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

How do I highway merge when my 2015 Prius C takes 11-12 seconds to even get to 50 mph?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Laurenparkranger, Mar 8, 2018.

  1. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Hmm, let me check my recording.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    okay, and what is the speed limit?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    I recorded going from 15 to 65 flooring it, with no traffic around, by the time i merged. It took 20 seconds to get to that speed on the slight uphill.
     
    bisco likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's exhausting, but it sounds like you are just squeaking into the merge at the minimum speed. put your hazards on while heading up the ramp.
     
    Laurenparkranger likes this.
  5. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    The speed limit is 65, and often people go about 75.
     
  6. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Is this typical for the c?
     
  7. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Am I just freaking out or should I return it?
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    can you return it?
     
    Laurenparkranger likes this.
  9. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Oh, and I'm only 100 pounds. LOL, so it's not the weight
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  10. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Yes, minus sages tax or else in exchange for something completely different.
     
    bisco likes this.
  11. Laurenparkranger

    Laurenparkranger New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2018
    27
    12
    0
    Location:
    Santa Cruz
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two Eco
    Farmecologist: does your c perform differently?
     
  12. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2004
    2,077
    295
    0
    Location:
    Ormond Beach,Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    This is the way I think it is in every state. The people already established on the highway has the right of way and merging means "the car coming onto the highway" has to fit in. It's nice if somebody moves over to let you in but by no means do they HAVE to. Merge means "the car coming onto the highway" has to merge.
     
  13. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    850
    538
    23
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Based on my own experience with the "C", then yes your experience with the acceleration is normal if what you said in Post #43 is correct. (slight uphill acceleration).

    I had a big problem getting used to it myself. When I leave work, we have a 4 way stop, slight uphill on the direction I need to take to go home. It's unbelievably slow - and there are 2 people at work which have told me that when they see that "Orange" car ahead of them at the 4 way stop - they say "well S*^t". (I do believe their story is true, as I remember being a "non-prius" owner and I absolutely hated seeing one of them in front of me at that 4 way.)

    Anyways, if it's help at all, I will tell you that you'll get used to it, and it'll seem like there was never a problem at all. And if anyone here ever tells you that the "ECO" button doesn't have any effect on throttle response and "feel", well don't believe it. They can read from a book all they want, but that darn ECO button turns an already slow car to get up to speed into what feels like is a car powered with a Briggs & Stratton. But keep the car for awhile, TRUST me when I say you'll get used to it. It really will seem like no problem at all within a few weeks.
     
    Laurenparkranger likes this.
  14. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,020
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Where that is the case, the entering traffic should see a sign that says "YIELD", not "merge" or the little lane diagram.

    Most of this problem really is drivers who don't know how to drive properly and don't understand the concept of "following too close".
    IF......both streams of traffic had spaces at least a couple of car lengths long, the problem would be greatly reduced.

    Personally........I look in the rear view while coming up to speed and pick out a car that has a space behind it.
    Then I aim for his back bumper and merge into that space.

    If there are NO spaces, then the situation becomes a bit different.
    Note that the incoming stream of traffic needs to have spaces too.

    AND......I don't think anybody here is talking about making the vehicles on the highway STOP to let people in.......unless maybe they are almost stopped already. A simple letting off the gas and getting off of the bumper ahead of you is all that is required.
     
    #54 Sam Spade, Mar 10, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2018
    Laurenparkranger likes this.
  15. priustexasbob

    priustexasbob Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2010
    356
    86
    0
    Location:
    arrakis
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    in Texas he with the biggest pickup/SUV wins :rolleyes:
    I've seen a college student (texas A&M) in a small car try to "force" a semi to give way to her as she was entering highway. I happened to be in left lane, noticed what was about to happen, slowed up and flashed lights at semi and he quick changed lanes to avoid squashing her.

    back to topic. my C is no rocket but it goes quicker to 60 on an incline than 15 seconds. of course "incline" is a relative term because what I call a hill some just call a rise in elevation. having a frame of reference in the steepness of the grade you are trying to merge in would help. if it is a 20° or 25° grade or about 40 or 50% slope then yes that would make for a slow to speed acceleration.
     
  16. Deogratias

    Deogratias Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2016
    37
    42
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I test drove a C before I bought my liftback. I thought it was very underpowered on the interstate, which is why I didn’t buy it. I think this is normal for a C. Whether it’s acceptable is up to you.
     
  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Face it, just admit it, your description is in conflict with the traffic laws of the states where I have lived and been licensed, ID and WA.

    Perhaps you could name a specific state or two where the law matches your description?

    At highway speed, "a couple of car lengths" is EXTREME TAILGATING!

    Here, at 60 mph, the legal minimum following distance is 120 feet, which is 8 car lengths (for typical Prius-class cars). Preferred distance is 2.0 seconds, which is 176 feet or nearly 12 car lengths.
     
  18. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,020
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Which is exactly what I was trying to say.

    But I wasn't aware that any states had put an actual distance in a law about minimum following distances.

    Enforcement of that would be cool. Take a snapshot of the freeway and send EVERY car in the picture a ticket in the mail for following too close. :ROFLMAO:
     
  19. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You did say "a couple'. That is 2, vastly different than 8.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,473
    38,104
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    What a few contributors are trying to say, I think:

    There are bullies out there, they speed, they're very territorial, prone to tailgate. You should not have to do a drag race every time you enter the freeway. Get up to speed efficiently yes, but don't let yourself get stampeded by the nutters. They are looking for a reaction, if they don't get it from you hopefully they will move on.

    Another thought: are there alternate routes?