So How's the Solar Ventilation Working Out?

[donee]

Hi All,

For those not in a super-hot-all-the-time location, like the midwest (where it was above 90 F and up to 105 F THI last week) I have an idea. I park with my car pointed north at home (been on vacaition the last week). I took a piece of Reflectix (tm) and layed it across the hatch window, and folded the edges down in the gap between the hatch and the body. To keep it in place, I notched the bottom so it fit around the wiper drive, and taped on another piece of Reflectix over the wipper arm (using high quality outdoor duct tape). With the windows cracked slightly, the car stayed supprising cool. This works because the Reflectix is on the outside of the car. What we need is an exterior cockpit cover made from this stuff that secures with magnets. Can't use magnets on the rear hatch, as its alumimum. Possibly, they would work on the edges where the steel body is.

And one last comment, had to sleep under a blanket last night. It was 55 F! Ah, the joys of midwest weather!

[donee]

Hi Indy...,

Toyota will do a $2K + option sale next summer on the Gen III. This is their history. But, they wont drop the options prices now, they are out to pay off their tooling charges.

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by donee

Hi Indy...,

Toyota will do a $2K + option sale next summer on the Gen III. This is their history. But, they wont drop the options prices now, they are out to pay off their tooling charges.

Cool, is that right? And how big are the discounts offered? Do you know?

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by donee

And one last comment, had to sleep under a blanket last night. It was 55 F! Ah, the joys of midwest weather!

Don't you love it? It was cool in Indy too last night.. the whole week is supposed to be great!

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by bps

Now that folk's have been driving around with the solar-powered ventilation system and remote a/c for a few weeks, I was wondering how they are working out? Does it make a noticeable difference? I'm sure it does...but I'm looking for actual reports from those in the know.

Thanks!
Bryan

living in the Pacific Northwest, in summer we get a lot of sun in summer but not at good angle but even in mild sunny weather, the interior can really heat up. one day, i walked out to make a few calls in my car, got in and it was like the AC was running, OAT was low 60's but full sun and interior of the car was probably approaching 90º had a very nice cool breeze!!

Originally Posted by nola_Prius

Where are the vents located exactly? Are they clearly visible?
Does the ventilation system make any noise when it's on?
How many fans are there and does the speed vary?
Anyone?

same vents as the regular AC and heater are used. you will hear them running and the speed does vary depending on the amount of sun. i sat out in my car last week at 9:15 pm. sunset was 9.55 so angle of sun was VERY severe. timed the cycle times

on time off time in seconds
12 22
15 21
11 25
16 22
9 21
13 22

speed was probably on the next to lowest setting

Originally Posted by Rest

How does this system compare to those little solar fans you can pop on the inside of the window lip?

since this requires a window to be open on both ends and the air flow is not vented which greatly reduces the movement of the air, i would venture to say that the Pri option is probably much better

[powrfuel]

Facinating statisic! You washintonians need to get a life!

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by powrfuel

Facinating statisic! You washintonians need to get a life!

actually its the 19 hours of daylight at this time of year that cranks up the vitamin D in the system causing erratic behaviors. now keep in mind, that for 8 months of the year, its dark (vampires love it here... have you seen that Movie??...oh, nm, sun getting to me!!) nearly 24/7 either for lack of sunshine or impenetrable fog making our systems VERY sensitive to Vitamin D production

[SageBrush]

I think the best solution to interior heat buildup is a breathable car cover and open windows. It does require a bit of effort to use though.

[rrkessler]

I just wanted to add my two cents. I wasn't sure about the solar option when I got the car, but been using it more and more as its finally warmed up around here. It really does work. You get in and the car is the same temp as outside and it cools down nicely with the AC. Haven't tried the remote AC yet, because it hasn't gotten over 100 yet. But I was pleasantly surprised that it worked so well.

[donee]

Originally Posted by Indyking

Cool, is that right? And how big are the discounts offered? Do you know?

Hi Indy,

That is conjecture, and it assumes that gas prices stay low, and they did not spend too much on that ad campaign.

In the summer of 2007 they did a 2000 dollar off on options sale. Mostly that was with regards to the Navigation and stability. The Navigation is horendously overpriced, like in most cars. Its hard to say if the stability, and the other new neat stuff is though.