T-Spirit on trial, and a question on de-icing...

bish · 11-06-2007, 05:00 AM

A quick introductory post, I'm bish. /me waves.

I've just taken delivery of a demonstrator T-Spirit with a view to having one (probably a T4) as my company car replacement. I'm off out now to spend the day driving (got it until Friday) but I wondered, with the colder weather imminent, if the all-electric nature causes issues with de-misting, de-icing or heating the car interior?

More as I learn...

/|\ bish
www.rosher.net

Rangerdavid · 11-06-2007, 07:09 AM

Hi Bish!!

I'm not familiar with the T Spirit.... I don't think they sell them over here. Do you have a picture perhaps? Enjoy!

hwalker911 · 11-06-2007, 07:59 AM

The T-Sprit, is the same as the Touring Edition Prius sold in the UK. There should be no problems with the heating or de-icing with the vehicle.

Happy Motoring!

KMO · 11-06-2007, 08:54 AM

No real issue with internal heat and demisting - might be a little slower to warm up than some cars due to less excess heat being put out by the more efficient engine, but I understand that can equally affect diesels. All heat comes from the engine, rather than the electric system. That means the engine runs more in cold weather - it will stay running just to heat you up. (You can test that by turning off the climate control or lowering the cabin temperature - it will stop the engine). The electric A/C compressor is automatically used to dehumidify. The rear window demist is conventional, and works quickly (although some early owners have reported that their lower rear window doesn't demist)

It doesn't take too many minutes to deice the windscreen, if you set the system to A/C off, MAX HOT, full speed and front defrost, as recommended by the manual. The user interface means that's a bit fiddly though.

The only real downer is the lack of heated mirrors. They were left off the UK-spec Prius for no apparent reason.

In some colder parts of Europe (and all of America, including places like Florida...) auxiliary electric cabin heaters are fitted, but again they were left off the UK version. That probably doesn't make a huge amount of difference though - they're pretty low powered.

dogfriend · 11-06-2007, 10:59 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KMO @ Nov 6 2007, 06:54 AM) [snapback]535436[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The only real downer is the lack of heated mirrors. They were left off the UK-spec Prius for no apparent reason.

[/b]

I'll trade you the heated mirrors for the adjustable height drivers seat that they left out of the North American version. I have no need for heated mirrors in California, but my head is very close to the headliner.

mingoglia · 11-06-2007, 11:08 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Nov 6 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]535505[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'll trade you the heated mirrors for the adjustable height drivers seat that they left out of the North American version. I have no need for heated mirrors in California, but my head is very close to the headliner.

[/b]

I didn't realize there were so many minor differences. I would have thought they would keep them as close as possible to save cost. I could see major difference such as features mandated by the government (crash rating related stuff, emissions, etc) but not minor things like adjustable seats, heated mirrors, etc. I do like the auto-parking feature on the European/Asian models.

That would be cool for some parts of the U.S.

theblackbag · 11-06-2007, 11:39 AM

Yet to really need any kind of defogging on mine..........

I would have liked the spiffy keyless thing that the US versions have. Didn't know the US versions don't have intelligent park assist, but I understand most have the reversing camera anyway? The camera only comes on the the t-spirt in the UK.

bish - I took my Prius as a company car too, mainly becuase of its low tax rating. Me and the wife decided on the t-spirt as if we had gone for the t3 or t4 we would have wanted parking sensors and the dealer fits are about £400. That was about 18 months worth of repayments over the 3 year life of the vehicle.

bish · 11-08-2007, 06:59 AM

Thanks for all your replies and PM's. It's ok, I'm hooked... I'm soon to enter 'stealth druid' mode.

The demonstrator goes back tomorrow, but I've already ordered myself a T4 in Glacier Blue. The additions that come with the T-Spirit are Bluetooth telephony, Sat-Nav and the Parking Genie.

My manager has said he will pay for the bluetooth as an upgrade (yet to find out if that's an option but surely...), I have a Tom-Tom that works better for me than the in-car version, and the IPA Parking Genie is only useful as a gimmick to entertain the kids with. It has yet to actually park me correctly, in tests using private roads and cones, and I would never, ever, let it park me for real. It's also an awful lot slower to do so (setting up, sloooowly reversing etc) than I am. It's ok, Toyota, I can drive! I took a test!

I'm an engineer often on 24hour call, and I really like the EV mode that takes me out of my home and down the road past sleeping neighbours in almost complete silence. I also love the silence at traffic lights. And the smiles. I have however found that there is a slight hiss on the FM radio when decellerating, presumably from the regeneration process. I've not read that here so perhaps it's just this one.

More when the new one arrives. Now I just want the stick-on solar panel!!!

mickwill · 11-09-2007, 03:45 AM

Hello Bish,

I too have ordered a Prius as my company car (T-Spirit, Black) as it will make me a lot better off on the Tax front. I went for the Spirit in the end mainly for the Bluetooth and the JBL sound system.

Most of my department at work had been taking the p*** until I pointed out that I will only be liable for about £1000 a year on my tax code. After that they seemed to shut up a bit for some odd reason.

I had a demonstrator for a week from Toyota and was impressed. I also had a Honda Civic IMA (for 24 hours) which failed miserably on several fronts, the main one being it failed the "family" test. We could not fit the pram (buggy for those in the US) in the boot and I also couldnt fit a Proliant server in it either. Also the IMA was appauling to drive.

So in January it's goobye nasty Vectra, hello Prius.

You may see me bombing down the M5 occaisionaly.

