"This Car DIDN'T Climb Mt. Washington"

priusenvy · 09-09-2007, 03:41 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HappyPig @ Sep 9 2007, 06:07 AM) [snapback]509483[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

... the wall-like 22 percent grade in the final 50 yards.
[/b]

You've got to be kidding. There are several streets in San Francisco that are close to or over 30% grade and tens of thousands of vehicles drive on them every day.

I would have thought that with the steep downgrade, engine braking would be an issue, and maybe Prius drivers weren't putting their cars in "B". Or maybe they were, and the Prius could use some additional dynamic braking like on a diesel-electric locomotive (giant fan-cooled resistors for the motors to dump current into). After all, the battery can only soak up so much energy.

BTW, I can't find any mention of the Prius on the Vehicle Limits page.

HappyPig · 09-09-2007, 03:52 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Sep 9 2007, 03:41 PM) [snapback]509663[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You've got to be kidding. There are several streets in San Francisco that are close to or over 30% grade and tens of thousands of vehicles drive on them every day.
[/b]

I'm sure there are. This, however, is in the middle of the wilderness, so when your transmission blows out, you can't just wait for the wrecker while getting a latte at Starbucks :P

Earthling · 09-09-2007, 03:57 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Sep 9 2007, 01:19 PM) [snapback]509609[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Let's see if I understand this.

You drive forward up the mountain. Then you have to back up the entire way back down?

No thanks. I'm not disappointed I'm banned.

[/b]

No, that's not it. You drive up and you drive down, forwards, just like any road.

I rode up it on my motorbike a few years ago. I did it on "bike day" when it was a huge traffic jam the whole way up, and I never got out of first gear. I was worried about my clutch. Riding back down was much easier, mostly 2nd or 3rd gear.

It's a scary drive, and not for the timid.

It would certainly be "B" all the way down in a Prius.

Harry

ekpolk · 09-09-2007, 04:00 PM

Well, this isn't exactly pertinent to the discussion, but it's still such a priceless example of how NOT to do a long grade that I'm going to post it anyway. Enjoy.

This 42 second video is on YouTube.

hobbit · 09-09-2007, 05:54 PM

What horse crap. The supposed blog post was made back on Aug 8, and
I cannot find any mention of "prius" or "hybrid" in their present
Page-23. Someone must have smacked them upside the head and pointed
out that the Prius is just as safe as any other car on the downslope.
It's very tempting to call in this week and find out what the real
story is/was; I've been thinking about doing the mountain a couple
of different ways at some point ... been years since I hiked up it,
so it would be kinda fun to conquer it again with both my car and
my legs.
.
_H*

essaunders · 09-09-2007, 06:53 PM

I did a little searching at found this via google cache:

• As of 8/1/07 Toyota Hybrid vehicles with CVT transmissions are not allowed - this may be a temporary measure while we evaluate their braking capacity.

The current vehicle limitations page, as hobbit notes, no longer has this limitation. I'd guess a little homework was done....

Bohous · 09-09-2007, 07:34 PM

I was able to find This YouTube of the drive down. It's hard to get an idea of the steepness but you definitely get the picture of how gnarly it is up top. Personally I refuse to make my first trip up Mt. Washington in a car. I'm waiting till I bag it in boots first.

jamarimutt · 09-09-2007, 07:46 PM

The B on the Prius has nowhere the deceleration or braking power of L on a regular automatic transmission or first gear on a standard transmission. If the grade is very steep you can only rely on the brakes.

IsrAmeriPrius · 09-11-2007, 07:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Sep 9 2007, 10:41 AM) [snapback]509620[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I've climbed Mt Washington. Drive a Prius up it, no way.

Beautiful view, though. [/b]

I agree with your sentiments wholeheartedly. I drove to the top of Mt. Washington and back down in 1987 in a rented Hertz Ford Tempo. I will never want to subject a car that I own to such a drive. It is quite long, extremely steep at points, very windy and full of gigantic potholes.

hyo silver · 09-11-2007, 08:39 PM

Hey, we have regular highways that look like that.

I would have thought the Prius would be better on the way down than most cars. I've warped many a front disk descending mountain passes, and I think these electric brakes are wonderful.

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ekpolk The Regenerator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 363 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Well, this isn't exactly pertinent to the discussion, but it's still such a priceless example of how NOT to do a long grade that I'm going to post it anyway. Enjoy. This 42 second video is on YouTube.

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hobbit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bahstahn Posts: 2,976 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What horse crap. The supposed blog post was made back on Aug 8, and I cannot find any mention of "prius" or "hybrid" in their present Page-23. Someone must have smacked them upside the head and pointed out that the Prius is just as safe as any other car on the downslope. It's very tempting to call in this week and find out what the real story is/was; I've been thinking about doing the mountain a couple of different ways at some point ... been years since I hiked up it, so it would be kinda fun to conquer it again with both my car and my legs. . _H*

09-09-2007, 06:53 PM	#16
essaunders Junior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NH Posts: 29 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I did a little searching at found this via google cache: • As of 8/1/07 Toyota Hybrid vehicles with CVT transmissions are not allowed - this may be a temporary measure while we evaluate their braking capacity. The current vehicle limitations page, as hobbit notes, no longer has this limitation. I'd guess a little homework was done....

09-09-2007, 07:34 PM	#17
Bohous Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Boston-ish Posts: 296 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I was able to find This YouTube of the drive down. It's hard to get an idea of the steepness but you definitely get the picture of how gnarly it is up top. Personally I refuse to make my first trip up Mt. Washington in a car. I'm waiting till I bag it in boots first.

09-09-2007, 07:46 PM	#18
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The B on the Prius has nowhere the deceleration or braking power of L on a regular automatic transmission or first gear on a standard transmission. If the grade is very steep you can only rely on the brakes.

09-11-2007, 08:39 PM	#20
hyo silver awaaay Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 7,383 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 32	Hey, we have regular highways that look like that. I would have thought the Prius would be better on the way down than most cars. I've warped many a front disk descending mountain passes, and I think these electric brakes are wonderful.