27, 2013
  19. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    No problems with flat spots after about 8 months sitting in the garage. I believe that is how long it sat last winter. Michelin MXM4 tires and I run them about 49 front & 47 rear psi.

    Years ago running tires they made back then; I used to have a few miles of bumpidebump driving until the flat spots worked their way out ;) I have a feeling the tire designs we have today eliminate that issue.

    Mike
     
    #19 WE0H, Nov 27, 2013
  20. stephensprius

    stephensprius Active Member

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    WEOH: what do you drive in the winteR?
     
    #20 stephensprius, Nov 27, 2013
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