newb questions about prius

[trickysam]

from what I've read here and elsewhere, it seems like the prius has some pretty nice spunk, but I just had a few questions (admitadly they're ones you've probably heard and made fun of many times before... but I'm new, I can ask newb questions.)

(I'm in washington state, studying to be an airframe mechanic, so I pretend to know about vehicles... airplanes much more than cars... but a little about cars)

1: I know they make it up hills better than 4 bangers, but I've heard it can go 90 MPH up a pretty mean hill, true or false?

2: How long does it take to go 0-60? (flat dry surface, etc.)

3: I know it's not a pure electric motor, but still curious about the battery, is it NiCad/lead acid/other? (I know NiCads are... beefy... but expensive... plus the whole "they overheat and cause thermal runaway and can melt through a wing... therefore through a car" thing... so I assume not NiCad... I hope)

4: what features do most people get on their prius? Stock of just under 21k to fully loaded at about 29k is a big difference... what features do you guys think is "worth it?"

5: I read that the straight gas engine only produces 70-80 HP, but with the electric boost, it can beef it up to a total of up to 173 HP, is that true?

6: why does it get so much better gas milage in town than on the highway? Is it just from the regenerative breaking? could you get better milage by squeezing the breaks a little on the road?

7: what if ninjas attack? :guns:

8: I hear in efforts to reduce weight, they don't have good sound shielding? How's the engine/road sound in those things? (I hear the engine's quiet, but the road sounds like the doors are open)

9: how much space is actually in the "trunk" area (better word for a hatchback?) ops: ? if you fold down the seats can you lay back there comfortably?

10: What's that cool dashboard computer thingy do? Just extra dashboard gauges? Does it have GPS or something? Can I hack into that thur and git mine sweeper?

I'll let that be all the questions tonight as it's midnight, I've been playing far too much everquest, and I have a landing gear oral exam tomorrow at 7:00 AM... i.e. ich bin sehr muede.

g'night.... you sneaky ninjas.... I KNOW YOU'RE THERE! :cussing:

(actually I love ninjas)

again... sorry about any strange behaivior or mispelingss... I have issues when I'm schleepy like thish.

[olends]

1: I know they make it up hills better than 4 bangers, but I've heard it can go 90 MPH up a pretty mean hill, true or false?

True, but if you are racing up the mountain, and drain the battery to its critical level, the car will slow to running on ICE only

2: How long does it take to go 0-60? (flat dry surface, etc.)
around 10 sec. but its so smooth you may not realize you have reached 60.

3: I know it's not a pure electric motor, but still curious about the battery, is it NiCad/lead acid/other? (I know NiCads are... beefy... but expensive... plus the whole "they overheat and cause thermal runaway and can melt through a wing... therefore through a car" thing... so I assume not NiCad... I hope)
nickel-metal hydride

4: what features do most people get on their prius? Stock of just under 21k to fully loaded at about 29k is a big difference... what features do you guys think is "worth it?"
i would get the whole package, the value of what you get is worth so much more than you pay for it

5: I read that the straight gas engine only produces 70-80 HP, but with the electric boost, it can beef it up to a total of up to 173 HP, is that true?
the ICE maxes at 76hp. the Electric Motor can max out at 67hp. but the system as a whole maxes at 110hp.

6: why does it get so much better gas milage in town than on the highway? Is it just from the regenerative breaking? could you get better milage by squeezing the breaks a little on the road?
the EPA test has a lot of stops, at stops the engine does not run, there for not wasting gas, giving it a higher score. also in the city the electrical motor is called on more for motive force than the ICE.

7: what if ninjas attack? :guns:
if a group of sport bikes attack, you'll be getting about the same mpg as them so its all good

8: I hear in efforts to reduce weight, they don't have good sound shielding? How's the engine/road sound in those things? (I hear the engine's quiet, but the road sounds like the doors are open)
i have heard that as well, but i don't have enough practical experience to answer

9: how much space is actually in the "trunk" area (better word for a hatchback?) ops: ? if you fold down the seats can you lay back there comfortably?
there is a lot of space surprisingly, i believe 3 sets of clubs will fit, with the seat up. i think its a little small to sleep in, if you curl up you should be ok

10: What's that cool dashboard computer thingy do? Just extra dashboard gauges? Does it have GPS or something? Can I hack into that thur and git mine sweeper?
its chocked full of useful stuff, it shows what is currently propelling your car. audio controls, climate control. instantaneous MPG readout. and GPS Nav in the upper package.

[xevious]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(trickysam\";p=\"84466)</div>

8: I hear in efforts to reduce weight, they don't have good sound shielding?  How's the engine/road sound in those things? (I hear the engine's quiet, but the road sounds like the doors are open)
[/b]

Popular to contrary opinion, Toyota didn't really make any extra effort to reduce weight in the Prius. Most of the weight-reduction advancements found in the Prius are now found in other Toyota vehicles. The fact is that the Prius is actually a very heavy car for its class.

I think the weight confusion originated from the media mixing facts about the Prius and the Insight. The Insight is an ultra-light, ultra-compact vehicle (still larger than a sparrow - but only slightly! ); for the Insight, great mileage comes at the cost of a noisy interior and no luggage space.

To answer your question, though, the Prius is well insulated. Quieter than the average vehicle, noisier than a Cadillac. Very comparable to my '94 Camry.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(trickysam\";p=\"84466)</div>

9: how much space is actually in the \"trunk\" area (better word for a hatchback?)  ops: ?  if you fold down the seats can you lay back there comfortably?  
[/b]

I'm 6'1" and I've slept and tailgated in the back of my Prius. The sleeping arrangement was actually quite comfy - folding down the rear seats and folding back the front seats makes a continuous, albeit somewhat lumpy, surface. Bring a sleeping pad.

[karmavore]

As for space in the back, I'm 6'2" and have found my Prius to be the ultimate drive-in machine.

Brad

[Canuck]

Just returned from the building supplier and carried a bunch of 14 foot pieces of baseboard material .... yah, I had to tie a red flag on the three feet sticking outside. Just as a point of interest it's great to be able to tie one end of a rope to the rear side cargo ring thread it up through the u-bolt on the bottom of the hatch and back down through the other side cargo ring then lead it forward reefing the hatch down and tying it off at the u-bolt available when either of the rear seats is folded.
Amazing what this machine offers.
Gary