1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

It is the Prius C or the Regular Prius 3 or 4.

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by KoolerKT, Feb 11, 2013.

  1. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I will be a new Prius owner as soon as I can decide on which Prius to get. Reading about the Prius C in the snow (especially after this winter where in Salt Lake City we have had a couple major snow storms). I had always thought that the Prius would do well in the snow (when the snow fall has been fairly major and they have not plowed the main streets yet. I have never had trouble with any other FWD car I have had in this part of the country). In fact, in Salt Lake City, we had a major snowstorm about a month ago. I was driving home on a major street and I was surprised at how many Prii (not sure what model the ones I saw stuck were) I saw stuck. The car I am driving now (a VW Jetta TDI sportwagon) does fairlyin the snow.

    It sounds like snow tires are a must with the Prius in the type of winter conditions I am talking about. The Bridgestone Blizzaks are great tires for snow. In a couple posts the person has mentioned snow tires. Is it recommended to get studded tires or snow tires like the Blizzaks?

    I did not mean to focus on snow tires and how the Prius c does in the snow, but I read some of the post first so I thought I would ask about this. Does the regular Prius without snow tires do better or the same as the Prius c in the snow? I am talking about driving on a major road during a snow storm before the plows have had a chance to plow the street.

    My main question for the people who have a Prius c, if you have had one for a year or more and you live in an area that gets a decent amount of snow, if you could make your Prius purchase over again, would you still purchase a Prius c? Any areas that I should think about before deciding on a Prius c and a Regular Prius before I make the purchase in a couple days? I am getting a moonroof, but other then that, any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks!
     
  2. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Only people who can't drive get stuck in the snow unless the total depth is more than the ground clearance.

    My Prius liftback makes it up and down the Rocky Mountain passes with no issues.
     
  3. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yea, this is what I thought. This snow storm was a rarity for Salt Lake City. I have not sen that much snow dumped in the city in a long time and in such a short time period. I could see how some of the lower clearance cars were getting stuck because there was so much snow and the streets had not been plowed. In this type of case you can't go over the mounds of snow without snow tires and expect to not get stuck when the traffic is going 5-10 mph.

    do you have the tires that came with your Prius liftback?
     
  4. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    First winter I drove on the stock balding tires. They performed poorly, but I was able to get around. Lots of focus was needed, no problems. Since I have put on Michelin X-ICE2 which are some of the best winter tires, but not cheap. I drive on these 9+ months out of the year. This past summer I did not change them because they are on their last leg and at the end of winter this year (mid-Arpil here generally and then we go straight to Summer) they will be replaced with another pair of X-ICE2's.

    I have snow-plowed through 18" of powder no problem with the Prius. However 8-10 inches of heavy wet stuff and you are not going anywhere fast. You will bottom out the hood, raise the front tires, and get stuck! But that is any vehicle with that level of ground clearance.
     
  5. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    So you say that when you got your Prius the tires were balding meaning not that they had a lot of miles on them but that they were cheap tires. The Bridgestone Blizzak tires are great snow tires too. Did you notice a big change in you mpg when you put the snow tires on? I would think a good all season tire would do better in the snow, if it has been a problem for someone, but it sounds like from what I have read about the Prii that you need to get a snow tire. The only problem with getting a snow tire is that is is a pain changing them twice a year. I did the same with the Blizzaks. I left them on last summer because I never got around to changing the tires. Costco had used Nitrogen to fill up the new Blizzak tires when I first got them and I was not sure if I could mix air and nitrogen and if the readings would be accurate.
     
  6. vernon birdman

    vernon birdman Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2012
    330
    141
    0
    Location:
    Vernon BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    My C 4 with xice 3 has done fine here in Canada this winter. Those with problems most probably were running on 4 season tires.....fine in Florida maybe but not in Fargo⛄
     
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I bought my Prius used, and the tires already had 3 years and 60K miles of service on them and were cheap to begin with.

    Might be, but I have used these Michelins on many vehicles with absolutely no issues. I won't be changing anytime soon.

    I lost 4mpg with the X-ICE2. However, that is also during the winter where you will lose mpg's anyways. I have an unlimited season ski pass, so I am constantly going up wintery passes and generally during or right after good snow storms. That's when you get the powder!

    A good all season is crap compared to even a crappy winter tire. However I drove on balding, high mileage, all-season tires the first winter and did fine. It wasn't a pleasant driving experience, but if your driving skills are up to par you can do it.

    I bought a pair of rims for my winter tires so I just drive them down to the tire shop, and $8 and 30 minutes later they are on and ready to go. It would be free since I bought my tires there, but they move the TPMS sensors back and forth.

    I filled mine up with 78% nitrogen. It's called "air".
     
  8. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    What Costco use is 100% nitrogen and it is not the same as the compressed air you usually get when you fill your tires up. Costco thinks it is better than air but it is actually a pain to deal with after the tires have been filled up with nitrogen especially if you have a TPMS. I have heard the standard tires the Prii come with are like a balding tire but the Toyota salesperson told me they use these tires to keep up the mpg. I have never driven in a storm like the 2 major ones we have had this season. The first one we got 12" in about 2 hours. I was OK with the Blizzack snow tires but you have to know how to drive and not stop in a mound of fresh powder that has been on the road for 20 minutes. I have had a couple good all season tires but I understand for the most part there is no difference. (Except it sounds like they are putting on some really cheap tires on the newer Prii, but I do not know that for a fact--just what I heard).
     
