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Las Vegas owners; baby seats; clearance

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Veggybaby, Feb 15, 2014.

  1. Veggybaby

    Veggybaby New Member

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    We're considering getting a 2014 Prius 3. We live in Las Vegas, and I was wondering if current owners have any complaints about the AC not being cold enough during the summer. I know that the mpg drops a fair amount, but I'm more worried about making sure we keep it nice and cool.

    How about easy access for getting the baby in and out?

    Also wondered about any issues with the low clearance. How much scraping are you guys suffering?

    We're considering getting a 2014 Prius 3. We live in Las Vegas, and I was wondering if current owners have any complaints about the AC not being cold enough during the summer. I know that the mpg drops a fair amount, but I'm more worried about making sure we keep it nice and cool.

    How about easy access for getting the baby in and out?

    Also wondered about any issues with the low clearance. How much scraping are you guys suffering?

    Back-up camera work well?
     
  2. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Air cond. Works great!.
    Back seats have lots of room, getting baby in and out I would think would not be an issue.
    I have not any issues here with low clearance or scrapings.
    Good luck on your search for a new car! :)

    Back-up camera works fine, I just wish it had guide lines to help with backing up.
     
  3. matt b.

    matt b. Member

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    Tthere's no AC in the backseat or the near the hatchback so the only area that you get in to the backseat would be from the front dash so that could have been better they could have done more, the rear camera takes a little getting used to but don't depend solely on the rear camera other than that a great buy

    and when you have the AC on in 110°degree weather you need to have the car on power mode to receive Max Air Flow
     
  4. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    The A/C in the Prius doesn't seem to be any worse in the summer than any other car I've had here. I'd definitely recommend a good window tint. That will help a bit.

    I've done my fair share of scrapping my front bumper on curbs and parking blocks. Good thing is it's all on the underside so you really can't see it.

    Back-up camera works very well and has saved me from a few close calls when backing out of spots ... especially when parked next to large SUVs and trucks. I also wish it had the lines.

    Can't comment on the baby but I do have a 35 lb Beagle that I have no issues with getting in and out! :)


    Never knew this. I'll have try it out this summer. Thanks for the tip.
     
    matt b. and retired4999 like this.
  5. Veggybaby

    Veggybaby New Member

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    As to the back-up lines, couldn't we just stick some thin, colored tape on the screen?
     
  6. Potorap

    Potorap Active Member

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    Hi Veggybaby

    The ac works great in the Prius. I have had a 2010 and now my wife and I have his and her Plug in Prius's. I would strong recommend you look into the plug in. We are getting 85 mpg traveling back and forth to Pahrump on a daily basis. Living it. Also plug in to PriusChat as there is unlimited resources. ( no pun intended )
     
  7. house2013

    house2013 Junior Member

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    i had same issue too, its not as cold as my civic....
     
  8. robertk328

    robertk328 Member

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    Wouldn't bother - it's fine without it, though would be nice to have.

    As for the A/C, have never had any issues with mine. If you're really concerned, get the solar roof option that will keep the car cool when parked (well, at least close to the ambient temp rather than crazy intense heat). Adds some cost but it works well!
     
  9. robertk328

    robertk328 Member

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    One other thing -- my son was 6 mos old when I got the Prius and never had an issue getting him in and out, whether in a rear facing seat or forward facing. Now he's in a booster and he gets in and out on his own (and tells me he doesn't need my help!)
     
  10. DrPepperholik

    DrPepperholik Active Member

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    With our humid heat out here my AC works fine so I can't speak to the dry Las Vegas heat. I really enjoyed both trips I've taken to Las Vegas and would prefer the dry heat at times to this humid heat. As for the car seat, we have our almost 17 month old rear facing behind the driver's seat and I have plenty of room. My husband has enough room when he drives too. It is really easy to get him in/out of the seat. We have the Chicco Nextfit car seat and install it using LATCH. I went from a Mustang to the Prius so I'd have 4 doors and plenty of room and I am very pleased.

    I second the AC solar vent option, I love mine and it helps.
     

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  11. DrPepperholik

    DrPepperholik Active Member

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    As for AC to the backseat for the kiddos there is a product you can get called a Noggle that I see recommended on a Car Seat Safety group I'm in on Facebook. It's like a cloth/fabric dryer vent, in that it's flexible and a tube, that clips to your AC vent and you can run it back to the kid(s) in the back seat for direct air to them.

    Noggle Website for info.
     
  12. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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    Never had any complaints about the AC on our '05 or '08, or our new "v" here in Phoenix. Also ride in the back of a coworker's Gen 3 liftback from time to time, and the AC seems to keep the back well cooled. He does have the solar moon roof which runs the ventilation fans to keep the car from heating up as much when parked. The back seat of the Prius is generally quite roomy for the size of the vehicle, and pretty car seat friendly. In our v we are able to seat 3 across, with a rear facing keyfit in the center, a radian front facing 5 point on one side and a britax SGL high back booster on the other side. I'm 6' and have no issues getting the front seat back far enough with the rear facing seat in place.

    Only time I've ever really had an issue with clearance is riding with the coworker to lunch, there is one particular restaurant that has a big hump in its driveway which his gen3 liftback will bottom out on when loaded with 5 adults. So now we just park on the street when eating there.

    Good luck!
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just a thought: watch the child seat doesn't block the hybrid battery vent opening. We've had a few child seats in the back, recall it was good, but you'd want to check.

    The car has those strong point bars between the seat and back cushions, for those connectors that look kind if like a BIC lighter. They're superior to using the seatbelt connection.
     
  14. DrPepperholik

    DrPepperholik Active Member

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    Those are called Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children or (LATCH) and are not necessarily superior. LATCH is easy to use but the best install method (LATCH or seat belt) is what gives you the best install for your car seat and your vehicle, less than 1" of movement along the belt path or the LATCH connections. There are also weight limits to LATCH, they include the combined weight of the child and the seat. LATCH was not made to be superior to seat belt installs but to provide a simple, fool proof way for people to install child seats.

    Here is a very useful link for more information regarding LATCH.
     
    #14 DrPepperholik, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2014
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. alekska

    alekska Active Member

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    There are AC outlets under the front seats, blowing toward back. Also, I really doubt about Power Mode and AC flow. Being in ECO decreases air flow, I agree - this is mentioned in the manual. But "Power" for max airflow ? Not sure.

    - Alex
     
    #15 alekska, Jul 28, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2014
    robertk328 likes this.
  16. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    I don't think so either, but I'll have to test it tomorrow, if I remember. Manually setting ECO definitely reduces it, but I'm not sure setting PWR does anything.
     
  17. miscrms

    miscrms Plug Envious Member

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    I know the v has the vents under the seats, does the liftback also? My recollection is on the v you have to set the vent to dash and feet to get AC through the underseat vents. We don't usually bother to do this, back seat seems to get cooled well enough from the center dash vents.
     
  18. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    The lift back has vents under the seat
     
  19. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    Is that a 2010 or Canada thing? My 2014 doesn't seem to and I can't find any photo showing them in anything other than the V.
     
    #19 DoubleDAZ, Jul 29, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2014
  20. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    In my 2010 there are plastic vents in the back of the hollow cross member under the front of each set. It's easier to see them if you push the seats all the way forward. The one on the passenger side is partly obscured by the JBL amp..

    I would expect that its the same in all Gen 3s but they are not obvious unless you look for it or are doing something down there.