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Not being in your shoes I can only guess what's happening. Since you can start the vehicle with the fob in your pocket then you presumably have a Package #2 - #6. Package #1 is mainly for rental vehicles and does not have the SKS enabled. Since the push button start works with the fob in your pocket then the 'KEY' button under the steering wheel is not pushed in deactivating the 5 sensors.
When your approach one of the two front doors you should only touch the inside of the door handle. Don't touch the door handle and touch the black button on the outside at the same time ( see below ). There are 5 proximity sensors in your vehicle that will recognize the fob when you come within a meter of one of them. You must be within range for the SKS to be enabled. You can't stand 15 ft away and have someone else try to walk up and get into the vehicle.
The black button on the outside of the two front doors are intended only for locking the vehicle when you walk away. It serves no other purpose. After you close the doors just press the black square button and all 5 doors will lock.
You can't lock the vehicle with the engine running.
You can't lock the vehicle with the engine off but with the fob still inside the car.
You can lock the vehicle with the engine off but with one or two passengers in the front seats. There are weight sensors designed into the SKS system. Amazingly smart.
You can lock the vehicle with the engine running if you use the 'secret' manual key and the keyhole in the driver's door. Good for pets in the summertime. Another amazingly well thought out nuance.
You cannot lock the car using one of the external buttons when a key fob is in the car either. You have to use a remote button.
I love my Prius, and want to keep her healthy!
I have had two instances of "dead battery", one a week after I got the car and a second about a year ago. Both times a quick jump was all it took to start the computer, then the big battery started the car.
I've since made the cigarette lighter "ON" all the time so I could plug in a small 12V Autosport Jumper battery to start the computer. That should work but I never actually tried it and that battery is always dead.
I am thinking about changing the small Prius battery just based upon age. Since I didn't do it before this winter started, I will probably do it next fall. Does anyone know if there are other sources for that size battery or must it come from Toyota. The $153 price is high but not impossible if that is the only source. I will ask my Toyota dealer and post his reply.
If I don't get a new Fit , I'm going to get on a waiting list for the new Honda Insight or next year's new 2010 Prius.
But would someone please explain the difference between a mild hybrid and a full hybrid? Is the fundamental difference that a Toyota Hybrid system can move forward / propel itself on its electric battery power alone (up to a certain speed) while the Honda Hybrid system ALWAYS has to have its ICE gas engine on?
Do they both shut down at redlights and stop signs? Any hesitation on re-start (safety concern - I don't want to be T-boned when ready to turn left)?
Thank you.
Regarding the shutoff/startup feature it's a non-issue in the Prius. In most cases when you're at a light or at a turn you will be the first one off the line by at least a car length. That's due to the high insta-torque feature of the e-motor. The Prius will never win a drag race against a modern V6 but it will be 'off the line' quicker. It's very nearly the same as the early 2000's I4s.
Do you know however whether or not the new Insight is able to move forward silently under electric power only or is the gas engine always on? I understand that the Prius can propel itself under electric only - the strong torque that you referenced above.
Just want to clarify this point. I think that would be the difference btwn full (Toy) and mild (Honda) hybrid.
Is this an important consideration in purchase? Thanks again.
Back in 2004 I was all set to move from a minivan to a Prius, but a delay in getting the Prius nixed that. But I could be making that jump in a few years when we say good-bye to our last-ever (?) minivan.
Two Navy officers.. One traded her 07 Acadia loaded ==> Prius Pckg #6. Then a week later the other officer bought a loaded TCH so that he could park his 2500 Cummins.
A retired couple who purchased one of the first RX 300's back in 98 traded it for a loaded Pckg #6.
There are others I'm sure but these two leap to mind.
This is a subtle but important difference in functionality that probably goes unnoticed by hybrid car buyers....
Is it worth spending more for the higher level of technology in the Toyota hybrid system? I do prefer Honda's over Toyotas in general but this might sway me to cough up more for the 2010 Prius over the 2009 New Insight....
In early reports the Insight will be smaller and not as refined as the Gen 2 Prius. Thus it will not be as quick, powerful, fuel efficient and roomy as the Gen 3 Prius. So there's going to be a significant price difference. However if the 2009's continue in production and can be had at $20K or less then they are a direct competitor in that buying demographic.
Ignore mechanics who claim 5-30 is too thin and will cause problems. The factory knows its own products better.
Someone's paranoid. Some SUV owners live in snow areas, on hills, haul kids and tow. In my case all four. Intimidating Green or Prius types has never crossed my mind when I drive the SUV, nor does it cross my mind when I'm driving my hybrid.
LOL, I have a HH and a Ford Expedition. I'm planning on a 2010 Prius and contemplating letting the Expedition go. If I keep the Expedition it will be used only for towing and travel when the whole family goes in one vehicle. I love the comfort but just don't feel like I should drive something like that 20,000 miles a year. However, if I only could afford 1 vehicle to do everything I wanted in a vehicle then the Expedition is high on my list. That, simply enough, is the reason there are a lot of SUV's on the road. They do it all and not everyone can afford a fleet to have individual needs met.
I'm just wishing the Vette was available in a hybrid.
I'm pleased you don't drive that way, but you are definitely in the minority. I speak strictly from daily experience. By "intimidating", I meant aggressive driving and surging up on my Prius from the rear as if to say, "get out of my lane." Makes no difference how fast I'm going - it's a matter of who "owns" the lane.
I understand, but by using the word intimidating and describing it as because you drive a Prius makes it sound like they are intentionally picking on you because you are "green" or drive a Prius.
Fact is they are idiots that can't drive. That happens in all types of vehicles including people in economy cars and all across the country.
