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Prius c2 on hilly highways

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by spyderx, Mar 29, 2015.

  1. spyderx

    spyderx Member

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    Well I drove about 100 miles today some on very hilly highways and keeping the speed at 65mph limit was bit tiring on my nerves and my back. So I have had this car exactly one week now. I still like it but it's limited in its uses.

    Commuting to work on flat highway and in city traffic felt almost natural in my C but today I realized one of its main drawbacks. I still saw 54.5 mpg avg readout and barely spent two bars on the gas gauge.

    Now I'm thinking I'll refrain from taking long road trips with my c... So the letter stands for city! Where's my Evo...
     
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  2. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    How many miles do you have on it so far?

    It got a little better after break in.
     
  3. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    I think the same thing but don't quite understand some of your other comments.

    Why does "maintaining the speed limit" adversely affect your back ?
    And why do you see that mileage figure as a "drawback" ??

    I actually find that the C works pretty good for "day trips" but I take the Fusion for anything longer than overnight.
     
  4. kingnba6

    kingnba6 Active Member

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    Ive been on more than a handful of 4-5 hour drives on the C and I can easily say that I wish the C had the 1.8 engine. This year I have made up my mind that I will take my SUV on the longer trips.
     
  5. spyderx

    spyderx Member

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    My back gets sore now after an hour in the seat.
    Maintaining the speed limit, higher speed at 65, does seem to put extra g force on my back hence more pain.

    I didn't mean the 54.5 MPG as a drawback, the discomfort after an hour on highway is a drawback to otherwise a fine machine.
    I think TOY engineered this thing very narrowly for city/commute use.

    And, I just hit 600 total miles today...
     
  6. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    I think you need to adjust seat. C seats are not for everyone, but having it misplaced ain't gonna help. Being on highway puts you in the same position for longer period of time.
    With respect to more power... well...
     
  7. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    THIS is the part that I don't understand.
    Are you NOT using the cruise control ??......so that you can move around in the seat a bit.......and change the back angle ??

    There are NO extra G forces once you arrive at any given speed.
    There might be some extra anxiety with higher speeds though.

    I find the seats relatively good but I'm a person of small stature too.
    They do get uncomfortable after a while but speed has nothing to do with it.
     
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  8. SwhitePC

    SwhitePC Active Member

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    I wished my C gave me that kind of "G" force at 25mph+, because I barely feel any "G" force when I stomp on the gas pedal from a dead stop to 25mph...then any "G"s dies off

    PS...I also made a 2,300 mile trip (with gas breaks in between every 300-400 miles and a 5hour sleep break...trip took a day, night, and another day/night)...my back was fine w/o CC, so seats no matter the car is just a personal preference kind of thing
     
    #8 SwhitePC, Mar 31, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2015
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  9. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    Speaking for my hatchback, Prius cars require more accelerator input than conventional cars in the rolling stuff.

    The cruise control handles it very well but if you choose to not use it, it's surprising how much you have to vary the accelerator position for the transitions. This can be fatiguing.
     
  10. spyderx

    spyderx Member

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    OK, I admit I never tried CC ... I rarely use it on any car... but I'll use it next time... you guys do make sense
     
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  11. rjdriver

    rjdriver Active Member

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    The C could definitely use a lumbar adjustment for the drivers seat. I had to buy a portable lumbar support as my commute is 1 hour each way, and that is over the limit for comfort in that seat for me.

    As for the back pain, CC might help, but if your drive is that hilly, I would abandon the need to keep a steady 65, either with your foot or CC. Just let the natural drop of a few mph that occurs when going up hills happen, then take full advantage of the down hills on the other side by coasting to the highest speed your are comfortable with. You might find the mileage even better.
     
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  12. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Having driven hundreds of thousands of miles in all kinds of vehicles, I wouldn't have one without it anymore.
    Getting older makes that even more important.
     
  13. james cook

    james cook Member

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    You gotta go in the red to get on the highways, the car doesn't have enough power at lower revs or whatever....you'll get back in the green at a steady speed.
     
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  14. SquallLHeart

    SquallLHeart The Techie Guy

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    hmm.. drove about 700 miles this past weekend... no CC... and dealing with hilly terrain at times too..

    my back is fine.. lol.

    perhaps it's something you need to get used to? no idea..
     
  15. minkus

    minkus Active Member

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    Be sure you have ECO mode off - with it off, there's more power at the beginning of your pedal push. Turning it on decreases the sensitivity (until you get close to the floor).

    In general, many people have found that the C's seats aren't the most comfortable for long periods of time, regardless of speed or road conditions. I'm 6'0" 140 lb and the seats in my SO's 2013 Hyundai Accent are much better.
     
  16. SquallLHeart

    SquallLHeart The Techie Guy

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    yeah.. the seats aren't anything to write home about.. that's for sure...

    though too comfy and i might be falling asleep behind the wheel.. lol.. j/k..
     
  17. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    The C is not a car for all people for all uses. I don't get it that people don't understand what it's main proficiency is and that it suffers in doing other things.

    It's a cheap small car with cheap seats and a small engine...that gets terrific gas mileage when used in a narrow window.

    Am I missing something?
     
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  18. Yeah the seats bend my upper back way too far forward... I just use a throw pillow for my lower back and it's fine.

    See I'm always afraid that I'll be wearing out the engine prematurely if I go too hard on the engine on the highway, like I haven't even taken it past 3200 rpm (except once merging uphill) and I go 55-60 mph. I still want to hold on to some of that "new car - not yet broken in" feel :love:
     
    #18 Deleted member 111882, Apr 3, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 3, 2015
  19. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    Toyota makes outstanding engines. Mash the gas with confidence...just make sure you keep the oil changes up.
     
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  20. spyderx

    spyderx Member

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    I keep visioning Hank Hill giving me buddy advises...
     
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