Prius weight loss as a key to better fuel economy

[cbustapeck]

I don't own a Prius yet, but my next car will almost certainly be one. If I wasn't so tall (I'm 6'8"), I'd just buy a tiny, efficient used car, like a Geo Metro convertible.

While I like the looks of the Prius and find it very comfortable, there are not many occasions where I really need the back seats. In my current vehicle, I can't think of an occasion in more than a year where I've had more than one passenger. That said, I'm an artist, and I would like to be able to haul stuff in the back of my car.

This brings me to the question - all that extra junk in the back (seats, interior upholstery, door panels, etc) seems like extra weight. Has anyone tried to significantly reduce the weight of the Prius to improve gas mileage? When I took a test drive in a 2005 Prius, I found that the console got in the way of my right leg. Removing it would save some weight.

This leads me to think of more drastic weight loss measures, in the name of efficiency. Carbon fiber racing seats, carbon fiber doors, replacing window glass with Lexan... I've checked the forums, and perhaps I'm just blind, but I can't seem to find anyone who's done anything so silly thus far.

Any thoughts?

[philmcneal]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cbustapeck @ Oct 28 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]340067[/snapback]</div>

I don't own a Prius yet, but my next car will almost certainly be one. If I wasn't so tall (I'm 6'8"), I'd just buy a tiny, efficient used car, like a Geo Metro convertible.

While I like the looks of the Prius and find it very comfortable, there are not many occasions where I really need the back seats. In my current vehicle, I can't think of an occasion in more than a year where I've had more than one passenger. That said, I'm an artist, and I would like to be able to haul stuff in the back of my car.

This brings me to the question - all that extra junk in the back (seats, interior upholstery, door panels, etc) seems like extra weight. Has anyone tried to significantly reduce the weight of the Prius to improve gas mileage? When I took a test drive in a 2005 Prius, I found that the console got in the way of my right leg. Removing it would save some weight.

This leads me to think of more drastic weight loss measures, in the name of efficiency. Carbon fiber racing seats, carbon fiber doors, replacing window glass with Lexan... I've checked the forums, and perhaps I'm just blind, but I can't seem to find anyone who's done anything so silly thus far.

Any thoughts?
[/b]

your better off in a geo metro imo, if you learn to hypermile it you can milk 78 mpg tanks like the #1 guy on gassavers.org

if you like lazy gas saving get the prius, you'd work harder in a metro but you pay much less.

Good luck! This is coming from a guy who hypermiled a civic (47 mpg) and now is driving a 03 classic. (55 mpg)

edit: ah jeez i didn't realease how tall you were, i guess metro is out of the question. But you are right, those small cars can compete agaist the prius easily because it has a HUGE weight advantage compared to the hybrids of today. (at least 500 pounds difference)

[bryanmsi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cbustapeck @ Oct 28 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]340067[/snapback]</div>

While I like the looks of the Prius and find it very comfortable, there are not many occasions where I really need the back seats. In my current vehicle, I can't think of an occasion in more than a year where I've had more than one passenger. That said, I'm an artist, and I would like to be able to haul stuff in the back of my car.

This brings me to the question - all that extra junk in the back (seats, interior upholstery, door panels, etc) seems like extra weight. Has anyone tried to significantly reduce the weight of the Prius to improve gas mileage? When I took a test drive in a 2005 Prius, I found that the console got in the way of my right leg. Removing it would save some weight.


Any thoughts?
[/b]

Why not get a Honda Insight? Its the car you're trying to make the Prius become, and it gets better mileage than the Prius as well. It has no back seat at all, and Honda used major weight saving design (including massive amounts of aluminum and magnesium in the chassis) to shave almost 1000 pounds compared to the Prius. With an Insight, you can gloat over the lack of unnecessary weight and space as well as having the most fuel efficient car available.

The only downside would be the storage space - its considerably less than the Prius - but a trip to the Honda dealer would let you judge that for yourself.

[cbustapeck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bryanmsi @ Oct 28 2006, 06:44 PM) [snapback]340080[/snapback]</div>

Why not get a Honda Insight? Its the car you're trying to make the Prius become, and it gets better mileage than the Prius as well. It has no back seat at all, and Honda used major weight saving design (including massive amounts of aluminum and magnesium in the chassis) to shave almost 1000 pounds compared to the Prius. With an Insight, you can gloat over the lack of unnecessary weight and space as well as having the most fuel efficient car available.

The only downside would be the storage space - its considerably less than the Prius - but a trip to the Honda dealer would let you judge that for yourself.
[/b]

The Honda Insight is a nice car, but it's too small for (giant) me. No space to move my legs, and the shape of the seats kills my back.

Plus, then I wouldn't be able to spend a whole bunch of time and energy customizing a Prius to make it get better gas mileage, which I think would be a lot of fun.

[bryanmsi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cbustapeck @ Oct 28 2006, 04:30 PM) [snapback]340097[/snapback]</div>

Plus, then I wouldn't be able to spend a whole bunch of time and energy customizing a Prius to make it get better gas mileage, which I think would be a lot of fun.
[/b]

Well, that's true enough! Gotta love Prius hacking!

[Delta Flyer]

I drive a 2000 5-speed Insight, and one of the few complaints I have about it is the seats are not comfortable after an hour.

I hope one of these days to drive a Prius, but based on limited information, the Insight is definitely more of a hands-on experience, although a fun one.

It would be interesting to see what the Prius could do with extensive use of aluminum or carbon fibre.

[chimohio]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cbustapeck @ Oct 28 2006, 05:42 PM) [snapback]340067[/snapback]</div>

all that extra junk in the back (seats, interior upholstery, door panels, etc) seems like extra weight.
Any thoughts?
[/b]

You could always but a pickup truck - they don't have those heavy seats and upholsterly and door panels in the back.

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bryanmsi @ Oct 28 2006, 03:44 PM) [snapback]340080[/snapback]</div>

Why not get a Honda Insight?
...
With an Insight, you can gloat over the lack of unnecessary weight and space as well as having the most fuel efficient car available.
[/b]

Besides the fact that the OP doesn't want one, Honda's killed it.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...E/60517001/1041.

[cbustapeck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius biker @ Oct 28 2006, 11:39 PM) [snapback]340176[/snapback]</div>

You could always but a pickup truck - they don't have those heavy seats and upholsterly and door panels in the back.
[/b]

In theory, yes, I could. However, once you go to the extended cab version of the small pickups, which I need for my back so that I can tilt the seat back a little, they become only slightly more fuel efficient than the minivan I'm driving now.