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Driving long distances (400miles/600km) a few times a year?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by VicVicVic, Jan 29, 2012.

  1. VicVicVic

    VicVicVic Junior Member

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    I hope you're well.

    I know the Prius C is a city car, but I was wondering if it would be fine going about 400 miles/600km on the highway about three or four times a year.

    Any thoughts on this? Thanks.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    You will get slightly less gas mileage and have a slightly more choppy ride than a liftback, but the car will do fine.

    It is more powerful than the Gen 1 cars and they do fine.
     
  3. VicVicVic

    VicVicVic Junior Member

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    Thanks for the information, JimboPalmer.

    I just wanted to make sure that a car designed primarily for the city wouldn't be messed up in any way due to traveling long distances.
     
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Are you refering to 400 miles each way or 400 mile round trip?

    Either way I imagine the car will do just fine. It's a Toyota after all :)
     
  5. VicVicVic

    VicVicVic Junior Member

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    I should have been clearer. I'm planning to go 400 miles each way about three times a year (mainly San Francisco to Southern California in the US), so about 800 miles per trip.
     
  6. spwolf

    spwolf Senior Member

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    you should be good to go, no problems there.
     
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  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    There will be no problems and you will likely get the mpg as everyone driving a GenII (rated at 48/45mpg city/hwy) on the freeway. I average 50mpg from Sac to LA if I can keep my speed down. 80mph drops me to 42mpg for the same trip. I could get 55+mpg but I can't drive at 60mph without ticking people off on the 5. :)

    The only difference between the c and a Prius when it comes to ability is size. Just because te c was designed to work well in the city doesn't mean it will be harmed or perform poorly on the freeway.
     
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  8. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    you should be good as long as you find accommodations reasonably comfortable for 7hr drive. GenIII seats are good on long drives, but this is personal.

    Mechanically C should be fine it is not like you will be going up Vail pass there are no long grades btw SF and SD.
     
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  9. Yespage

    Yespage New Member

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    I drove my Gen I Insight 740 miles (about 12.5 hours), stopping once... for a bathroom break.
     
  10. phenoyz

    phenoyz Member

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    compare the honda Gen I Insight, and the toyota prius:
    whats your take?
     
  11. Yespage

    Yespage New Member

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    Know nothing of the Prius... regular or C, so I can't say. I love my Insight, but I need 4 seats now. So I'm fighting between a Fit or C. I really want the C, but the price and ridiculous utility of the Fit may win out.
     
  12. phenoyz

    phenoyz Member

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    Yespage:

    I own a 2011 Honda Fit Sport w/ manual trasmission.
    every time I get inside the car/drive it, I love it.
    Its Fun to drive, Handling is awesome!!!
    Utility all I can say is PERFECT!!! you can fit a house-n-lot inside it (joke)

    Now the other question???---> MPG<---???

    the Honda Fit gets a descent mpg.
    I want a SPECTACULAR-A+- mpg !!!

    ....will be trading-in my Honda Fit this march period.

    what r u looking for in a car? cargo space/utility, very good handling, MPG?
    because personally I think the C has them all

    (you wanna Buy my Fit? it has 17,000 miles only
    it color is taffeta white, somewhat hard to find w/ mt...)
     
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    If you think the Fit has a lot of cargo room wait until you start loading up a Prius! lol
     
  14. phenoyz

    phenoyz Member

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    Yes, Yes, and Yes ----> F8L your my HERO !!!:wub:
     
  15. Yespage

    Yespage New Member

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    The C does seem to be nearly the best of all worlds. But in the end, utility and price may win out. Real life priorities are rising above mileage priorities. While 20+ mpg improvement is really good, I think it'd take 80,000 miles to break even via savings on gas. Time will tell.
     
  16. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    And if you're thinking in terms of your net worth you also have to factor in the residual value of the car. Compared to an Echo, the Gen 1 Prius is worth about $2k more. Given the c is more efficient than the Gen 1 Prius if you do a 10 year calculation for ROI you'll need to add about $2k to the net worth, which should make a big difference, since that'll cover a good chunk of the opportunity cost of the initial purchase.

    Or you could be pessimistic like me and assume your car will be turn into a worthless pile of rust. ;)
     
  17. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Certainly not. The car doesn't really care if you drive 20 miles in one trip or 50,000 miles (as long as you stop during it to change fluids/filters). A car reaches regular operating temperature in no time so anything beyond that doesn't impact it.
     
  18. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Don't forget maintenance (free 2 year/25,000 miles) and that the car doesn't have belts (well, the Prius anyway), the brakepads last a VERY long time, there is no Major service at 30,000 miles and 60,000 miles. No timing belt to replace......

    It probably won't take 80,000 miles to recoup the money spent. And what value do you place on lower emissions?
     
  19. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    Don't do it!! I have it on good authority that the wheels will spin off after 200 miles of continuous use and fly down the highway causing mayhem on hwy 5 (or 101 if you so desire). ;)

    Pretty much any car is fine on a long highway trip, so long as it has been maintained (If this was a question regarding your grandmother's 1963 Chevrolet Biscayne wagon (cream colored), I might have a different answer
     
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  20. Yespage

    Yespage New Member

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    The C has no belts at all? Sheesh, that is one less thing to break.

    However, the maintenance argument doesn't go too far with me. The Hondas just need oil changes and they'll go forever.

    Trust me, I'm bouncing back and forth between the Fit and the C.