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Questions about winter care and handling

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by seeh2o, Dec 7, 2005.

  1. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2004
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    Location:
    City of Angels
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
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    Persona
    How does the Prius handle driving in snow and are there any special things needed to care for it when it is parked outside overnight in -15 weather?

    My b/friend is driving from Las Vegas to Wyoming this year for Christmas. For a multitude of reasons he may be taking my car instead of his small truck. He asked me, "How does it handle in the snow?" and "Can it be parked outside in subzero weather with wind and snow?" "How do you jump it, assuming I can't turn it on after sitting out all night?" I don't know the answer to the first two questions so I am turning to the experts here. I told him that you can't jump it as it does not have a standard battery. I think the better question is...is there any chance that it won't start after sitting out all night, or for four days? I don't think there is a place for it to be garaged.

    FYI, my car is accustomed to living in sunny southern California, so there won't be snow tires on it, however I did just buy new tires as the orignial ones were cr*p. I've seen the snowflake on the dashboard one time in two years and that was going over a mountain pass on my way to see him in Las Vegas!
     
    #1 seeh2o, Dec 7, 2005
  2. GreenMachine

    GreenMachine New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
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    Location:
    Vermont, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Not to be a prick, but I must be missing something here? 211 Posts and a member since March '04 and have to ask about how the Prius handles in snow and cold weather?

    You found nothing with "search" ?

    Well, ok, I will be a prick. :p
     
    #2 GreenMachine, Dec 7, 2005
  3. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    2013 Prius
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    Dear Mr. P,

    Yes, "211 Posts and a member since March '04", and I did utilize the search tool. What I found discuss was discussion of snow tires, which snow tires were the best and traction. As I stated in my previous post I live in Southern California, therefore I have NO reason to buy snow tires. Because I did not find the search results to be satisfactory and now that Priuschat has grown to over 10,000 members there are many more experience winter drivers here than there were even a year ago, when I joined. I am reasonably asking for their experience and expertise. As I stated in my prior post, Mr. P, I have no snow tires and am concerned about the car parked outside for up to four days in subzero weather. Reasonable questions for forum members when the search tool comes up lacking.

    Mr. P, there is no call for you to be so rude and condescending. Perhaps you don't realize that this is a website that, with few exceptions, is filled with civil and helpful people. It is time for you to climb down from your tower of self appoionted piety and join the rest of humanity.

    Ms. C
     
    #3 seeh2o, Dec 7, 2005
  4. GreenMachine

    GreenMachine New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
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    Location:
    Vermont, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    As much as I hate to admit it, your points are well taken. I apologize for my rudeness.
    Priuschat is full of civil and helpful people and I will endeavor to be amongst them in the future.
     
    #4 GreenMachine, Dec 7, 2005
  5. tomdeimos

    tomdeimos New Member

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    Regarding tires, I wouldn't want to drive the Prius around the block without snow tires if the roads were covered in snow or ice. In the mountains I understand you must have chains.

    As to cold starting you should have no problems. It starts easier than any car I've ever had in the cold.
     
    #5 tomdeimos, Dec 7, 2005
  6. jeneric

    jeneric New Member

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    Subtle.

    Seems from what I've read here that it handles pretty mediocre in the snow.

    I thought it did have a standard battery and I've found at least one post here that says it can be jumped.

    And totally hypothetically, which is worse, posting a stupid question, or posting that a question is stupid, or posting the question of which is worse?
     
    #6 jeneric, Dec 7, 2005
  7. Tyrilla

    Tyrilla New Member

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    Southeastern MN
    I was quite pleasantly surprised last night by how well the Prius handled getting stuck in snow. I utilized my long past Volkswagon Bug experience to get out of a snow drift.
    This was my fault, I had backed into a parking space, got too far over and got the passenger side off the road into 6 plus inches of snow. I couldn't move the car forward at all, but was able to edge it backward a few inches. I kept backing back on the road, pulling forward to the left as I could. I wasn't able to move it forward more than a fraction of an inch. But with the Bug, as long as you could move the car any tiny bit, you weren't really stuck. So I kept on edging back and out, back and out. Forward I got a new icon, the car swerving on ice, but kept gradually getting farther on the road. So I was able to get the Prius unstuck without calling for help. My Prius is completely standard, no new tires. I live in Minnesota. I think the weight over the rear tires with the battery helps, just like having the Bug engine over the rear wheels helped. And this with an automatic, not a standard transmission.

    Pat
     
    #7 Tyrilla, Dec 7, 2005
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