Looking for a few answers before I buy

Well, my wife wanted one, so we bought one. I drove hers, liked it so much, we now have 2. I might add that they replaced MBenz, so we had pretty high expectations.

I don't have many hills in FL, but have never seen any problems, and not seen any problems accelerating to freeway, passing, etc. Haven't had any trouble travelling either. Not seen a problem with cruise (there are actually some driving 'tricks' you learn that help mileage if you play them). Also, I came from a car with a zero to 60 in 4.9 seconds, and while the Prius doesn't have the tendecy to scare me if I get froggy, I've also never had it put me in a bad spot becuase of a lack of acceleration. It's even amazing fast off a stop (battery...), but you ain't gonna race in a Prius <grin>....

I have a weird way of describing the Prius to folks. Image a car that has a hatchback with rear seats that fold down (handy for moving stuff), very comfortably fit for 4/5 folks, comfortable for larger size folks (we qualify), legendary Toyota quality, AND it gets right at (realistic, without trying) 50 MPG. The fact it's a 'hyrid' is actually irrelevant, unless you care...

I have yet to find something I really dislike. And, I'm a techie, so I dig the HID, bluetooth, nav, voice, XM etc.

There is some stuff that bugs me (like, why are the seats unadjustable?, why is there no way to turn on just the foglights?)

Some folks think it's ugly. I don't think so (but I also replaced that antenna whip, because I think it is).

It's also amazing easy to work on (installed XM in both my wifes car and mine, replaced the 'tinny' horn 'cause yeah, that I didn't dislike).

I haven't had any technical issues with either vehicle, other than my wife losing a fob (expensive!), and me breaking the driver side glass (also expensive). Not a single technical issue.

We've got a combined 55K, her's is an 05, mine is an 06.

 

We just got our prius in late Dec and we've loved it. I haven't had any of the problems that you have had and I think the performance of the Prius has been very good. I've had no problems accelerating when I needed to and I've never felt unsafe getting onto the freeway. In fact, the Prius is safer with the side head air bags.

I would say that moving closer to work so you don't have to commute would probably have more of an impact than getting the prius. That's what my wife and I did. We use to ride our bike or driving a car the 2 miles to catch the express bus and ride the bus for 20 minutes. Now, we walk the 10 minutes to get to our work. I think that has made more of an impact than buying the Prius. I always felt "guilty" about having to drive our other car which wasn't that bad to begin with, about 28-32 mpg. Now we get about 45-50 mpg. Better, but not perfect. I still feel "guilty" about driving the Prius because I am still polluting, but we all make the small differences that add up.

I hope that helps.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gettinggreener @ Feb 10 2007, 05:37 PM) [snapback]388234[/snapback]</div>

I have never had a problem with a loss of power going up steep grades. I regularly go up the Sepulveda pass on I-405, I have gone up the Conejo grade (5%) at speed of 70-75 mph, without slowing down, and did not exhaust the battery charge or the power that it provides going up to the Tejon Pass (4183 ft.) on the Grapevine or from the Los Angeles side.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gettinggreener @ Feb 10 2007, 08:37 PM) [snapback]388234[/snapback]</div>

Just to echo what efusco said, you might have misjudged the true power because the CVT will cause the car to rev higher and not drop into a lower gear on a steep climb. I don't think it has any less power than a typical 4 cylinder car. Actually with it loaded up it has climbed hills better than most.

I have never seen this as a problem. Of course variations of 1-2 mph is much more noticeable with a digital speedometer than with a needle. You will probably pay closer attention to that speedometer in the Prius than you would another car too and really get a feel for the pedal. I know that is the case with me.

I can't speak for others but I have never read or heard of an issue with this (other than the fact that an EV switch isn't standard equipment yet ). Seriously, I wouldn't put much weight into this while making your decision.

We did the same thing in '04 when we accepted that we couldn't budget for a Prius at the time. However that decision was as much for my sanity as it was for the environment. Our rent went up but we were still saving a lot on gas. Heck, I love my Prius and would be happy to convert you to One Of Us but if you can move someplace that you don't need to drive at all that is a much better option all around IMO.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gettinggreener @ Feb 10 2007, 09:37 PM) [snapback]388234[/snapback]</div>

Everyone has given some pretty good answers here, but I wanted to add a thought to this question. The prius is very smooth, which makes it difficult to "feel" your speed, at least at first. It also has a very sensitive pedal, so first time users may over compensate. The combo of these two is likely what you noticed on the highway. In my case, the "adjustment period" lasted about a couple of days, then it was like the car and I were made for each other.

Also, the car occasionally uses only electricity, and never uses only gas (though it may not always draw from or add to the battery). It cleverly combines the two in such a way as to optimise fuel comsumption from moment to moment. This system has proven to be very stable and hardy. Even if it should have a problem, Toyota is very good about honoring their warrenty.

 

Mine is 2 months old. Never had any of the symptoms you're noticing.

 

About that constant speed thing: I live in a very hilly area, so I have noticed that on the highway it is hard to keep a constant speed without cruise control. Especially since when you're going downhill, the regenerative breaking kicks in and you actually lose speed if you don't press on the accelerator. However, if you use the cruise control, this is not a problem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gettinggreener @ Feb 10 2007, 09:37 PM) [snapback]388234[/snapback]</div>

Don't get a Prius. It's a good car, as far as cars go, but if you can do without one, then you should. You'll be doing far more for the environment than any of us smug car owners, present company included.

 

As for going uphill you may have been (perhaps subconsciously) alarmed by the engine noise. Prius engine RPMs are not a simple function of road speed. It's perfectly normal for the engine to roar going up a steep hill because the engine is providing the power required. This is harmless. The computers will not allow the engine to over-rev. After the initial 600 mile easy-does-it break-in period, just floor the gas pedal when necessary and don't worry about it.

The Prius is an excellent car, but it's still a car. If you have the option of moving closer to work and using public or shared transport then you should certainly do that instead of buying any car.

 

I was in Utah when I got my new '06 Prius, I did notice the engine rev effect going over the mountain pass from Brigham City to Logan where you could hear the engine reving up but you're still going slower, and of course with the Prius still being brand new I was trying to go very easy on it so instead of doing about 60 or whatever the speed is I was doing more like 45. I'm sure that wouldn't have been a problem at all, and it's a very steep grade but I was trying to go easy on it for at least a few thousand miles. My sister drove the Prius following me down to Texas where I am now, and she kept up just fine on the steep grades around Moab, UT and she never complained, she said she loved driving it. Now that I'm in Texas there is rarely anything more than a small hill which isn't a problem at all. I think it just takes some getting used to, and of course you should break a car in nice and easy.