excited but nervous about new Prius

[harper42]

I"ve got about a week until it arrives. I'm glad to see how happy all of you are with your Prius, but it sure sounds like it's going to be a different style of driving.... the coast method...... I want to get the best mpg possible. Is is going to be hard for a 65 years young lady to learn these new tricks? I'm excited about getting my car............ but a little nervous too. And what if I should experience an emergency? What if there is not a Toyota dealer nearby? Am I in big trouble then? I do a lot of long distance travelling....

[marjam]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dulcimer @ Jul 8 2006, 09:22 PM) [snapback]283155[/snapback]</div>

I"ve got about a week until it arrives. I'm glad to see how happy all of you are with your Prius, but it sure sounds like it's going to be a different style of driving.... the coast method...... I want to get the best mpg possible. Is is going to be hard for a 65 years young lady to learn these new tricks? I'm excited about getting my car............ but a little nervous too. And what if I should experience an emergency? What if there is not a Toyota dealer nearby? Am I in big trouble then? I do a lot of long distance travelling....
[/b]

Although it is a lot of fun reading all the "tricks" that people use here the most important thing is to drive the car as you have driven every other car you have owned. It feels and acts just like any other car, only a lot quieter. The"tricks" can come later but you will get great mileage just driving it normally.

My '04 came with Roadside Assistance but I don't know if that is still available. The one time I needed help I called the number on the window decal and someone was there in 40 minutes. And this was way out in the country far from home.

If you don't have roadside assistance maybe you have a AAA membership or some auto club. It is very UNLIKELY that you will need it though.

Just enjoy the car!

[efusco]

Just drive it. Don't worry about the fancy techniques. If you're a careful driver that anticipates stops and traffic behavior you've got 90% of the battle behind you.

There is a number to call for towing/help or you can use AAA. You're driving one of the most reliable car brands on the road and chances that you'll have a problem are very slim.

Take some time to learn the car, it's parts and come here to ask questions about anything that seems unfamiliar. Read the owner's manual and dog-ear the pages that might be important in an emergency or if something untoward should happen (for instance, if the 12v battery should die).

There's just nothing to be nervous about, it's no more complicated to drive or care for than any other car.

[OriginalGT]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marjam @ Jul 8 2006, 06:30 PM) [snapback]283161[/snapback]</div>

. . . the most important thing is to drive the car as you have driven every other car you have owned. It feels and acts just like any other car, only a lot quieter. [/b]

Agreed! Just drive and enjoy. My wife was so elated when she first drove the Prius as she thought it was the smoothest car she has ever driven.

[john1701a]

JUST DRIVE IT!

That slogan came about years ago from those of us that simply aren't interested in squeezing out highest efficiency.

For me, that meant only averaging 51.9 MPG last month. Kind of a bummer to be that "low", but sometimes I need to use the fast highway and carry a kayak or two and use the A/C.

The things you can easily do is make sure the oil doesn't ever get overfilled, use synthetic oil, and keep the tires close to the maximum pressure.

[Jeannie]

I'm a little younger than you - 58 - but I've learned 'driving the Prius'. I keep my MFD display on the 'consumption' screen, and the yellow 'instantaneous MPG' bar on the right hand side has 'trained' me to do more coasting to stop signs and lights, and anticipate the lights on the roads I drive frequently. My first tank was 43 MPG, and the second and subsequent ones have been 48-49, which is what I'm told is good for my 5 mile commute to and from work, with infrequent trips of 10-12 miles. Don't worry about it - it will come naturally <g>. I know a lot of people recommend watching the 'energy' screen to learn 'pulse and glide', but in 2.5 months of owning my Prius, I haven't really been tempted to watch that screen at all - I find it takes too much concentration for me.

[Alnilam]

Since you haven't got the car yet and, presumably haven't paid for it, take some time now to consider whether or not you are going to get the extended warranty. Be familiar with the offering on this site so you can wisely make a decision when the financial officer at the dealership offers you his package, probably at twice the price for considerably less coverage. I wish I had done that and saved myself the grief of cancelling my warranty purchase and getting my money back from the dealer. I did so, but should have avoided the whole adventure. (Buying the car was OK, though! :P )

[Three60guy]

You should be excited. But nervous? Ok, the fear of the unknown maybe but as soon as you get into your Prius all that will fade away quickly. Just put your foot on the brake, hit the Power Button and drive it. It really is that simple. Forget all the talk about mileage. Don't even peek at the display. Let the Prius do all that work for you. It really is a pretty smart car.

What I suggest is to replace your nervousness with pure glee. Because that really is what you are going to feel. We have a term coined here at PriusChat.....PAS.......Prius Anticipation Syndrome. We all felt like the day wouldn't ever come until we got our Prius. And when the day finally did we all felt absolutely fantastic.

I don't want to make it sound like you are not deserving of your feelings and thoughts. I just had to share with you what I felt and by the way people talk around here it is pretty common. So have those butterflies but know that they will no doubt fly away soon after you get your Prius.

Enjoy it by just driving it.

Cheers

[harper42]

Thanks for all your comments, especially Three60guy. You're making me feel a lot better. I AM really anxious. I do so much running the grandkids here and there, it's nothing for me to go 75-100 miles a day, and never get farther than 20-30 miles away from home. So I'm out for SUPER gas mileage. I want to try to learn how to do the cruise thing.... They said it would be about 2 weeks, and that was a week ago. Maybe I'll get mine next week???

[TonyPSchaefer]

I think the phrase "just drive it" has been pretty prominent in the responses.

In the end, when it comes right down to it, there are two very important things you need to remember:
1) The gas is on the right.
2) The brake is on the left.

And what if I should experience an emergency? What if there is not a Toyota dealer nearby? Am I in big trouble then? I do a lot of long distance travelling....[/b]

As for those things, you could ask those same questions about any car of any model from any maker. I have AAA and never fear a breakdown. If you're worried about the technology of the Prius, feel secure in knowing that you can scan this forum for days and find perhaps only a relatively few references to people being stranded by their cars.

Make sure you fasten your seatbelts and everything else will take care of itself. Have a blast!!