long distance drive

yoyoman · 04-10-2006, 10:56 PM

I have my 2005 Prius for 5000 miles. Is the break in period done and good enough for the long distance drive? What do I need to watch out in this car when doing a long distance trip?

One time I was driving to a ski area with my prius. The battery almost drained and last level remained on the screen. The car was so weak and hard to clime to the top. Will I damage the battery or pushing the engine too hard?

galaxee · 04-10-2006, 11:00 PM

nah, the car won't let you damage the battery. it'll use the engine accordingly.

we've done a few long trips- once to key west which is 1000 miles each way and once to our home state which is about 1300 miles each way. each drive was done in one long shot with each of us driving shifts. had no problems whatsoever with the car, it seemed quite happy the whole way.

the only thing is that the seat may get uncomfortable for long drives if you're a taller than average person or have back problems. i was fine for about 9 hours, then it was time to get up and move around. but i think i'd probably feel that way in any car with my back the way it is.

i'm sure you'll be fine, good luck and have a safe trip!

john1701a · 04-11-2006, 01:05 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yoyoman @ Apr 10 2006, 09:56 PM) [snapback]237867[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The car was so weak and hard to climb to the top. Will I damage the battery or pushing the engine too hard?
[/b]

No you won't damage the system. In fact, the slow down is to protect it... which is actually rather amusing, since on a long & steep climb up like that your Prius is basically acting just like a Corolla does under the same conditions.

Rancid13 · 04-11-2006, 02:24 PM

I've made 2 long trips in my newish Prius and am only at the 4500 mile mark. First trip was ~800 miles round trip from OC to San Jose/Santa Cruz and back, and 2nd trip was ~700 miles round trip from OC to Mammoth Mountain and back. Long, steep grade just north of Bishop en route to Mammoth. About 10 miles of 6% uphill driving. Got my battery 'drained' to 1 purple bar but made it up to the top just fine, didn't notice any 'weakness' in the car's ability to make the climb, and was travelling at ~65-70mph the whole way up. The Prius won't let its battery completely drain, even with 1 purple bar remaining, it's still at ~40% SOC.

aaf709 · 04-11-2006, 04:11 PM

The Prius is quite capable of driving up the Mount Washington Auto Road. Several members have done that.

deman1134 · 04-11-2006, 05:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Apr 11 2006, 03:11 PM) [snapback]238157[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The Prius is quite capable of driving up the Mount Washington Auto Road. Several members have done that.
[/b]

I am planning on taking my 06' Prius to upper michigan from chicago in the summer, it will only have about 100 miles by the time i take it there, do you think it will be ready for a trip, most of you were saying how you took yours on trips at the 4500-5000 mile mark, just wondering, thanks.

Rancid13 · 04-11-2006, 06:00 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 11 2006, 02:18 PM) [snapback]238210[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I am planning on taking my 06' Prius to upper michigan from chicago in the summer, it will only have about 100 miles by the time i take it there, do you think it will be ready for a trip, most of you were saying how you took yours on trips at the 4500-5000 mile mark, just wondering, thanks.
[/b]

I'm sure it would be just fine! There are many people here on PC who purchased their Priuses in a location other than where they live, usually in another state or region, who took a one-way flight to do the purchase transaction then drove their Prius home, over several hundred miles distances and their cars were totally fine with the long trips!

I had just over 1700 miles on mine before I made my first long trip, but that's because I didn't have any trips planned in the first few weeks of owning the car, otherwise I would have been completely fine driving long distances that early in its life.

deman1134 · 04-11-2006, 06:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Apr 11 2006, 05:00 PM) [snapback]238246[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm sure it would be just fine! There are many people here on PC who purchased their Priuses in a location other than where they live, usually in another state or region, who took a one-way flight to do the purchase transaction then drove their Prius home, over several hundred miles distances and their cars were totally fine with the long trips!

I had just over 1700 miles on mine before I made my first long trip, but that's because I didn't have any trips planned in the first few weeks of owning the car, otherwise I would have been completely fine driving long distances that early in its life.
[/b]

Alright thanks, just wanted to make sure, dont want anything happening to my prius, its great!

Rancid13 · 04-11-2006, 06:35 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(deman1134 @ Apr 11 2006, 03:03 PM) [snapback]238248[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Alright thanks, just wanted to make sure, dont want anything happening to my prius, its great!
[/b]

I hear ya! I have a strange love for this car that is beyond explanation.

The Prius is most definitely a car that is meant to be driven a lot. It loves travelling and the open road.

gilahiker · 04-11-2006, 07:04 PM

Off topic I Know, but I just noticed the 'pregnant' in your tag line Rancid13...congrats!

04-10-2006, 11:00 PM	#2
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,081 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	nah, the car won't let you damage the battery. it'll use the engine accordingly. we've done a few long trips- once to key west which is 1000 miles each way and once to our home state which is about 1300 miles each way. each drive was done in one long shot with each of us driving shifts. had no problems whatsoever with the car, it seemed quite happy the whole way. the only thing is that the seat may get uncomfortable for long drives if you're a taller than average person or have back problems. i was fine for about 9 hours, then it was time to get up and move around. but i think i'd probably feel that way in any car with my back the way it is. i'm sure you'll be fine, good luck and have a safe trip! __________________ black 2005 prius, tweaked just the way i like it my diagnostic guy on electronics: "lack of troubleshooting ability is due to a high common sense rejection ratio."

04-11-2006, 02:24 PM	#4
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	I've made 2 long trips in my newish Prius and am only at the 4500 mile mark. First trip was ~800 miles round trip from OC to San Jose/Santa Cruz and back, and 2nd trip was ~700 miles round trip from OC to Mammoth Mountain and back. Long, steep grade just north of Bishop en route to Mammoth. About 10 miles of 6% uphill driving. Got my battery 'drained' to 1 purple bar but made it up to the top just fine, didn't notice any 'weakness' in the car's ability to make the climb, and was travelling at ~65-70mph the whole way up. The Prius won't let its battery completely drain, even with 1 purple bar remaining, it's still at ~40% SOC. __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hints to tweak a long-distance mpg test?	doyourealize	Fuel Economy	2	08-18-2007 10:05 PM
Long Distance Relationships...	Mirza	Fred's House of Pancakes	15	07-30-2007 04:13 PM
The Long Distance Prius	Michael Sherwood	Prius Main Forum	41	07-11-2007 12:27 PM
Long distance driving questions.	iaowings	Prius Main Forum	15	05-10-2007 01:57 PM
?'s Re: Long distance drives, HF radios & things 2 do in	Widdletink	Prius Main Forum	7	03-02-2005 09:23 PM

04-10-2006, 10:56 PM	#1
yoyoman Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 68 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have my 2005 Prius for 5000 miles. Is the break in period done and good enough for the long distance drive? What do I need to watch out in this car when doing a long distance trip? One time I was driving to a ski area with my prius. The battery almost drained and last level remained on the screen. The car was so weak and hard to clime to the top. Will I damage the battery or pushing the engine too hard?

04-11-2006, 04:11 PM	#5
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,838 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The Prius is quite capable of driving up the Mount Washington Auto Road. Several members have done that.

04-11-2006, 07:04 PM	#10
gilahiker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Silver City, NM Posts: 175 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Off topic I Know, but I just noticed the 'pregnant' in your tag line Rancid13...congrats!