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I am such a bad Prius driver

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by bwilson4web, Feb 25, 2015.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    So we're having our annual 'snow moment' in Huntsville, Not only are the primary employers closed but just about everyone else. But the flakes didn't start until 3:00 PM, not counting the usual suspects. Regardless, I took the dogs to the dog park where they could smell dog butt and then to a bar serving Don Julio silver and a take-out stew for my wife. Then they announced 'last call' . . . cowards!

    So I drove to the Nook where the kitchen was closed but the bar open. There were as many customers as staff. Regardless, another 'short' Don Julio and their idea of a Kentucky sippin' wiskey (Uh, no thank you.) Regardless, I parked under the tree and came out without snow over the windows . . . as expected. Off to south Huntsville three to four miles away.

    So I came across more than one high-rise, Jeep and pickup and made it a point to pass them, +10 mph, on the adjacent, snow lane. Thanks to the 2003 Prius traction control (no light) and excellent handling, lets just say, I was pleased. But only 'Sports Page' was still open.

    A bar, 1/4 mile from home had a server who was also the cook. She made me a Cobb salad and a cheese burger for the wife. Oh, I might have sampled another taquila . . . <grins>

    So I got home; fed the wife; she fed the dogs, and; I'm eating my favorite, mushroom soup, leseur peas, and canned salmon. I grilled a Porterhouse for the wife but she claims to be full. The house is warm and the Prius with the 1Kw inverter in the driveway. Meanwhile, the local TV stations are 'Foxing' their weather reports (aka., ISIS weather.)

    Still, I have 'dashcam' records of passing the typical 'high-boy' 4x4 that were so timid on the roads . . . passed by the little black Prius with license 'C52MPG'.

    I am so bad,
    Bob Wilson
     
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  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I like the license plate! :)

    And this was in the 2003, whose "traction control" is nothing but a torque-cutting, MG1-overrev-protector. I'll admit I too have had very good experience driving my 2001 in snow, except for just one occasion in 7 years where the MG1 protector stopped me on an incline leaving a parking lot.

    It has been my understanding that everything from Gen 2, 2004 onwards, has real traction control capable of actually braking the slipping wheel, not just cutting torque. So it always puzzles me to see so many threads on PriusChat where Gen 2 and Gen 3 drivers complain about having to disable TC or be stuck until Spring. Has anybody ever tested (say with brake pressure transducers) to see if the Gen 2 or later TC is really doing what it's supposed to, or why people keep reporting dissatisfaction with it?

    -Chap
     
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  3. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

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    Haha Bob, thanks for the visual of you plowing through the snow in your trusty Prius, passing all of the ego-filled dudes in their big 4x4's :D Any way to post the dashcam footage?? I could use something to cheer and clap to tonight. lol

    I personally enjoy driving my Prius in the snow - and I have to, we get a LOT here. I think the thing can be a TANK if you do it properly. And I love the faces of the people in trucks and 4x4's when I pass them too :LOL:
     
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The TC and VSC in my 2005 worked as intended. The issue is that under some conditions wheel spin can help, but the TC cuts the power, the wheel stops, the car stops, and now you stuck. The Prius is, or was, more sensitive to this, and other cars with it have the means of letting the driver turning it off.

    For example, last winter I and many others were driving home in one of the snow storms. My normal route has a steep hill about ahead. It's a 4 lane highway, but the snow likely had it down to one usable lane. Traffic was backed up. I took an off ramp with a very gradual curve, and a mild incline with many others. So slow going bumper to bumper with frequent stops. Even when starting the Sonic in third gear, the wheels would slip at times from a stop. The TC would come on and kill all momentum. I pushed the button to turn the button to turn it off, and I could spin the wheels from a stop until I got good traction. Left the VSC on, and it kept me from sliding sideways at times.

    In the the 2005 Prius, I would have simply been stuck, since I didn't know the technician dance for disabling the TC, and Prius haters would have been born behind me.

    My only serious complaint about the TC though occurs in fine weather. Making a left turn from a stop a little too fast, and TC got confused, and halted the car as soon as you straightened out in the road. Which could be bad if it is a main thoroughfare, and someone not paying attention or speeding was coming along.
     
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  5. Onager

    Onager Junior Member

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    Your not bad Bob you're using bad judgement.! Your little bar hopping excursion put many lives a risk especially while in dangerous driving conditions! Not to mention it's illegal to drink and drive. One drink I'll give you a pass but three hard liquor drinks in, icy/snowy conditions, light weight two wheel drive car and passing other cars is GROSS misjudgement!

    Edited, mod note.
    You can discuss your feelings about this without resorting to name calling an individual. First and only warning.
     
    #5 Onager, Feb 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 28, 2015
  6. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    ^^ ^^Not if he spent an hr+ at each bar. All booze would be out of his system assuming he's of average height and stature.
     
