Need Help Deciding on Model of Prius VERY SOON!

I don't think you need to keep it under 55 for the first 200 miles.

 

Are both of these new cars? How would a teenager be driving it without your knowledge? Would they truck the car from the other dealership or drive it over?

But either way, I haven't heard of the 55 mph limit, are you sure that applies to the Prius? The engine varies speed independently of the vehicle speed (if batteries are adding power or being recharged), so a hard and fast limit based on vehicle speed during break-in doesn't really apply to the Prius, from what I've heard. Still you want to avoid hard starts. Obviously don't run out of gas, trying to go too far on battery power only is the worst thing to do to the Prius.

The Touring model came out after my purchase, so I can't speak to that issue.

 

I think the actual recommendation is no hard acceleration or very hard braking (unless it's an emergency) during the first little while. A reputable dealership will hire only elderly people to drive cars from place to place, as they are less likely to be hot-rodders.

Tell the dealership you want the touring (since you say in your post that's the one you want) but that you'll only take it if they truck it or flat-bed it, not if they're going to drive it.

Or tell them you'll take it on condition that they drive you to where it is and you'll take delivery there and drive it back. My guess is if they won't flat-bed it, they'll be willing to drive you there. Hey, it's a sale.

 

Based on hundreds of thousands of miles spread over 6 cars I don't believe the engine needs to be babied when new. Normal driving isn't going to shorten engine life.

320 miles is a long way for a dealer to drive a car. I suspect it will be trucked but you need to ask. Has the protective plastic been removed?

You can upgrade the suspension, wheels, & tires. Can you do it for $600? Probably not.

I vote for the "bird in the hand" as you've seen the car. I haven't driven a Touring but am happy with my Standard. It's been said that the tires are worth the price difference.

 

IMHO it does not make a difference. When I got two at the same time, one had 1 mile on it and the other had almost 150 miles on it since it was a dealer trade. It has been a month and both cars almost have 2,000 miles on them and both get practically the same gas mileage, 52.9(overinflated tires) vs. 51.2(inflated to factory spec.) The former is in the San Francisco Bay Area and the latter being in Los Angeles. Both cars perform the same. my prius with 1 mile on it even has more dashboard and door rattles than the other one.

 

It's all a myth, I took mine on vacation with only about 380 total miles on it less than a week after ownership for a 500 mile trip each way. Drove 65 the majority of the way. 25,000 miles later, no problems yet. I would think that with the nature of any transmission with a "variable" transmission the engine constanty runs at different RPM's because the gear ratio's change. Unlike older cars where if you set the cruise at say 65 MPH it runs at the exact same RPM's regardless of the load on the engine unless it has to downshift.

 

Or go there yourself on your own dime if necessary to pick it up. I think it's worth it for the Touring Edition. Personally, I would be willing to go to Cleveland and drive the 500 miles back to New York City myself if that's what it took to get the Touring Edition in the option package I wanted.

 

I bet the one with the dashboard and door rattles is the one with overinflated tires.

 

BTW, my 2007 Owners Manual says:

"Break-in period

Drive gently and avoid high speeds. [But I don't know exactly what that means.]

Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But following a few simple tips for the first 600 miles can add to the future economy and long life of your vehicle:

* Avoid full-throttle acceleration when starting and driving.

* Avoid racing the hybrid engine.

* Try to avoid hard stops during the first 200 miles."