I'll assume you're not one of the idiots that get in the left lane and assume since you're driving the limit you have a right to be there. If you are then I'd probably push you too eventually. No one owns the lane. Our law states you will stay to the right except when passing. The Europeans have this down. It's just curtious driving.
If you're in the right lane and they still do that to you then you're allowed to be smug so go ahead and flip them off.
After 3-1/2 yrs and 111,000 miles in mine I don't see any of that excessive agression from any driver in any vehicle. Well there is one story where one driver sped up to block me from merging from two lanes into one....so I clicked the Prius into 4WD mode, drove along the grassy shoulder and slipped in ahead of him. But that's about it. ( Oh! Yes I was a taxi driver in NYC while in college ).
Hey, I learned to drive in Massachusetts. We scare New York Taxi drivers! :P
Never had a taxi or anyone from a State other than Mass intimidate me.
All Mass drivers know they own the road.
Thankfully I no longer drive like that.
Two weeks ago I attended a Green Fair near Seattle and saw the world's first Hybrid front license plate cover on a 100 mpg Prius. IT WAS AMAZING! What it does is make the front license plate aerodynamically disappear! I was told the flat license plate on the front of my Prius creates so much drag (With Out a Zippco Cover), that it consumes 50+ gallons of fuel a year. Not only that, a flat plate also creates a high pressure point at the front causing a disruptive air turbulence over the streamlined Prius body substantially reducing the effect to help it slip through the air to conserve fuel. Its called zippco usa, and was told they'll be on the market soon and retail for about $30 bucks. After seeing it, I can't imagine driving my Prius an other mile with out it.. If anyone locates these zippco Hybrid lic covers Pls Let Me Know...!
This message to Prius owners. PUT ONLY GAS NOT CONTAINING ETHANOL IN YOUR CAR!!!!
I have a 2007 Prius. When it was new I would regularly get 48 mpg. This was based on my own keeping records - not trusting the car which usually overestimated the mileage by a bit (~2 mpg). When it was new it could usually go about 430 miles on a tank of gas. However my car has been getting worse and worse mileage over the last year or so. There were several tanks of gas that the car wouldn't even go 400 mi before I had to fill it up again. I had this strong suspicion that the problem was gasoline containing ethanol. Fortunately for me I get most of my gas in Augusta GA and a new little gas station opened up that sells only gas containing NO ethanol. It has taken a few tanks, but now my car is getting BETTER MILEAGE THAN EVER. Right now it has gone 475 mi on a tank of gas an I am pretty sure I could go another 20 mi before I absolutely have to gas up again.
Gas containing ethanol is a big scam, in my opinion. We have to pay the same price for it, but it carries less energy per unit volume because of the ethanol. Also, all that corn grown in the midwest takes a lot of energy, water, and agrochemicals to grow. Corn has a lot of run-off and the chemicals and fertilizer run-off into the Mississippi and eventually into the Gulf, where they contribute to the big eutrophic 'dead zones' in the ocean. So your and my dollars are helping one of the most stupid policies in the history of mankind. Do I have strong feelings about this? Sure do! Not gonna take it any more. Hopefully the new government pays attention to logic and scientific/natural reality a little better than the last and we can get rid of some of these really poor policies that the last administration put in place.
Dave
Assuming you drove 12,000 miles / year at 50 mpg, you'd use 240 gallons. If this miracle cover saved you 50 gallons, then for the same miles on 190 gallons you would be getting 63mpg. Pretty incredible results. Almost unbelievable.
I'm surprised Toyota didn't develop this (that's sarcasm for those of you who believed his ad in the first place)
I'd recommend you move to a state like mine where an ugly front plate is not required anyway.
I've been using both in my Prius for over 18 months. VA always has E10 in its gas while NC often is 100% gas. Yes you do lose something in FE values because of the lesser amount of BTUs but the price is also lower. Net difference? ZERO.
Next case.
The Inconvenient Truth About Ethanol
You are fortunate to be able to buy real gas. We get about 4-5 mpg less due to ethanol and then in the winter another 3-4 mpg. A Honda Fit Sport should do better than 28 mpg combined in the winter and that was the best we could get. We are up to 34 mpg combined now.
You are welcome to your opinion, just as I am mine. I have no problem discussing it. What I see is that this administration has already made several concrete changes in environmental policy. As an environmental scientist myself, I see a fairly significant change in the climate in this country. Environmental education and environmental research have been stimulated as well in addition to the policy changes. The change in climate is what really matters in my opinion. A lot of changes will follow, now that the discussion has matured.
Of course dyed in the wool republicans, especially the religious right, won't like this guy no matter what he does, due to their adherence to unsubstantiated dogma and their incapability to weigh scientific evidence. This guy is not perfect, but he is a lot better than the last few guys in that office. He has intellectual humility, and he uses reason. I feel like it is okay once again, for the first time in a long time in this country, to actually think rationally.
Let's a) watch him carefully and get involved in the debate and help positive concrete change happen and b) work together. Meet you in the middle, at the NO ethanol gas station, okay Rick?
Feel free to elaborate on your reservations about Obama. I am very interested in learning more.
Cheers,
Dave
I'm one of those.
I've driven a TCH and now am in a HH. Plan to buy a 2010 Prius but the more I read the less I am inclinded. It seems like driving a Prius, more so than any other hybrid, is all about making a statement. Mostly statements I don't agree with, nor do I believe it is scientific fact (there are other forums for that discussion). Is it possible to own a Prius and still believe we should be drilling offshore, that whales are good eatin', that Ice melts reguardless of climate change. Heck, I don't want it to get cold enough to keep the ice frozen.
But then again, what do I know, I'm just a knuckle dragging religious right capitalist republican.