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Newbie from the UK

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by benw123, May 29, 2008.

  1. benw123

    benw123 Junior Member

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    Hi everyone,

    Just wanted to drop a post in now that I've got a deposit secured on a 2006 Prius T-Spirit. I researched this car heavily before locating one and think it will work out well on my daily drive into West London with all the stop-start traffic.

    Mine is finished in Verbier Green and comes with the Intelligent Park Assist on later variants, plus the optional leather interior :)

    Will post some pics up after delivery on Saturday!

    Cheers,

    Ben
     
  2. pdhenry

    pdhenry It's HEEERE!

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    Wait, deposit on Thursday, pick up on Saturday??

    That sounds like the way things were here way back in March!

    Pictures would be good. It will be interesting to see all of the configuration differences betwwen the US and UK models (aside from the steering wheel...).
     
  3. benw123

    benw123 Junior Member

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    II
    Of all the cars I've ever bought, the Prius was the hardest to nail down. I chased up six different ones, and three were sold within a couple of days of arriving at the dealership.

    There's a lot of press coverage in the UK at the moment for so-called "green" cars, and I'm hoping my Prius will be something of an investment.

    Until collection tomorrow though, here's some pics - these were the dealer's own website pictures:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Congrats and :welcome: to PriusChat! We do have a good number of UK members registered here (don't know how often they check PriusChat though)
     
  5. benw123

    benw123 Junior Member

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    Thanks! Collected my Prius two days ago and already it's made a big impression. Saw 61mpg on the way home (around 90 miles), 62mpg the next day out to a nearby town and on my first commute into London today (Monday), I saw a scarcely-believeable 64.9mpg.

    But it's also the way it drives and rides so nicely that has endeared itself to us so quickly! Sitting a little bit higher up than everyone else also helps. Happy days to come hopefully... :)
     
  6. pdhenry

    pdhenry It's HEEERE!

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    Question: Does the "MPG" on a UK Prius use Imperial gallons? US gallons are 20% smaller than Imperial gallons (128 fliud ounces vs. 160) so 61 mpg in the UK might be 48.8 mpg in the US.

    What's your mileage in liters/100km? 61 miles per imperial gallon is 4.63 l/100km, while 61 miles per US gallon is 3.86 l/100km.
     
  7. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    Welcome benw123 ! Replied to a post on your 1st London trip. Great forum this Prius Chat and loads of useful (and some off the wall) information here too to help you get the most from your new starship. Enjoy !
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Imperial MPG. So it's 4.63L/100km or just about 49mpg.


    That's fantastic!! You're already touching the combined 65.5mpg figure!
     
  9. benw123

    benw123 Junior Member

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    Thanks guys - and just to confirm, yes, those measurements were imperial.It's raining in London this morning and the traffic was a bit heavier, but I still saw 58.5mpg which is still exceptional, as well as being around 15mpg up on our Audi A3 2.0TDI!
     
  10. AdamKPL

    AdamKPL Member

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    so jelous of the non - us prius
     
  11. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    Swings and roundabouts AdamKPL - you have keyless entry, we don't; you have heated mirrors (I think), we don't; you have your oil kept warm in a vacuum flask when you switch off, we don't;

    We have height adjust driver seat, you don't; we have an EV button as standard, you don't; we have shed loads of crap weather, you don't....
     
  12. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    ... and another in your favour AdamKPL..... you can disable the reverse "beep", we can't :heh:
     
  13. AdamKPL

    AdamKPL Member

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    As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side :)

    None the less, our non-adjustable seats are a royal pain in the rear, I'm 193cm and after a few hours in the Prius I wish I was driving in Europe with my fancy adjustable seat :)
     
  14. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    I think you'd be disappointed. The amount of height adjust is only about an inch or so. What would have been better on our models and your models is a telescopic steering wheel so that most drivers can get comfortable. I would forego the height adjust for this. Also I think the seats lack squab support, you know, where you thighs are; the seats don't seem long enough for comfortable support, but maybe thats just me. Apart from that the car's fine !
     
  15. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Congrats to our pommy friends with Prius, you are true early adopters in you land and are to be commended. We all know you will love being in the Toyota Prius family. Tally ho now what.
     
  16. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    I say old boy....... nice to see you posting again on here. You go walkabout for a few weeks ?
     
  17. aminorjourney

    aminorjourney Mum to two prius!

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    Good to see another Prius in the UK.

    There's been a whole shedload appear in Bristol recently. When we purchased our first one back in Jan '07 we were one of about six in the whole area. Now we see one every time we go out. It's brilliant!

    As for waiting lists - when I spoke with the dealer in Slough (where we purchased our second Prius second-hand) he told us that the more desirable 'black with chrome and all the extras' prius would take about six to eight weeks to arrive, but that the less popular models could be got in a few days. So this ties in rather well.

    Where abouts are you? There's a London-Brighton road run on July 6th in conjunction with the Battery Vehicle Society. If you're interested let me know, as us hybrids are allowed along for the fun along with the pure EVs. I'm hoping enough Prius take part that we can have an unofficial mpg competition ;)

    Nikki.
     
  18. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Tis a long story cobber, I been to Birdsville, Queensland for work, away for a week then returned home Thursday to pack and departed for Townsville Friday afternoon for the Ulysses Motorcycle Club's AGM which was a 1 week event. I got as far as Yunta 4 hours north of Adelaide when the bike broke down, came home Saturday then drove the Prius Sunday nearly 3000km in 2 days to arrive Monday afternoon just out of Townsville. I was in Townsville for a week and going to sight see coming home but weather was crap so drove home over 3 days via Brisbane. I would have arranged a meet and greet with the Brisbane Prius Club but I had no time to organise and I was all meeting peopled out on my return journey and looking forward to my bed.

    I'm still recovering and my bike is still being fixed. Covered 10,000km in 1.5 weeks in the Prius through 4 states in 2 time zones. Went as far north as Innisfail almost to Cairns.
    Townsville temperatures were around 28 degrees C and we are getting 16 degrees maximums here. I like it cold.
     
  19. priusuk2008

    priusuk2008 New Member

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    That is an epic journey. I don't recognise the town names so had a look on an Australian map - flippin' heck thats a big country you live in and a long trip too! Tough luck about the bike, is that the one in your signature ? I wouldn't be too thrilled with it by now; so I take it the Prius did the 3000 km with no problems at all - should have packed the bike in the back of it and set off to Townsville.... nice you're back anyway, I miss your dry humour with our American friends.
     
  20. benw123

    benw123 Junior Member

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    II
    There's actually one round the corner from me, but that's the only one I've seen close by! I commute into London every day and see loads - obviously the congestion charge exemption helps, although I haven't registered mine for it as I have no need to go in that direction.

    My Prius is the hardest car I have ever bought! Contacted dealers nearby and then further afield around the UK and they just kept being sold as they arrived. I have a feeling it might be something of an investment as oil prices continue to rise.

    I live in Hertfordshire which is a fair way really, but nice idea!