Performance of 3rd generation vs. 2nd generation, which one is really faster?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Hybrid RR, Jun 16, 2011.

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  1. Hybrid RR

    Hybrid RR Junior Member

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    As we are in posession of both a 2010 Prius and a 2005 Prius I regularly switch between the two cars. Now there is something i noticed, I have the slight feeling that acceleration in the second generation is faster than in the third or at least it feels like this.

    With full acceleration I feel a sudden push in the back in the 2005 prius, while I dont feel this in the 2010. Is this just the feeling, maybe the 2005 gives its power more suddenly while the 2010 gives it more spreadout? Or is it maybe because the 2005 has allready driven 60.000 miles and the 2010 only 6000 miles and is not completely "loose" yet?

    The difference is not big, but still I wonder, im planning to do a test myself by trying out a 0-60 run in both cars and time them. I know there are a lot of people here who used to have a second generation prius and now a third, is there anybody else who also experienced this?
     
    #1 Hybrid RR, Jun 16, 2011
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I think the gen2 electric motor has much more torque. Perhaps thats why you feel more 'power' despite the actual 0-60 (0-100km/h) time being less?
     
    #2 GrumpyCabbie, Jun 16, 2011
  3. eadams44

    eadams44 New Member

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    Feeling can be very misleading. Let us know what the clock says.
     
    #3 eadams44, Jun 16, 2011
  4. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    #4 cyclopathic, Jun 16, 2011
  5. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    The Prius Gen III has more power, but it also weighs more. These two things oppose each other.

    I can conclude that a Gen III has more torque @ wheels at any given speed than a Gen II Prius according to the specs of each version of the PSD.

    I will post a graph later to show you the difference.
     
    #5 sipnfuel, Jun 16, 2011
  6. Hybrid RR

    Hybrid RR Junior Member

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    Another thing I wonder is what the influence is of the battery charge on acceleration? Does acceleration differ (slower/faster) depending on how full the battery is? In other words, does the electric engine work less if battery load is lower?
     
    #6 Hybrid RR, Jun 16, 2011
  7. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    ^Not only can you draw more amps when the battery is more fully charged, but the voltage is higher as well. Power will drop off to perhaps 70-80% of what it is when fully charged, necessitating the gas engine to kick in sooner.

    The Prius will try not to use the battery when you are accelerating hard, except when you really need the extra horsepower it can provide. This is hard on the battery to drain it so quickly for such a short burst. Using the engine is better.

    Have you tried to see how your subjective perception is when you have the Gen III in PWR mode?
     
    #7 sipnfuel, Jun 16, 2011
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    My GenII went a best of 17.6@78mpg in the 1/4mile despite high temperatures. Anyone have a GenIII they will let me test at the drag strip? :D
     
    #8 F8L, Jun 16, 2011
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  9. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Yes you are right. The Gen 2 electric motor have 295 ft-lb of torque while Gen 3 got less. I don't have the no. on hand.
     
    #9 ahmeow, Jun 16, 2011
  10. stefano5777

    stefano5777 Member

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    Who cares :) If you wanted performance you would have bought something else:D
     
    #10 stefano5777, Jun 16, 2011
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  11. Hybrid RR

    Hybrid RR Junior Member

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    Thanks, no I normally dont drive in power mode but when you put the accelerator pedal all the way down I thought it wouldn't make a difference in which mode you are? I thought power mode only changes the way the accelerator pedal responses, for acceleration it wouldn't make a difference?
     
    #11 Hybrid RR, Jun 16, 2011
  12. Hybrid RR

    Hybrid RR Junior Member

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    Im absolutely not complaining about the performance of both cars, especially for the concept and the fuel consumption I think the Prius is a really fast car. You get great mpg while you dont have to give in on performance.

    But its just my feeling that the prius 2 is just that little faster although the prius 3 should be faster according to the official numbers and I wondered if anyone else feels the same
     
    #12 Hybrid RR, Jun 16, 2011
  13. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    That's good gas mileage for running on a drag strip:D
     
    #13 xs650, Jun 16, 2011
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Pulse for a 1/4mile then glide for the next 50 miles. lol :D
     
    #14 F8L, Jun 16, 2011
  15. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    #15 cyclopathic, Jun 16, 2011
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    To be fair I did run an 18.47 second time once due to hot lapping and low battery charge. :p I also realized I was using my 17" wheels at the time. My MPH would have been much better if I had ran my 15s with the dB Super E-Spec tires.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/23047-took-prius-drag-racing.html

    This was years ago though and the older I get the faster I was. :D
     
    #16 F8L, Jun 16, 2011
  17. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    That works for me too.:cool:

    0-60 times need to be done by the same driver under the same conditions if they are going to be used to compare small differences. At the least, they need to be done by skilled performance drivers using the same driving technique under the same conditions. The reason skilled performance drivers are needed is that there is a smaller difference between skilled performance drivers than there is in a group of average drivers.
     
    #17 xs650, Jun 16, 2011
  18. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I agree. But will add that even the skilled drivers will need a few passes to get a feel for what works with each car. I was so used to 1.5 60' times that when I jumped in the Prius and mashed the pedal and it didn't move I was kind of dumbstruck. lol It took some time to figure out how to time the lights but since that is only reaction time and doesn't affect 1/4 mile times it is irrelevant.
     
    #18 F8L, Jun 16, 2011
  19. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    MG2 on the Gen 2 does have more torque, but it runs at lower speed. MG2 on the Gen 3 has less torque, but higher total power, and is geared so that the torque to the wheels is higher. The result is more usable torque with the Gen 3.

    Tom
     
    #19 qbee42, Jun 16, 2011
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  20. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    3rd gen...Toyota says so...that is enough evidence for me.
     
    #20 Thai, Jun 16, 2011
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