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newbie owner here

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by fwbrc51, May 5, 2010.

  1. fwbrc51

    fwbrc51 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    61
    4
    0
    Location:
    Fort Walton Beach / NW Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    hey everyone. finally!!!...after renting the gen 2 for 3 times in the past 2 years, i finally bought one. i kept looking for Hertz for a good buy, but through autotrader i was able to find an 08 with 12,900~ miles. it's white, tinted, and with cruise control and an aux input. i've already had to buy a few tanks of gas, but i'm stoked on the mpg this thing gets compared to my 2.2 95 S-10. I bought this car due to my 45mile round trip from home to work. i'm in heaven.

    i haven't found any problems at the moment, but there are two things that concern me...
    1. odd braking characteristics when coming to a complete stop
    2. odd noise that seems to come from under the hood, driver's side when i power the car off.

    is it a bad idea (long term harm) to continuously try to keep the car in motion with the battery only? i'm constantly monitoring the driving status and trying to keep it in battery drive alone.

    i don't know what level package this car has but i can say that it does have cd player, no nav that i know of, no satellite radio or any satellite radio icons, has aux input, no leather...

    can someone tell me what package level i have so i can update my profile on this site?

    i haven't had the time to sit down and read the owner's manual at the moment as i've got tons of things to take care of. i will though.

    i'm also a ham operator and a sportbiker (rc51).

    i love this car!!!!!:rockon:
     
    #1 fwbrc51, May 5, 2010
  2. fwbrc51

    fwbrc51 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    61
    4
    0
    Location:
    Fort Walton Beach / NW Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    oh and by the way, i bought this car out the door...tax, title, etc for $17,700.

    did i get a good deal?
     
    #2 fwbrc51, May 5, 2010
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,867
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    A 2008 should have the thermal tank, that pumps hot radiator fluid to keep it hot so the engine warms up faster on the next start up.
     
    #3 JimboPalmer, May 5, 2010
  4. Prowler

    Prowler Newbie

    Joined:
    May 1, 2010
    38
    5
    0
    Location:
    TEXAS
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    U got a great deal. I just bough me an 08 with 42k mile for $13k. The first tank of gas I averaged 48.3 mpg. First fill up was $30. So compared to my mazda 4x4 truck I have been driving, I just saved about $75 on my first fill up. My truck got 14 mpg in town. Anyone on here wanna buy a good mazda 4x4, I got one for sale.
     
    #4 Prowler, May 5, 2010
  5. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    142
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    1. The sound after turning the car off is normal. That is the pump transferring coolant to the thermos mentioned above.

    2. Describe you braking situation a bit more if you can. Most likely it is normal as the car shifts from regenerative braking to friction braking. Some folks initially feel the brakes are "grabby," but it you will get used to that.
     
    #5 Doc Willie, May 5, 2010
  6. fwbrc51

    fwbrc51 Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    61
    4
    0
    Location:
    Fort Walton Beach / NW Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    yeah i'm pretty much used to the way the car brakes now, but i just had to get the question out.

    i'm still curious as to which prius i have....like package 1 2 3 4? \
    all i can say is that i don't have the nav system. Is there a way to hack the nav and turn it on..to say? also my key fob has alarm function, but what gets me is why the key doesn't have to be inserted in the dash to drive it. what's the use of designing the key fob slot if it's not needed?

    oh....is there a way to program the key fob or car so that when i push the unlock button once that both front doors unlock?....if i'm not going to work or coming home from work, my wife is usually with me in the car and it would be nice to not have to unlock all the doors just to accommodate her for her door do unlock.

    lots of reading ahead for me i see.
     
    #6 fwbrc51, May 5, 2010
  7. zonie911

    zonie911 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2009
    585
    21
    0
    Location:
    Nashville, Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Per the key, you have a perimeter unlocking key--The slot in the dash in for the keys that do not have perimeter unlocking and you don't need to put the "key" in the slot to drive the car, as long as you have it in your pocket or purse.
    I like it, it's cool!
     
    #7 zonie911, May 5, 2010
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,991
    49,526
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i think you have pkg.1

    you can keep the fob in your pocket, lock unlock the doors with your hand,if the fob battery dies, you slip it into the slot and fire it up.

    there is no nav to hack. it's not in the screen, it's under the seat.

    owners manual tells you how to change doorlock sequence.:welcome:

    don't run it on battery, learn pulse and glide described here, search p&g.
     
    #8 bisco, May 5, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  9. tickmark40

    tickmark40 New Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    62
    1
    3
    Location:
    Brownwood, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Brand new 2010 IV owner. Probably dumb question but can I change driving modes on the fly or does the car have to be stopped, ie, from Eco to Pwr Mode?
     
    #9 tickmark40, May 5, 2010
  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    You can change the driving modes on the fly.
     
    #10 jdcollins5, May 6, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  11. tickmark40

    tickmark40 New Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2010
    62
    1
    3
    Location:
    Brownwood, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks so much. The manual is not really clear about changing the modes.
     
    #11 tickmark40, May 6, 2010
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