Someone challenged a Prius - uphill race!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by clintd555, May 7, 2006.

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  1. clintd555

    clintd555 New Member

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    Ok, here's the scenerio of what happened. I was sitting at a light that just turned red. Just before the traffic on the left got the green light, I couldn't help but hear this loud rumble. It was a pickup truck decked out with some aftermarket parts. Anyway, in front of it was a Prius. They were in an "only left turn lane." Both these vehicles was waiting for their light to turn green so they can make a left turn which goes up a small mountain.

    Their light turned green, a loud rumble from the truck can be heard far away, the truck driver GUNS it!! Apparently the truck driver must have been taunting him... of course with the hill right up the corner, the truck driver must have thought it was an easy task to pass the hybrid climbing that hill.

    Both cars kick off as the light turned, Prius in front, then the truck changed over to the right lane to get side by side preparing to pass the Prius, then all of a sudden that Prius TOOK OFF!! The Prius driver must have realized he was about to be overtaken.

    Both vehicles were racing over the top of the hill head to head!! It was awesome! The truck NEVER could pass the Prius. They were neck and neck the whole time! I'm sure that truck driver felt shamed. Hehehe :D The Prius definately has very good pickup. :)
     
    #1 clintd555, May 7, 2006
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    What I love is when it's extremely windy (which seems to be often in Chiacgoland Spring). When you turn into the wind, all the cars are struggling due to the increased effort. With a .36 coefficient of drag, I find that I can slip right through and pull ahead of the more square vehicles who think they should be able to out-gun the Prius. *cough* *cough* hummer *cough* *cough

    Driving into a stiff headwind with a perfectly square vehicle must be rough but I'll never know.
     
    #2 TonyPSchaefer, May 7, 2006
  3. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ May 7 2006, 05:33 PM) [snapback]251151[/snapback]</div>
    Tony, the Cd is 0.26! :p http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/specs.html
     
    #3 ScottY, May 7, 2006
  4. beezy

    beezy New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clintd555 @ May 7 2006, 02:13 PM) [snapback]251149[/snapback]</div>
    Remember the thrust to weight ratio! Sure the truck is tricked out, but the Prius is lighter and nimbler! Kinda like Shaq vs. Nate Robinson.
     
    #4 beezy, May 7, 2006
  5. ghostofjk

    ghostofjk New Member

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    I've had three VW Campers at different times in my life. I usually got 19-20 MPG highway driving, regardless of year or engine.

    Once, driving almost all day into a moderate headwind (20-25 mph), I unexpectedly ran out of gas (after passing several cities/towns where I could have gassed up!) because I thought the gas gauge was fibbing. By then it was dark and I was in the middle of nowhere. For that 300-mile segment of driving, I had no idea how strong the wind was until I stepped out, as the wind wasn't a crosswind, nor a swirling wind that buffeted the vehicle.

    By the time I got emergency gas, then later filled up, it turned out my MPG had been sliced to 13. I probably had it floored the whole time to keep it up to 55-60 MPH.
     
    #5 ghostofjk, May 7, 2006
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 7 2006, 04:48 PM) [snapback]251157[/snapback]</div>
    Yes, the stock Prius has a 0.26 but remember I took my wheel disks off! :)

    Okay, actually, it was a typo.
    And for those who might have thought I was serious, I wasn't. Removing the wheel disks has not been able to show a significant change in cD in the real world.
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, May 7, 2006
  7. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    I had a Hummer pull up next to me and want to race up hill. I did not bite but several people said I should have!. I did arrive at the top of the hill to find the Hummer filling up at a gas station. Should have done a victory lap around the gas station in stealth but missed that opportunity as well. Two missed opportunities.
     
    #7 hdrygas, May 7, 2006
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I had a modded pickup try to pass me once. I was stopped at a red light in the middle of a hill. It was uphill of course, single lane but parked cars by the curb. He thought he could sneak by me with a rolling start and cut back before he reached the parked car. Not a chance! He gave up before he even passed the front doors. It was a black Chevy S-10 that was lowered. I'm not sure about the exhaust though.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, May 7, 2006
  9. samkusnetz

    samkusnetz New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ May 7 2006, 02:33 PM) [snapback]251151[/snapback]</div>
    drove a tour bus for three years with my last stage manager gig... the bus plus trailer was about 60 feet long, weighed around eight tons, had a 265 HP V12 engine, and was *hell* to drive in a headwind.

    couldn't make it past 35mph on even a modest slope with any headwind, and got a whopping 7 miles to the gallon. disgraceful.
     
