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Moving to Connecticut with new Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by FloridaWen, Aug 1, 2007.

  1. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    Due to "family reasons" we might be moving (next year) out of Florida and back to our birth-state and the place we grew up and lived for 48 years, Connecticut. We were lucky enough to buy a '07 Touring edition in Silver Pine Mica this past May. I heard that Prius Tourings are difficult or nearly impossible to get up in New England? Anyway, how does the Prius handle in snow and ice with FOUR Blizzaks or any other great, winter tires on it? Does the low, front end make it into a "snow plow" in snow covered roads that are not properly plowed yet? Please tell us "spoiled Floridians" the good and the bad of a Prius in a typical New England (Connecticut) Winter........... THANKS !!
     
    #1 FloridaWen, Aug 1, 2007
  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    Better hurry and get in on that group buy for an engine block heater.
     
    #2 Godiva, Aug 1, 2007
  3. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 1 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]488655[/snapback]</div>
    :eek: I heard so many mention these............I found the "group buy thread" and it explains that the heater goes into a special hole DESIGNED for it............. so clever those Toyota Engineers :D !!

    By the way, since we have the Prius Touring with 16" alloys, I was going to buy four "used" (like new) 15" wheels and then have the four snow tires permanantly mounted and balanced on those. Also figuring that the 15" tire's larger sidewall and narrower footprint is a better choice for a SNOW tire.
     
    #3 FloridaWen, Aug 1, 2007
  4. Jim1eye

    Jim1eye Shaklee Ind Distributor

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    Location:
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    Locutus has been with us since November '05 and we have had very little problems in the snow (of course, we tend to stay off the roads when we're told to). Living on the side of a hill in the Naugatuck Valley we do occasionally adjust our route home b/c if you don't have 4WD you're not getting up the hill on the main road.
     
    #4 Jim1eye, Aug 1, 2007
  5. ohershey

    ohershey New Member

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    I'm chortling to myself and shaking my head at the thought of a California driver giving a Florida driver feedback about driving on snow.....

    I experience light, wet, slippery snow on the mountains I commute over - probably 4-5 times per year. Additionally, I have taken the Prius to Tahoe several times. Obviously, I don't keep snow tires on it. With all of that said - here are my observations:

    I haven't noticed a huge issue with snow - but I am really cautious about ice. I have found the very light weight, front wheel drive, and the VSC system to be a little more unpredictable and squirrely than I like - especially when transitioning from dry pavement to ice. Additionally, I found that the low vehicle weight made slipping on ice more likely at extremely low speeds. I was unable to drive the Prius up out of a severly iced downhill driveway, while both the BMW 5 series and the Chrystler Cirrus which were there had no trouble. We were able to get out by sticking 5 large adults in the car and sanding the driveway, but I was worried for a while.

    You will have to change your name - ConnecticutWen just seems a little odd.

    My 2 cents - worth what you can buy with it.
     
    #5 ohershey, Aug 1, 2007
  6. FloridaWen

    FloridaWen New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mad Hatter @ Aug 1 2007, 01:15 PM) [snapback]488685[/snapback]</div>
    I like that one............. :)

    Like I said, we are originally FROM Connecticut and left there in 2001 bound for Florida. Due to a family "illness" we came back to CT. for a short while in 2004. Actually drove our MDX up there and had just the OEM Michelin Cross Terrain tires. The AWD and heaviness of the SUV kept it well behaved in winter, but as you said ICE (especially "black ice") is the absolute worse !!
    Pre 2001, when we lived up there and I had my Acura 3.2TL it had FOUR Bridgestone Blizzaks just as overkill and safety. Had 'em on four extra rims I got on eBay. I figured onced mounted and balanced, leave 'em alone, plus I kept my Bridgestone SO-3's (summer only tread) on the "nice & unsalted" Acura OEM alloys for April thru November driving.

    Not to go off topic, but at 55 years old, jobs down here in Florida are just not available for me, and even though my Wife works for the County, they constantly threaten her group to keep getting certified and pass Microsoft Tests or else...... :angry:

    By the way, definitely keeping the Honda CR-V...... will come in very handy for "winter driving" if we decide to just leave the Prius in the garage that cold, snowy, winter day !!
     
    #6 FloridaWen, Aug 1, 2007
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