1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius worst car in history in winter

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by mgpp123, Jan 14, 2011.

  1. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    1,282
    344
    3
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I did not but over the summer, we did buy a Sandy Beach Metallic Solar 2010 Prius off of Doug Mette from Dan Hect.
    I bought my Prius in Virginia, we traded the 2010 we got at Dan Hect for this one. :) Why do you ask?
     
  2. AkustaVirtaa

    AkustaVirtaa Sähköistäjä

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    198
    11
    1
    Location:
    Finland EU
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  3. sam@rayzel.com

    [email protected] New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2010
    4
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tokyo, Japan
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Simple solution, stop complaining and trade your Prius in on a Corolla. Your dealer will love you....and you may be happy again.
     
  4. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,996
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    A summary in English would be nice :).
     
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The most important parts:

    Tom
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. 007

    007 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    157
    3
    0
    Location:
    Antigonish, Nova Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So, is a remote start a help in the winter, I have one now with my current vehicle, it's great, start her up from the house and by the time I get out, the frost if off the windows and it's a bit warmer inside the cabin. I notice it's an option on the Prius, but with the smartkey, I assume it's works the same? Some say the Prius warms up faster than the average car, which begs me to wonder, if I'd need the remote start or not. Any comments on a remote start from those using it now on the 2010's or 2011's, the latter of which I'll be getting in May this year.
    Just started thinking about this as the cold winter air moves in for a couple of days here in NS, it's a chilly -8C or about 25F here this morning....Burrrr....
     
  7. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    898
    92
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Remote starter doesn't help your gas consumption, emission or anything. It is simply a converience feature to make your life easier.
     
  8. 007

    007 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    157
    3
    0
    Location:
    Antigonish, Nova Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    so, basically what your saying is it works the same as in any other car, no different in the Prius.

    What I was wondering was since the Prius operates a bit differently, are there any pro's or con's from other Prius owners who have a remote start.
     
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,900
    16,124
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Pretty much. You *may* gain a little if your battery was drained and you did a remote start (so the engine is idling and charging the battery at the same time) but it does run at a slightly higher rpm when it's charging the battery. I hardly doubt the "gain" is worth it. A block heater works and it's free at work :p
     
  10. 007

    007 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2009
    157
    3
    0
    Location:
    Antigonish, Nova Scotia
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    free @ work???? Geesh you got it made, lol. I don't know of anyone around here that has a block heater.
    On or near the same subject, what about heated car seats, do they cost on MPG? I have one of those heated seats that you plug in the cig lighter hole and warm your butt up on the way to work, would that be something that would cause the MPG to go down?
     
  11. Ryanpl

    Ryanpl Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    780
    158
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    007, I don't know if the seats would cost a dip in MPGs but a nice warm butt might be worth getting 1/10 less mpg.
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,900
    16,124
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    lol. Yeah there are power outlets at every outdoor stall and they alternate every 30 mins so as not to blow the circuit. It's nice because even at -20°C, if I'm in ECO mode and turn off the heater at the first light, the engine will shut off =). that's the benefit of a pre-heated engine via the EBH.

    I would think heated seats would increase mpg because your body will warm up faster (and electricity is more efficient) so you would require less heat from the climate control which means the engine will warm up faster and will shut off earlier.
     
  13. AkustaVirtaa

    AkustaVirtaa Sähköistäjä

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    198
    11
    1
    Location:
    Finland EU
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, they are using hard to translate kind of words, like you see it from Google translate.

    Basically they are saying that Prius gets good points of all areas, and cold consumption in Prius is best of this group.

    This article is summary from real (paper) magazine. There was originally 18 different (new car models from 2010) cars in this test.
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. larswest

    larswest Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2006
    11
    3
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    What you are saying makes no sense, I was surprised at how good the Prius is in the snow.
     
  15. mmcdonal

    mmcdonal Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2010
    666
    98
    16
    Location:
    Columbia MD
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    How is 3100# way too heavy? I have driven with no problem in a 68 Buick Skylark with bald tires in the same weather as NJ. Perhaps it is the driver and not the vehicle so much. I do take a hit on fuel mileage in winter, but 45mpg is still great.
     
  16. Bica2go

    Bica2go New Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    321
    57
    0
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    My husband & I work at a small tennis club. Two ladies who normally drive a Prius each came in today in thier alternate vehicle. My husband asked them why they weren't in the Prius and both said its terrible in the snow. Ok, one lady moved here from the Netherlands so she may not have had as much experience with the level of snow we've been getting this year. My husband said I was looking at snow tires for ours and the other lady asked "They make snow tires for the Prius?" Sigh. I have a friend who had summer tires on his Audi A6 and complained about how bad it was in the snow. Well duh! It's scary how many people don't realize how important their tires are and the role they play in the rain & snow.
     
  17. clickerman

    clickerman Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2010
    33
    12
    0
    Location:
    chicago
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    About two weeks ago I was scheduled to fly from Chicago to Atlanta. On the evening before the flight United called to say the flight was canceled because of bad weather. Since I had to be in Atlanta I decided to drive (700 miles). On the drive south on US65 in Indiana I must have seen 20 cars and trucks in the ditch. I even saw one car looking like he was pulling over to the side of the road. Instead, he continued into the ditch.

    Meanwhile, I had no problem with my Prius. I just kept a steady foot on the accelerator and didn't speed - I went about 45 MPH during the worst parts.

    Arriving in Atlanta that night I had to drive up a hill to the hotel (Days Inn, downtown Atlanta). I was able to pass a pickup that lost traction and came to a stop.

    In all, I was very happy with the handling of the Prius. Sadly, though, I didn't see many other Prii on the road.
     
  18. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I bought mine at Dan Hecht because in STL the wait lists were approx. 2 years. So I went over to Effingham to buy mine
     
  19. drh20s

    drh20s Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2009
    55
    20
    0
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The traction control is my winter beef. My '04 shuts the engine off with the least spin. Bad news in intersections! I've filed a report with the NHTSA and turn my TRAC off when I know I'll need the torque (it's out of warranty)...
     
  20. SlowTurd

    SlowTurd I LIKE PRIUS'S

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
    1,156
    333
    0
    Location:
    nj
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    in the winter

    1. drive home and have the battery drained (2 bars) as you pull into your space.
    2. next morning get in car and drive away immediately.
    3. as ICE warms up it will also recharge your battery, especially when stopped at lights.
    4. as you get near work start cycle over again.