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I-5 California>Grapevine

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by warrior, Nov 10, 2009.

  1. warrior

    warrior New Member

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    Would like to know about experiences driving up the Grapevine heading south on I-5 with the Prius.:)
     
  2. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    I've only had one experience with that hill, it was along time ago ...

    Pulled out of San Pedro late one night
    The moon and the stars was shinin' bright
    We was drivin' up Grapevine Hill
    Passing cars like they was standing still

    All of a sudden in a wink of an eye
    A Cadillac sedan passed us by
    I said, "Boys, that's a mark for me"
    By then the tail light was all you could see

    Now the fellas was ribbin' me for bein' behind
    So I thought I'd make the Prius unwind
    Took my foot off the gas and man alive I

    ... Hang on, sorry my mistake, that wasn't in the prius. That was in some old 1950's hot rod or something I had at the time. ;)
     
  3. guru_del

    guru_del New Member

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    perhaps it was your hot rod lincoln?


    Anyways... driven it several times in my 1st gen prius. I just get a decent run on it then keep my foot into it the whole way, give yourself lots of space and plan accordingly and that way you dont have to slow down and try to speed up. Coming down the other side is a brake burner so again plan accordingly.
     
  4. uart

    uart Senior Member

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  5. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    if this is a serious quote, the prius does just fine. you can keep up with any "flow" of traffic, even in upwards of 80 if you wish.
     
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    did it once in the Pri but was going north. it dropped my tank mileage from 58 to around 51-52 as i recall...
     
  7. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    hmm. guess i posted to wrong thread since i already answered this one. only one time but going north. tank mileage went from 58 to around 51-52 mpg as i recall
     
  8. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Seen it. Done it. Been up steeper hills. :madgrin:

    If you want to give your car a workout, drive up to Monitor Pass on [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_89"]SR 89[/ame] between Markleeville and the Calif/Nev border. We did that a couple of weekends ago to see fall colors. I got down to one purple bar on the way up; had to use B mode on the way down, turning 4100 rpm @ ~ 45 mph. :madgrin:
     
  9. desertrider2215

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    if that is the one that has the massive hill then....it ran my battery dead and i was blinking on gas. pretty scary but made it thru alright. thinking about taking that trip soon again!
     
  10. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    that is the hill just north of LA. u cant miss it. it has signs advising "radiator check points" water stations, etc.
     
  11. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I don't remember it being that bad. I filled the tank at the bottom because we had driven from Sac and I wasn't sure if I had enough fuel because we had gone 475 miles since the last fill. I was able to drive along with normal traffic speed, passing some cars, being passed by others.
     
  12. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    i think its worse going north as far as the uphill part. we have hills just as steep on our part of I-5 and 512 to puyallup. just not quite as long
     
  13. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    Wow, dropped to 50's mpg?

    That's a good mpg! i think mine was reading in the 20's - 30's.
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Never had a problem with that hill.

    In fact I have never had a problem with any hill that wasn't covered in mud or a thick layer of loose gravel. :)
     
  15. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    My time on the Grapevine was in the 70's, so no Prius. But be careful coming down, this hill is what B mode is for.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. CharlesJ

    CharlesJ Member

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    Oh, that is too good. My side hurts. :D
     
  17. CharlesJ

    CharlesJ Member

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    If you are in Paso, why not just do the 101 south?

    Maybe he had a rocket pod to assist:)
     
  18. ibmindless

    ibmindless Member

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    I've done it southbound and northbound - twice. Not a problem at all. I usually run around 70-ish.
     
  19. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    And don't forget the sand traps, for runaway trucks that lost their brakes :(

    3 weeks ago I did it with over a THOUSAND POUNDS loaded in the prius ... not for the faint of heart:

    [​IMG]

    Doing the grape vine with 2 or 3 people & a bit of luggage? That's a snap.

    .
     
  20. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    For those of us unfamiliar, what distance and slope or elevation change does this hill have?