  9. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    My original comment about winter driving and the Prii had to do with this years unusual snow storms we have had. Living here for 20 years, it has been a long time since I have seen the amount of snow these 2 major snow producers dumped. if you were not a good snow driver you were stuck. it was about 12" in 2 hours and that went on for about 24 hours. The plows could not make it to the major streets because they were all on the freeways and the canyons. it is the worst I have ever seen it here and the colder it got the worse the fresh snow became, as far as driving. I was fine, if yo take it slow and avoid the areas where the snow is high but some people do not think when they drive when the snowfall was like this.
     
  10. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lots of places do pure Nitrogen, but it is pointless as I was trying to cheekily point out. That extra 22% of nitrogen is so that as the temperature changes the pressure in the tire does not as much. But there is no noticeable difference for the majority of people. But if you get temperature swings there is absolutely no reason to use nitrogen. Especially since the first time you fill up, you ruin the pure content. It is a waste of money and pure snake oil.

    Not sure where you heard this but the tires on the Prius are not balding, they are LRR (Low Rolling Resistance). These are specially designed so that there is less resistance between the rubber and road. Naturally, your grip is less too. It works fine and dandy in good to mild weather. But with heavy snow you need to drive very well because you will be control sliding essentially.

    That is true no matter how fast the snow fell. As long as there is enough of it to ground the car, you don't want to stop!

    There are HUGE differences in tires. All season regulars and all season LRR tires, there are huge differences inbetween. Wear, grip, noise, and tread design are just a few of the big ones.

    They are not necessarily cheap, but the Goodyears are crap.
     
  11. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  12. PriusCinBlack

    PriusCinBlack Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2012
    145
    61
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    If you're wondering anything beyond the snow issue (which I can't speak on), off the top of my head there are four primary practical differences between the Prius c and the Liftback. They are, in no particular order:

    1) Cabin space: Advantage Liftback. Consider this if you have a family that you might take on a trip with a lot of luggage. You won't have much space in the Prius c to do that- awfully tight, at best.

    2) MSRP: Advantage Prius c. Depending on where you're looking and what you're looking at, the Prius c can be anywhere between $3K and $5K less expensive than the Liftback. This is significant in the lifetime cost of the car.

    3) Freeway driving mpg: Advantage Liftback. If you're planning to drive 70mph+ consistently (and you won't get the EPA estimated mpg doing this- you'll be below, or well below, 50 mpg- which I don't do anyway as a hypermiler) the Liftback has the better drag coefficient and it shows up at that speed with significantly better mpg for the Liftback. At speeds roughly between 55 and 65 mph, the Liftback and Prius c get pretty similar mpg.

    4) In-town driving mpg: Advantage Prius c. The Prius c is simply smaller and lighter than the Liftback, with a smaller engine, and gets significantly better mpg at slower speeds and in stop-and-go traffic.

    So, that's my summary of the difference between the two. Sorry I don't have anything to say about snow travel, but for the warmer months consider what fits your personal circumstances best.

    On edit: A fifth difference- I can't give any details on it (or say for sure there is any real difference, depending on what trim you get), but some will probably also point out that the gadgetry and interior in the Liftback are better than in the Prius c at the bottom trim level.
     
  13. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yea, I picked up on all of your differences from the research I have done. I was looking for people who have practical experience. Since I will take it rock climbing a lot and sleep in it over night, the Regular Prius is the one since I can not fit in the Prius c as well as I can in a liftback (for sleeping purposes).
     
  14. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    3,339
    1,150
    40
    Location:
    Cumming, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Sounds like you don't want a Prius, you want the mother of all Prii!!!
    [​IMG]
     
    Rob.au likes this.
  15. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The Prius is a great camper car since you can leave it READY without idling constantly. The advantages are that you burn much less fuel overnight then if you slept in an idling normal car. The down side is that the noise is no longer white background noise. When I sleep in my liftback, I just fold the rear seats down slide the front passenger seat up, and there is enough room to curl up comfortably. However when the engine kicks on, the car sometimes rocks and there is a jolt of noise in an otherwise quiet surrounding sometimes waking you up. To get over it, I put the fan on a higher setting constantly which makes the engine less audible but there isn't much that can be done about the rocking.
     
  16. xzzz

    xzzz Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2013
    11
    0
    0
    Location:
    Phoenix, Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    I live in WNY (rotate between Buffalo and Rochester), and I have no trouble driving in the snow with my Prius. In fact I drove through Nemo last week on Friday from Buffalo to Rochester and back on I-90. (I did not realize I was driving through a nor'easter, just assumed it was really bad lake effect snow LOL)

    Yes, I would purchase it again, unless you know another manufacturer that makes a cheap 50+ MPG car.
     
  17. franathan

    franathan Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2012
    51
    13
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide SOUTH AUSTRALIA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    N/A
    This is as funny as asking my 18 year old son,,,,"shall I customize my Prius C and put Race Rims on it, for a better look?" :rolleyes:

    His answer was ":coffee: for god's sake = NO!"

    LOL!!! :X3: Indeed, I won't :D.................................. for now?! :sneaky:
     
  18. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The question I had had to do with a rare, very rare, snowfall that dumped in the area that I live. First time I ever ever seen it this bad and the number of Prii that I saw that were stuck, I did notice most looked like they were new or newer, and having a friend with an 09 Prius 3, he have never really had an issue as long as you know what you are doing except for this one storm. this made me think about snow tires if we are going to be getting more and more of these types of incredible snow-producing snow.

    do not understand your comment about purchasing it again unless you are just being a smartass.
     
  19. KoolerKT

    KoolerKT Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2013
    34
    3
    0
    Location:
    Salt Lake City, Utah USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    nope just a Prius is what I am after. but then I guess it depends what you mean by the mother of all Prii.
     
  20. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    3,339
    1,150
    40
    Location:
    Cumming, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I was being facetious... which is why I added a picture of the mother of all Prii...