Prius C - polyvalent? Can survive on hard times?

I totally agree with your advice to the OP. As a single person who does like to get out and about, I don't feel hindered by the C. I can go to IKEA and get stuff home in it. I can fit my bike inside and take off for places to hit the dirt. I can get to hiking trailheads (I do have self-imposed limitations now on the kind of roads I'll be traveling - but I'm fortunate to live in a place with lots of options that don't require travel on heavily pot-holed gravel roads). I can go to the nursery for plants, Home Depot for supplies, etc. If I need to carry a LOT of stuff then I'll do what I've always done - rent a small U-Haul for a few hours. I totally get that for two people or a family, the limitations are greater. But the C works for me and still lets me do all the things I like to do. I've never towed anything so don't miss out there. I just wanted to weigh in because I don't feel like it keeps me from doing things. I guess "active" means different things to different people - for me, that means I can haul a bike and my hiking stuff - no problemo YMMV if you have a lot of big toys lol.

 

With the seats down and a wheel (or two if I want to close the watch) off, yup. I think you could probably fit two road bikes in with some wheels off (hatch closed) - not sure about mountain bikes (I have a mountain bike). A rack is certainly more convenient, but when it's just me, I don't worry about it, plus I know I can throw an old blanket over the bike and lock the doors and go inside someplace.

If you have a family person to borrow a towing car from (and that's more of an "occasional" than "regular" thing), that could be a good option.

 

Interesting original post.
I'm going to say, what I say to almost every poster who simply shows up in Prius Chat with questions about buying a hybrid.

How much do you want a Hybrid? And the question I think is not so much if the Prius C is Polyvalent because it is not....it is more a question of how many reasons for ownership of this specific vehicle can you embrace?

The original post is hard to evaluate. The OP seems proud of the economical and utilitarian specifics of his automobile choices and purchases. Specific tools for specific jobs.

But if the Hybrid, HSD aspects of owning a Prius are not important enough or primary in purchasing and owning a Prius "C" or otherwise? I'm going to say pass.

 

The Prius is a low profile vehicle and would not stand too many gravel roads and bumps. Also consider the large traction battery near the trunk. Your asking for too much...and it sounds like you need a pickup.

 

I wouldn't do any real heavy lifting with my C, but I just brought back from Home Depot a vertical blind which measured 8' 10" long in its packaging, and it fit in the car with the hatch closed.

 

Yes in a Gen 2 you could move ten 8 foot 2 by 4s and still have a front seat passenger

A single 10 foot 2 by 4 fit, but no passengers

 

I also agree- took my first serious road trip this weekend: Santa Cruz Mountains to Mammoth Lakes. Highest point 9945 ft above sea level (Tioga pass, thru Yosemite). Beautiful performance overall, but I was patient on the uphill, and the roads were not crowded.

All paved road types tried, but not willing to go on gravel. Excellent mileage, averaging beautifully (uphill about 49, downhill about 73). When I go back and want to go see things like Devil's Postpile, Bodie, Mono lake, and other sites, I will rent a car for the weekend with higher clearance or borrow a reliable beater car. I am in this car most of the time for my commute and it is my darling. No worries taking it down to San Diego or a road trip up to Oregon or Washington State in fair weather, but this is not a car for off-road improv!

 

I agree with Jimbo Palmer. I used to haul 8' steel T posts in my GenII. The GenIII has a different center console and dash design so I don't think you could haul such long items and still have a passenger.

 

I always find these discussions interesting. Not just here, but also threads like:

Dirt Roads | PriusChat
Gravel Roads | PriusChat
Low height: scratching the underside on dirt road | PriusChat

Thing is... there are gravel roads and there are gravel roads. Would a well graded unpaved road really present that big a deal for the c?

I accept the ground clearance thing - but to be honest - I spent most of my early driving years driving the family XV10 Camry, which from what I can see had less ground clearance than the c with more overhang, especially at the front and it just wasn't that bad from that perspective on many unpaved roads, including many I wouldn't have the heart to take the c down. I have a few unpaved roads I'm waiting to take me c down - it appears one of my favourites has since been paved (convenient )... though here's a nearby example of a well-graded unpaved road that I don't think should be an issue.

This said, I noticed one of the threads above mentioned a theory that the Australian liftbacks got some extra ground clearance - and now I'm pouring over photos and wondering if it's possible that my c is also higher. Hmmm... might have to get the tape measure out...

 

Pulse & Glide for hours on end.

 

For fuel efficiency up hills look up Driving With Load (DWL).