Mick

laurence_fowler · 11-09-2007, 08:02 AM

Bish

I have had my T4 for two weeks and I love it to bits. It certainly takes longer to heat the interior than any other car I have ever driven, but that's the proce you pay for engine efficiency, I suppose.

It doesn not respond to the lihjtest touch on the pedal like my MG did but it gives me over 200 extra miles to the tank than my MG so, I can live with that!

Regards

Laurence

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11-06-2007, 05:00 AM	#1
bish EV Mode Stealth Druid Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gloucestershire, England Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	A quick introductory post, I'm bish. /me waves. I've just taken delivery of a demonstrator T-Spirit with a view to having one (probably a T4) as my company car replacement. I'm off out now to spend the day driving (got it until Friday) but I wondered, with the colder weather imminent, if the all-electric nature causes issues with de-misting, de-icing or heating the car interior? More as I learn... /\|\ bish www.rosher.net

11-06-2007, 07:09 AM	#2
Rangerdavid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boone, North Carolina Posts: 1,066 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Hi Bish!! I'm not familiar with the T Spirit.... I don't think they sell them over here. Do you have a picture perhaps? Enjoy!

11-06-2007, 07:59 AM	#3
hwalker911 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Piedmont of North Carolina Posts: 84 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The T-Sprit, is the same as the Touring Edition Prius sold in the UK. There should be no problems with the heating or de-icing with the vehicle. Happy Motoring!

11-06-2007, 08:54 AM	#4
KMO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 911 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: T Spirit Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	No real issue with internal heat and demisting - might be a little slower to warm up than some cars due to less excess heat being put out by the more efficient engine, but I understand that can equally affect diesels. All heat comes from the engine, rather than the electric system. That means the engine runs more in cold weather - it will stay running just to heat you up. (You can test that by turning off the climate control or lowering the cabin temperature - it will stop the engine). The electric A/C compressor is automatically used to dehumidify. The rear window demist is conventional, and works quickly (although some early owners have reported that their lower rear window doesn't demist) It doesn't take too many minutes to deice the windscreen, if you set the system to A/C off, MAX HOT, full speed and front defrost, as recommended by the manual. The user interface means that's a bit fiddly though. The only real downer is the lack of heated mirrors. They were left off the UK-spec Prius for no apparent reason. In some colder parts of Europe (and all of America, including places like Florida...) auxiliary electric cabin heaters are fitted, but again they were left off the UK version. That probably doesn't make a huge amount of difference though - they're pretty low powered.

11-06-2007, 11:39 AM	#7
theblackbag Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Rutland, UK Posts: 41 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: T Spirit Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yet to really need any kind of defogging on mine.......... I would have liked the spiffy keyless thing that the US versions have. Didn't know the US versions don't have intelligent park assist, but I understand most have the reversing camera anyway? The camera only comes on the the t-spirt in the UK. bish - I took my Prius as a company car too, mainly becuase of its low tax rating. Me and the wife decided on the t-spirt as if we had gone for the t3 or t4 we would have wanted parking sensors and the dealer fits are about £400. That was about 18 months worth of repayments over the 3 year life of the vehicle.

11-08-2007, 06:59 AM	#8
bish EV Mode Stealth Druid Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gloucestershire, England Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for all your replies and PM's. It's ok, I'm hooked... I'm soon to enter 'stealth druid' mode. The demonstrator goes back tomorrow, but I've already ordered myself a T4 in Glacier Blue. The additions that come with the T-Spirit are Bluetooth telephony, Sat-Nav and the Parking Genie. My manager has said he will pay for the bluetooth as an upgrade (yet to find out if that's an option but surely...), I have a Tom-Tom that works better for me than the in-car version, and the IPA Parking Genie is only useful as a gimmick to entertain the kids with. It has yet to actually park me correctly, in tests using private roads and cones, and I would never, ever, let it park me for real. It's also an awful lot slower to do so (setting up, sloooowly reversing etc) than I am. It's ok, Toyota, I can drive! I took a test! I'm an engineer often on 24hour call, and I really like the EV mode that takes me out of my home and down the road past sleeping neighbours in almost complete silence. I also love the silence at traffic lights. And the smiles. I have however found that there is a slight hiss on the FM radio when decellerating, presumably from the regeneration process. I've not read that here so perhaps it's just this one. More when the new one arrives. Now I just want the stick-on solar panel!!!

11-09-2007, 03:45 AM	#9
mickwill Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 10 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hello Bish, I too have ordered a Prius as my company car (T-Spirit, Black) as it will make me a lot better off on the Tax front. I went for the Spirit in the end mainly for the Bluetooth and the JBL sound system. Most of my department at work had been taking the p*** until I pointed out that I will only be liable for about £1000 a year on my tax code. After that they seemed to shut up a bit for some odd reason. I had a demonstrator for a week from Toyota and was impressed. I also had a Honda Civic IMA (for 24 hours) which failed miserably on several fronts, the main one being it failed the "family" test. We could not fit the pram (buggy for those in the US) in the boot and I also couldnt fit a Proliant server in it either. Also the IMA was appauling to drive. So in January it's goobye nasty Vectra, hello Prius. You may see me bombing down the M5 occaisionaly. Mick

11-09-2007, 08:02 AM	#10
laurence_fowler Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom Posts: 18 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: T4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Bish I have had my T4 for two weeks and I love it to bits. It certainly takes longer to heat the interior than any other car I have ever driven, but that's the proce you pay for engine efficiency, I suppose. It doesn not respond to the lihjtest touch on the pedal like my MG did but it gives me over 200 extra miles to the tank than my MG so, I can live with that! Regards Laurence