Bought one already... fyi

I just bought a v 5 too just 2 days ago. Do you mind sharing what price you paid for the base model 5 (no tech, no moon roof)? Thanks!

 

Plusaf, I just purchase my first Prius ever (my first new car ever) with the “v.” My old car was a 2002 Camry, which I still love.

My question is driving over 60mph. It is just because I am use to the more powerful and quiet Camry engine that I feel like I am just killing this car on the highway? It almost feels like I am driving (to use regular car speak) in 3rd gear doing 65mph (the speed limit).

 

Part of it may be that I am just used to having a much more powerful engine in the Camry that just shoots you forward with no strain at all. By comparison the Prius does feel that it is holding you back a bit; HOWEVER, I drove it again last night and some of this may be do to the change in HOW you drive a gas car from a hybrid.

But late last night I had to get on the road and if you really ease into the speed it isn't bad until you get a hill and then you just can't avoid the high rpms.

Pennsylvania is a hilly place, even on the high way.

 

Put it in power mode if you think it feels sluggish. You WILL give up MPG, but if you prefer it, it's worth it and your MPG will still be nearly double the Camry.

Peter+

 

Thanks pvogel, but I think it is just getting used to a car with no where near the power of a Camry. Living in Pennsylvania, it is hilly. I am continually needing to floor the gas to just keep it near the speed limit. Lots of 20-30 degree inclines where the stop light is at the bottom of the hill.

I’ll adjust but I am reading that the max capacity of the Prius is about 920 lbs. If I put my mother, father, daughter and I in the car that will be 750 lbs right there. I want to be confident I can still make it from the airport to the house 45 miles away in winter!!

 

Please vote: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-v-main-forum/99642-prius-v-owners-what-replacing.html :rockon:

 

With extra weight and a short reduction gear than the Prius regular I'm sure you'll hear it whining going up hills.

You'll either get used to it, or get used to sarcastically petting the dashboard like my wife.

I'm sure it would really help mileage if you can drive with load a bit up those hills. Not always possible, but opportunities do arise.

 

I am not sure what you mean. But I keep experimenting. I realize that if I lived in a flatter part of the country and wasn’t moving from the Camry (say I owned a Carolla or Yaris), I might not be so aware.

Overall, I am VERY happy with the purchase-- but I carry lots of camera gear and I do put lots of people in my car (a reason why I waited for the v)-- so I start running these horror simulations where I am driving up some steep hill on the turnpike and I will be like the semi trucks driving up the hills at 2 miles an hour.

When I lived in Italy years ago, my boss rented me this 500cc Twingo. There were times when the two of us in the car with camera gear could have walked up the hill faster than the car would drive when floored. It would be a shame to live that experience again.

 

Thanks..that was great advice. I have looked at some people's Prii with trailers (one of the reasons why I purchased too).

 

Well, I am a new Prius v Five owner myself. Used to own a Nissan Sentra GXE 96 model. Since the Sentra I had was a 4 cyl engine, the 'strain' or the sound of the engine is about the 'same' to me. I don't think you are killing the engine, you are just noticing the difference between a 4 cyl from a 6 cylinder engine if the Camry had a v6 engine versus a 4 cyl engine.

As some of them have said, you will hear the strain because the Electric motor and the 4 cyl aren't going to be nearly the same as the 6 cyl ( I am also going off the wiki assuming that the 98 was outfitted with a v6 (6 cyl engine) versus a diesel or a 4 cyl engine)

One other thing, since your car is similar to my old Nissan, roughly in age, the other thing you will probably notice is that the Camry, as an Automatic, probably was not a CVT type transmission. So you will notice it doesn't feel nearly like your old car to begin with.

While I am no expert and this is also my first Hybrid car (Only had it for 3 days so far), I can tell you, the difference is going to be getting used to the feel of the car compared to being in a gas engine car due to the fact the car will focus more on the Electric Engine initially, but also the gas engine on a 'lower' push on long hauls. The gas engine will give the harder push on acceleration, but once at speed, the momentum is just 'carried' by both the electric and gas engine, which doesn't require as much power, just the initial push to get going.

One thing to note, is that the way the car will recharge the battery is done two ways... One, the Gas Engine will recharge the battery when in idle state and the battery is at a certain level. Two, Regenerative braking and downhill breaking provides recharging as well, meaning you don't have the engine be the sole power regen.

Weight wise, yes, this will make your car work a little harder to accelerate, but again, with your hills, the judicious use of braking and also the 'B' breaking on down hills will allow for assistance.

 

Well, I think a lot of people are used to older systems. I forget when the CVT type transmissions started coming in. I know with my older car, I was used to the slight 'jerkiness' when it switched gears and it was an Automatic. I was also used to having an overdrive button for highway, so would have to turn it on when getting on and turning it off as I get off the highway (Although forgetting more to turn it off than on)

I was listening to some of the 'how to' videos with regards to the car and the mentioning that having Eco Mode on will affect the throttle response in favor of the fuel saving.