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Prius C Performance Uprgade

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Roger2689, Jul 17, 2021.

  1. Roger2689

    Roger2689 Junior Member

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    Hello.
    I know the the Toyota Prius C is an eco car and that it's Mpg and reliability is why someone would buy a Prius.
    But my question would be if we set aside the "Mpg " part of this car and make it more fun to drive what sort of upgrade/Mod you've seen or tested . I have seen some braces ,HKS intake kit and Coils for the Prius C I don't know how this changes or affect the car feel .
    What can be done based on your knowledge of the car so as to squeeze a bit more out of the 1NZ-FXE engine ; again without taking into account the MPG and all .
    This thread is just to share experiences about mods and upgrades that can be done or that you have done.
    *This is for informative purposes only *
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there's lots you can do, but my question is why a prius if you're gonna blow up mpg's? i mean, these are horrible little eco boxes, with no other redeeming value

    search the red bullet, seems to be very popular
     
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  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    For informative purposes only:
    If you want more "performance", buy a different car.
    That applies to ANY make and model car that is less than 30 years old that you will be driving on the street.
     
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  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    You will find no 'reputable' performance upgrades for this engine.
    If you have an unlimited supply of free engines, you could try nitrous oxide.
    If you have unlimited welding skills you could fabricate a turbocharger plumbing system, but it won't be road legal.
    You need unlimited packaging skills to fit a supercharger under the hood.

    If you want about 20% more HP and have unlimited electronics skills, you could substitute an Echo engine.

    The wisest plan is to remove the badges and put them on the car you wish you bought, Presto, high performance Prius C.
     
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  5. Roger2689

    Roger2689 Junior Member

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    Thanks a lot for your wise answers . My next question would be around the "handling mods" if we can say so , I saw braces, sway bars and coilovers for the Prius c , not cheap either do you think it's worth the investment or these form part of a purely esthetic mods?
    As far as I know the handling of a car depends on the driver itself and his/her taste and how he/she want his/her car to perform like.
     
  6. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    You could possibly seal off the front seats/cabin from the back and put in a jet engine in the cargo area with back seats folded down.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe if this had been posted in the accessories and modifications forum, there wouldn't be so much snark :cool:
     
  8. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    The only true extra power mod I've heard of for this car is the use of an Otto-cycle camshaft instead of the stock Atkinson. Jimbo referenced this in his suggestion for using an Echo engine instead.

    The red bullet oil valve doesn't add any power; you still have the same 77hp... but it does improve responsiveness so you can get from 0hp to 77hp more quickly.
     
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  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Chassis braces could certainly improve the steering response, but they wouldn't do any good until you had wider and stickier tires. The tires are probably the first limit you'll hit on this car, so might as well improve them first. Take a look at what people put on the Yaris for handling upgrades- chances are the same tricks will fit a Prius c.

    Given the relative high weight of a c, I'd expect coilovers to give a bone-jarring hard ride. I would not take that step for a street car.
     
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  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Modifications are not necessarily "upgrades".
    The C was designed to be a small economy car.
    Live with that or sell it.
     
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  11. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Some good tires with low drag and good fuel economy is a plus on this vehicle. Best fuel economy of 26-30km/l is hard to find anywhere. If you are driving alone mostly this car is perfect even up to a family of 3. Car can have a bit of road noise, insulating seals can be added to reduce wind and road noise.
    Center console upgrade with intergraded navigation, dash cam and reverse cam is nice to have, with a small trunk space you can add a top box for extra room and look pretty cool if you can get it low and fit in the roof groove.
    I have heard suspension mods to increase handling by lowering and stiffening the ride.
    Take out the spare wheel and use tire repair kit can save some weight off the rear end.
    All LED bulbs on the car can reduce some energy consumption and reduce glare on the lens due to the halogen bulb can really heat up and damage the plastic.
     
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  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Handling mods might be the way to go if you REALLY feel the need to do something. However, since the hybrid battery AND 12V battery are under the rear seat, the handling already feels pretty good....at least compared to the Gen3 liftback and Prius v wagon.

    Engine mods? Forget about it...there is zero room left for performance on this engine.
     
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  13. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    Agree, I have the Prius V now. Handles like a cow. I am getting 18km/l average on the stock setup which is disappointing coming from a Prius C.
     
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  14. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Absolutely...driving our v wagon feels like driving a truck comared to the C or even the Gen3 liftback. (y)

    And I certainly did think I would do better on the MPGs in the v wagon. Should have looked closer at the weight of the thing...The 2012 Prius v wagon is 3,274 lbs....the 2012 Prius C is only 2,500 lbs! And our 2010 liftback was 3,042 lbs.

    That's a 774 lbs difference betwenn the C and the v wagon! Physics don't lie...I guess. (y)
     
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  15. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    What are you getting on the 2010 liftback? with 230lb i would thing to be similar.
    I noticed the V regen and ICE charging is completely different on the Dr Prius APP. I remember Prius C ICE charge is around 30amps while on the go. The Prius V is about 10-15amps ICE charge on the go. I dont know if you see that also between your C and V. I have a V/Alpha which has the lithium under the armrest. I dont know if that could be the difference between my old Prius C using ni-mh.
     
  16. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    I am getting less on the v wagon. The issue vs. the liftback is that you can really feel the extra 230 lbs of weight while trying to 'glide' with the engine off.

    BTW - the EPA numbers and fuelly numbers bear that out as well.

    2012 Toyota Prius V MPG - Actual MPG from 465 2012 Toyota Prius V owners

    2010 Toyota Prius MPG - Actual MPG from 1,463 2010 Toyota Prius owners

    The Prius C is so light that it wins...even though it has a smaller battery.
     
  17. Max Taiwan

    Max Taiwan Active Member

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    So true about the Prius C. For the fuel economy and the cost of running the car its a "go to" for commuter and a daily driver.
    We just tanked up our Prius Alpha today, 10l more than a Prius C tank up would take and got 100km less over all.
    Really missing the Prius C hyper economy.
     
  18. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    After installing a head unit in our Prius C, I really understand why the Aqua/Prius C is the 'world car' version of the Prius. Not only does it get awesome MPG, but it is perhaps the easiest car I have ever worked on. And as far as Prius vehicles go...the EGR unit is actually easily accessible.

    If Americans could get over their collective 'small car bad' philosophy, it would be a great thing.

    Maybe Tesla's upcoming 'small car' will help make smaller vehicles 'cool' again in the USA. (y)
     
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  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Don't hold your breath.
    "Americans" seem to have an increasing need to be "bad asses" in public.
    That precludes them from driving a small car.
     
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  20. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    I agree...the 'truck culture' BS doesn't help either.