New Prius Owner (Don't Hate Me)

I can't answer about the extended warranty but I just got my 05 Prius Saturday - with no wait. An adoption story just like yours.

Lucky YOU! Lucky US! I am so loving it. I got package #5. It sounds like 29000 might have been a bit abovve MSRP. but anyhoo-
for the first 200 miles avoid sudden stops, for the next 600 . . . I forget. somebody willcome along and tell you.

I'm getting my windows tinted cause I live in sunny ole fla and have an aversion to rays

WHAT AM I DOING HERE??? (in FLORIDA) that is

 

what color?

 

KEN


First of all. congratz on your new Prius. :clap: :multi: :crazyeyes:
& Welcome to PriusChat


do's & don't.

Do- enjoy the heck out of your new car.

Do- read Priuschat, more info here than you can read in a month of Sundays

Don't -drive it hard. break-in is 5000-7500 miles.

Don't -lock up the break. not good for the ABS system

Don't - run out of fuel & then empty the Traction Battery. out of fuel is not good but emptying the battery is worse.

ps Great Avatar.


Norm.

 

Lucky you!! Congrats! You should be able to find all the answers to your questions here at Prius Chat. Use the search box... it's a good friend of mine. Also, I believe there's a link for accessories on the home page. I'm jealous of your leather interior. Congrats again & welcome to the club!

 

In regards to "don't lock up the brake" please explain. Thank you.

 

Ken - first off, congrats and welcome aboard!!

About the extended warranty - you can get it cheaper here, and you have until your 3/36,000 warranty expires to decide whether you want to extend it or not, not 3 weeks. Your extended warranty can be purchased from any Toyota dealer, and others will honor it.

I paid full price for mine at the dealer, and I should've waited to check out the costs by going through here (I believe it's what, 1100 here, anyone?).

#3 - no, there is no way to get DTE on the display. The absolutely, positively, best way to make sure you never run out of gas is do the following:

When you fill up, note the gallons filled (take your time filling the car up - it has a bladder, most suggest the slowest setting available on the auto fill setting, then some will add .5 - 1.5 gallons after that; if you do decide to 'top off', do it extremely slowly, give the bladder time to 'belch', removing the air pockets so the gas won't come spitting back up on you.). If you filled, say, 8.5 gallons, to make it easier (and more safe) just remember 8 gallons, so you'll have reserve as you need it. Now, if your display shows 400 miles, and you're getting 50 mpgs(on the consumption screen), you know you've used up 8 gallons and it's about time to fill up. I've been lucky enough to be able to get over 10 gallons (usually just a bit over 11) for the past 6 or 8 months or so - it takes a lot of patience and time though if you want to go over 500 miles on a tank. If you're not concerned about it, then no worries and fill up when the gauge blinks!

I've taken up enough time of yours with those two long answers, but the most important thing is to enjoy the car - for most all of us here, it's a dream to drive it, and we hope it's the same for you!!

-m.

 

[font=Lucida Console:b60278ff4c] [/font:b60278ff4c] [/b]Drive gently and avoid high speeds.

Your vehicle does not need an elaborate break-in. But following a few simple tips for the first 1000 km (600 miles) can add to the future economy and long life of your vehicle.

Avoid full-throttle acceleration when starting and driving.

Avoid racing the hybrid engine.

Try to avoid hard stops during the first 300 km (200 miles)


Enjoy
-------------
2005 Silver #6

 

I also got my blue, base model, already-stretching-the-budget-so-don't-gimme-no-dang-option-packages Prius with no wait.

Well, sorta.

I was on a waiting list at one dealership in my area who said I couldn't order a Prius, I could just wait and see what Toyota sent them, and I could decide whether or not to buy when it got to be my turn on the list. I waited for about 6 months, and got a call for a beige AM - $2000 more than the base model I wanted. Test drove the thing in the dark in the snow, really wasn't comfortable with it, was thoroughly sticker shocked, and told them to take my name off the list.

I was dangerously close to buying an Elantra instead when I wandered onto the Web site of another local dealer. They listed a blue base Prius for sale. Almost as a joke, I e-mailed them and asked if it was really available, not spoken for already.

It was available. I don't know why, but it was.

Oh, and they tried to sell me a $1600 extended warranty too. They're worse than Circuit City like that.

 

just another quick tip. It takes a while to get to know the proper technique to drive a Prius for maximum mileage. If you go back thru the topics here on PC and look in the data base Evan has a thread on making maximum mileage from a tank of gas. Don't be surprised if you don't make EPA right off the bat, you won't, but if you learn proper technique you will come pretty close to it especially in the warmer climate of FLA. Most important don't run the car out of gas. Inflate the tires to what Evan or John http://john1701a.com recommends. Keep track of your mileage in a spread sheet and do it from day one and you will have a good idea if some thing goes wrong our you try a different technique or start using a different route than you normally do. The first two tanks will not really give you a big picture as you'll be driving it just for fun but when you finally get used to the car and stop cruising just for fun and start driving it as a car back and forth to work your real mileage will develope and show on your spread sheet. Now above all...........just enjoy it!

 

The simpliest DTE is to just watch the info on the Multi-Display, matching MPG to distance to know when you have reached the 9-gallon non-emergency indication of when to fill up:

40 MPG = 360 miles
41 MPG = 369 miles
42 MPG = 378 miles
43 MPG = 387 miles
44 MPG = 396 miles
45 MPG = 405 miles
46 MPG = 414 miles
47 MPG = 423 miles
48 MPG = 432 miles
49 MPG = 441 miles
50 MPG = 450 miles
51 MPG = 459 miles
52 MPG = 468 miles
53 MPG = 477 miles
54 MPG = 486 miles
55 MPG = 495 miles

 

:roll: No Owner's Manual? You have EVERY RIGHT to all manuals and documentation normally delivered with a new Prius (or ANY auto). I believe you should DEMAND the manuals and other documents... Navigation Manual (if applicable), Roadside Assistance card and brochure, Pre-Delivery Service Check Sheet, Limited Warranty on your tires, Wheel Lock card (if applicable), Maintenance Guide, Prius Owner's Warranty Information, and Owner's Warranty Rights Notification. [I think that covers it unless you purchased other added goodies like Extended Life Tire Program, etc.]

:| Go back and require all documentation normally delivered with a new Prius.

 

Sorry about the "double" post.... OOPS!

 

I'm trying awful hard this week to keep my MPG from slipping below 40 MPG. It's getting mighty close though, with the daytime highs below 0F and the fact that I simply cannot avoid some short-trips.

Of course, when it's that cold you really shouldn't push it anyway... which leads to a rather amusing recommendation we've been hearing on the news lately. They are strongly suggesting that people keep their tanks on the full side, to avoid water vapor accummulating & freezing within the empty space above the gas. PRIUS DOESN'T HAVE THAT! It is a not-so-obvious benefit of the emissions bladder.

 

8) john1701a

If they use the winter grade gas with ethanol, then the will not get water in the lines IMHO.

Ben