    #9 samkusnetz, May 7, 2006
  10. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Talk about E-CVT superiority.... :D Unleashing full power at will, which is why I love HSD. If I get a chance, I'll try racing uphill just for fun.

    Dennis
     
    #10 usbseawolf2000, May 7, 2006
  11. SyZyGy

    SyZyGy New Member

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    Those races are almost as bad as when every retard in a pontiac tries to race me on my sportbike or when I'm my Evo. :lol:
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(usbseawolf2000 @ May 7 2006, 08:52 PM) [snapback]251247[/snapback]</div>
    I'll race ya in the Evo if you are located near me. :lol:
     
    #11 SyZyGy, May 7, 2006
  12. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Nope, I am in New York.

    Go race some other HSD in Evo's league... maybe like GS450h or even Camry HSD :lol:

    Dennis
     
    #12 usbseawolf2000, May 7, 2006
  13. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    that's one thing i love about the CVT- you always get a strong start over those shift-type cars :)
     
    #13 galaxee, May 7, 2006
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yup. I had a Volvo beside me accelerate hard up a hill (yes, it's hilly where I live) and it got ahead of me then fell behind when he shifted (manual transmission cause the pause is waay longer than a regular automatic transmission shift).
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, May 8, 2006
  15. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Re: Someone challenged a Prius - uphill race!

    With my window tints and gunmetal rims I get a lot of glances at stoplights. They assume an Asian guy who looks like a kid is there for trouble, even though I'm in a Prius, lol. I leave them alone of course but you won't believe how many times it's happened with 40-50 year old guys in their Mercedes or Audi.
     
    #15 macmaster05, Sep 24, 2010
  16. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Re: Someone challenged a Prius - uphill race!

    There is always some percentage of the population that deserves the prestigious Darwin Award. LOL:rofl:
     
    #16 2009Prius, Sep 24, 2010
  17. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Thread resurrection!
     
    #17 a_gray_prius, Sep 24, 2010
  18. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

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    The CVT and the load of electric motor torque add up to good hill climbing. I let them go and have their fun, except older diesel Mercedes. They always seem to think they have a fast car, tailgate, go left and right like passing etc, and I hate being behind one pouring out smoke. On a rather steep uphill on ramp I sometimes use, the diesel Mercedes is at the bottom still, and I am at the top. Happened more than once. The Prius takes off like a b out of h, not even floored. It is fun sometimes to be immature.
     
    #18 Mr.Vanvandenburg, Sep 24, 2010
  19. roverguy78

    roverguy78 Elite Lurking Member

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    A lot of people in trucks feel like they are in a real powerhouse, yet when a vehicle weighs that much, their acceleration can be quite pathetic. I personally think a Prius can actually out accelerate the majority of them, at least up until a certain speed.

    Not long ago, I was being tailgated by a huge Dodge diesel pickup. It was driving him nuts to be behind a Prius on a curvy, hilly road, while going the speed "limit" of 60 for about 10 miles. Anyways, as we turned onto the interstate on-ramp, I accelerated briskly to merge, and he went from being on my bumper to being way the hell back. But, in the typical redneck manner, he then had to proceed to eventually get up to about 90 to catch up to pass me (I was going 75 on the interstate). It was quite amusing observing him in the rear-view mirror. Black smoke was belching from his behemoth's dual vertical exhaust pipes as he exceeded the speed limit by 20 MPH to eventually reclaim his manhood.

    So keep in mind that while a Prius can often educate these people, it may cause them to do something stupid, which could be potentially dangerous to yourself and other drivers around you. In the end, it's not worth it.
     
    #19 roverguy78, Sep 24, 2010
  20. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Re: Someone challenged a Prius - uphill race!

    It's worth THE Award though... :D
     
    #20 2009Prius, Sep 24, 2010
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