getting HOT in a Prius

I had my dealer change the default to fresh air. Then after the car cools down, I can close window and change to recirulate.

 

I just installed some side window vents (Weathertek?) on my Prius. I can crack my front windows about an inch and not worry about the daily Florida rains. I also got a front window shade. Just $12 at Walmart. Be sure to get the jumbo size. I NEVER park my car without using the window shade. It also helps to protect the dashboard from cracking or warping.

 

Some simple things to keep a Prius cooler in the sun:

1. Use a dash cover. That huge black dashboard heats up in the sun, and then radiates hets into the passenger compartment. A dash cover helps to reduce that.

2. Use a sunshade when parked. Dashdesigns.com sells a sunshade that is semi-permanently installed, making it easy to use (so you will tend to use it more often, eben when hopping out of the car for a moment). I am looking into getting one. Does anybody out there have any experience with "The Shade" from Dashdesigns.com?

3. Window tinting is almost a requirement. With all of the glass area the Prius has, and the angles of the hatch and windshield, it does indeed act like a greenhouse.

4. Crack your windows a bit when parked. Simple enough advice, I know, but it significantly reduces heat buildup when parked in the sun. Maybe I'm the only one, but I sometimes forget to crack the windows and when I return to my car it is HOT.

 

All this talk about heat is making me rethink about getting a Black Prius. I still have a few days before the order goes in, please comment..

 

I really do like my Prius, but I do notice that a LOT of HEAT bounces from the dash board. Maybe there is too much plastic??? Who knows, but I don't mind this minor nuisance since the AC works extremely well for me.

The black prius has ivory interior so perhaps it will remain slightly cooler... heh

 

I love our Black Prius wit the charcoal interior. Northern California doesn't get nearly as hot as say AZ, but we got all of our windows tinted (except winshield) and we use a Sunshade. Works great and the car stays relatively cool, even in 100+ degree heat.

Our good friends jsut bought a Silver Prius and I've noticed that their Prius gets substantially warmer in the sun due to their lack of tint.

--GD

 

Thanks guys, I think I will stay with the Black than, I have never had this color and think it is going to look great with tinting

 

I have purchased and installed "The Shade" from Dashdesigns.com. It is a semi-permanently mounted shade that unrolls from the passenger side. It makes it really easy & quick to use. The coverage is slightly less than a form-fitting shade, but it blocks probably 85% of the sunlight from coming through the windshield. The most important thing is it prevents that large black dash from heating up. So far I love it. It isn't the type of thing I'd put in a customized interior for looks, but my Prius is a commuter car. Having the thing ready to pull across the windshield with one hand every time I park is great. I may just buy one for the rear hatch window, as well.

 

Brent,

Thanks for the info on the sunshade. It looks exactly like what I've been looking for...I hate the fold up shades (too impatient I guess) :lol: . One question though, can you take it in and out of the car easily once you install it? I'd like to take it out in the winter when I don't need it. I don't know that I'd want to see it up in the window all the time.

 

Yes, it is very easy to remove. Two small "hangers" stay behind on the windshield. The one way to improve the thing would be to increase reflectivity on the front side, but it is so easy to use that I love the thing.

 

I have heard this complaint often but don't seem to find the same trouble.

I just spent a week in Vegas where the temperature averaged around 108 with the most unbelievable sun beating down.

(in fact the reflection from the bridge of my sunglasses caused a third degree burn on my nose, something not right there)

granted the A/C was on MAX with recirc on but properly aimed I was comfortable even with jeans on.

PS. I will say this my gas milage was only 38 for the week, while I usually average 48 in Los Angeles.

 

I beleive I am going to get one. Maybe two, like you said, for the hatch.

 

Make sure you measure the rear window. The one for the front is too long. They cut them in different sizes for different cars, but I doubt they have the measurements of the Prius hatch window on hand.

 

FWIW, I thought I was going to have to live with my Prius not cooling down too well in St. Louis' 95-100 degree heat, but I had the dealer look at it and they determined that the a/c compressor was bad.

After getting the replacement, I have no complaints...it cools down just fine - even after sitting in the sun for several hours.

So, if any of you aren't happy with your car's ability to keep you cool, you might want to have the dealer check it out - maybe Toyota had a bad batch of a/c compressors...

 

Thanks for the heads-up. I thought of that. I wonder if some sort of automatic system could be set up with cabling?
On further thought, that might be good in the rear, but the cable would be a nuisance at best in the windshield.

Would also have to consider how the shades work with the curtain airbags.

 

Would you happen to have any pictures?

 

They have pics at www.dashdesigns.com

 

No problem there. It mounts onto the winshield itself and should not interfere.

 

Get a white or light colored Prius, preferably white. Get window tint and get some sort of "eyeshade" tint bar across the windshield, even if it says 'toyota racing' or something embarassing. I'm a new prius owner but apparently you tell the AC system what temp you want the interior of the car to be and it will do that, if it needs AC, heat, whatever. It takes energy to run that.