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Driving a Prius v hard...

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by Pandus13, Jan 12, 2018.

  1. Pandus13

    Pandus13 New Member

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    Hi PC,

    Do you have or know of samples of Prius v (the wagon) driven hard and surviving?

    examples:
    -taxi duty
    -hills/mountain area
    -blowing by you at 90+ MPH
    -agresive driver in general

    I'm just curious how it handled and if any bad things happen.

    Much appreciated
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    certainly, there are tons of taxi's, and probably uber, etc. but i don't know anyone personally.

    aggressive driving in a prius can sometimes lead to problems.
     
  3. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    I don't roll it over on the rims in the corners, but if you drive I-80 or I-95 you find the 'jet stream' runs hot at 75-80 mph, occasionally 85 mph, and the Prius v is more than able to keep up, albeit with an adverse impact on trip mpg.
     
  4. Pandus13

    Pandus13 New Member

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    Thank you.
    Questions:
    -How do you handle the merging in high speed traffic (oomph/plenty/meh)?
    -How it is handling the colder weather in winter + high speed traffic?
     
  5. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Lots of go, proportional to pedal. Running Dunlop Winter Sport M3 tires, it tracks and handles like it's on rails in snow and ice.
     
  6. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    I had a V for little more than a year. It will get you where you need to go. You just have to use to the engine revving hard on hills, even while cruising.

    I did 104 MPH one time in my V, so it can go if needed! It just sounds unhappy about doing it haha!

    Great cars! My V started using oil and I actually traded it in for a Ford C-max hybrid, it feels like a rocket compared to most cars and especially the V.
     
  7. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

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    I'll let you know when the Firebrid is on the road. :D
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    v started using oil = i did 104 mph once.
     
  9. Pandus13

    Pandus13 New Member

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    =I drove my wagon/mini-minivan like a rocket?
    I just needed to dry my car your honor....

    next time need thicker oil?
    maybe a 10W60 australian market brew?
     
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  10. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Come on now! I almost always drove conservative. I used a thicker oil and back then and that was far before it started using oil.

    I'll be damned if driving a car fast once causes it to burn oil further down the road. My ford C-max doesn't use a drop no matter how you drive it, just like all the other ford Hybrids! I don't know what kinda piston rings Toyota uses, but they suck! :) :)
     
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  11. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    There are 200k+ v taxis, lots of them.

    Can it accelerate like a Porsche Turbo, heck no. Enough to merge successfully with traffic? Yes. Never a problem in 5 years. Did I have to learn that I have to allow a little more room in from-a-stop merging? Yes. I leave my development daily into a right turn onto a dual lane road up a slight grade where traffic is 60-70 MPH where there is a serious accident every few months with several deaths. Drove through there this AM and there was somebody's front bumper sitting by the side of the road at the intersection. It came by instinct. I know I can't out run em so I out smart em. Wait for the gap, accelerate into the gap.

    I've certainly passed multiple semis at 80, maybe even a bit more. Up 95 and 85, yes dozens of times. Traveled the mountains of West Virginia and North Carolina. Like a turbo at altitude? No. Adequate for 2-4 people and luggage for a weekend under those conditions? Yep.

    Recommended for an aggressive driver? No.
     
  12. Pandus13

    Pandus13 New Member

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    Thank you ^^^

    I was after that info.
     
  13. Pandus13

    Pandus13 New Member

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    Just imagine the face of the "I just got passed by a Prius???!??!?"

    P.S. I think both me and Mike Focke where just pulling your strings. Still amazed that a Prius can hit 104 MPH....
     
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  14. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I used mine as a cargo van, lots of networking gear, few passengers.
    I drove 30,000 miles a year, until I retired. It has 108,000 miles on it now
    While I live in some of the flatest land in the US, (90 foot elevation change in 156 miles) i have driven the Tail of the Dragon until my wife got carsick.
    I have had it over 95 MPH, when I pulled out to pass a combine and it was 5 combines in a row.
    I try not to be an aggressive driver, but I am.

    The v is a station wagon, and as such it handles fine. Do not expect it to be a sports car or even a sedan.

    [​IMG]

    96 10" by 10" by 3" cheese cakes
     
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  15. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    I think you're right!

    The 2010+ Prii hatchbacks have a top speed of 116! Amazing such a fuel efficient car can move that fast if it wants to!
     
  16. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Because the v is heavier, Toyota uses a different 'rear end' (not at the rear) which lowers top speed to under 105 and improves low end acceleration.
     
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  17. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

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    Oh, that's music to my ears.
     
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  18. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    tvpierce and Aaron Vitolins like this.
  19. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Does having a teenage daughter count? She drives our 2010 like a bat out of hell! And it has survived so far.

    Also have taken the 2010 on three pretty intense road trips out west (4K-5K miles or so each)...lots of mountain passes and such. Survived it just fine.

    However, it *does* consume some oil. Search oil consumption threads for details.
     
  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    That is a Prius, though. Right? I think you are looking at getting her a Prius v though.