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  7. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    I have never driven the Prius in snow -- well, not enough to speak of (an inch or so). But, on ice or gravel it is a big pain. If, for some reason I ever had to stop on my 500-yard-long steep driveway (snake in the road, tree limb across the lane), I could count on having to back down quite a distance until I came to a level spot and could get traction again.

    The car stopped a couple of times in icy intersections (that was fun).

    So, the T/C is really poorly designed.

    And Onager, you assume quite a bit. Dr. Wilson's metabolism is probably quite up to processing the drinks he consumed. I, actually am a bit jealous. I can't really afford any quality tequila -- at least not at bar prices.

    Cheers, Bob! Have one for me. (y)
    Kris
     
  8. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

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    Cheers to bob! I'm sipping some moscato (I know, I like the sweet drinks) as we speak :giggle:(y)
     
  9. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    I finally have a weekend off. Shortly I will be heading to the Cheesecake Factory with my lovely wife.

    And



    If I dare to have more than 1 or 2 "cheesecakes" while there I will give the power of the Personas FOB to my wife. Cheers to her for hopefully not killing my mpg. Lol.

    :)
     
  10. Onager

    Onager Junior Member

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    False!

    This reminds me of another story he concocted.

    Problems with this fable. . .

    Bob is 65 years old his metabolism ain't what it used to be.
    He had a drink at the first bar. then it closed and he left. I doubt they let him hang out for an hour.
    At the second bar he had two drinks requiring a two hour wait.
    At the third bar the "Sports Page," he has another drink, four total drinks at this point.
    At the fourth and final bar or the same bar a 1/4 mile from home?
    Possibly another drink to add to the total which is now four to five hard liquor drinks total.
    Who goes out alone bar hopping from bar to bar and consumes four to five drinks alone?
    No indication he had anything to eat himself.

    He drives around town and home passing "timid" 4x4 trucks at 10+ mph over there speed in slick conditions. After feeding his wife a cold stew, by that time, Cheeseburger and Cobb Salad , he then grills a porterhouse steak for her!?!? She declines stating that she was full. You think! What was he thinking? He wasn't he was intoxicated. I hope he remember to let the poor dogs he dragged around town on his bar hopping excursion out of the car.

    Go ahead excuse him, it's irresponsible and enables Bob's problem but go ahead and excuse him. I'll bet your attitude changes after you've lost a loved one or friend to a drunk driver like I have. I'm sure he'll come up with some excuse even a plausible explanation. Filling in the time factor you mentioned above, a meal or some other BS but this fact remains. He's post a story glamorizing drinking and driving in dangerous conditions thats STUPID.

    Please don't be stupid like Bob and go driving, even one drink affects your ability and judgement. Mix that with dangerous conditions, oi vey, that's just stupid! You drink wine? Try a dessert wine or some of the white's from New Zealand they are quite sweet also.

    That's smart, drink responsibly and have fun!
     
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    So the other day two of the bar maidens were making some snarky comments about,'Do you know what Bob is drinking?'

    'No, what?'

    'Don Julio!' <cackle-cackle>

    The Nook takes pride in having over 250 beers.

    So today I show up and the German lady bar maid and I meet briefly and I say,

    "I'll have my usual ... like my 39 year wife."

    Bob Wilson

    ps. Huntsville AL, the largest town you would ever want to live in.
     
  12. Onager

    Onager Junior Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    got me by two years. and i don't brake for snake.
     
  14. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Well my wife managed a slick 48 mpg manning the wheel of the Persona on our return trip from the glorious Cheesecake Factory!! Not bad for high 20's temp wise.

    The unbearable 1.5+ hr wait was worth it. As was the triple Olive martini, Long Island, and the delicious Malbec with the meal to top off the night....

    Goodnight all :)
     
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  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    That is a rule of thumb I also learned a long time ago, but a little bit of Googling suggests it may be optimistic:
    1. The volume of distribution of Ethanol (etoh) is about 0.65 Liters per Kg of lean body weight. For an average male, about 45 Liters; for a woman perhaps 40 Liters
    2. For Caucasians, figure the body metabolizes 15 mg% an hour
    3. Ethanol weighs about 8 grams per 10 ml
    Examples, assuming the male starts driving with a BAC of 50 mg%:
    • After one hour of drinking, they can consume 450*65/1000 = 29.2 grams of Etoh
    • After two hours of drinking, they could have consumed 450*80/1000 = 36 grams of Etoh
    • After three hours of drinking, they could have consumed 450*95/1000 = 42.75 grams of Etoh
    Tequila is about 40% Etoh by volume. I don't know if Bob's drinks are diluted with lime or other additives, but in two hours he can very legally consume ~ 90 ml of straight Tequila, and about 107 ml in 3 hours.

    You can see that the allowable average amount decreases with time, and asymptotically approaches 450*15/1000 = 6.75 grams an hour, or about 8.44 ml of etoh, 21 ml of Tequila. A 'shot' is anywhere from 1.0 - 3.0 ounces, meaning 30 - 90 ml. Note that this is all with legal but impaired blood etoh levels.