Toyota Prius

rpgolfer

Hi gang,
    To shut off the back-up beeper, check out the website, www.vfaq.net It will tell you how to reset the "maint req'd" light and the back-up beeper. I really like that website, it has some interesting reading.
Good Luck,
Rich

djasonw

Those are asking prices, but it would be hard to imagine someone paying them. I feel honored to own one of these!

gagrice

Do you think greed is motivating these sales or people that want to get rid of the Prius? Sounds like PT Barnum is alive and well.

jprice

An article in the LA Times today says that Mayor Hahn is introducing a motion to the City Council to permit hybrid vehicles to park at meters at no cost. At least one of the councilmen drives a hybrid (make not mentioned), but the Mayor himself does not - he drives a Tahoe; he says, however, that he is considering buying a hybrid so that he can park free at meters.
A side note says that there are 4,700 hybrid vehicles in the city, not giving a breakdown by make.

john1701a

How do they define a "hybrid" vehicle?

Without a clear definition/requirement, they are just asking for trouble.

JOHN

gagrice

That's true. I have an electric motor for my windshield wipers in my Suburban. That makes it a hybrid of sorts... Hehehe

jprice

Quoting from the article: "Hybrid vehicles use both gas and electric power. In a city where car emissions are a major contributor to air pollution, Hahn said the plan is a low-cost way to encourage environmentally friendly practices."

Also: "The city already offers free parking for electric and natural gas cars and trucks. Vehicles that can park for free would still have to abide by posted time limits."

And finally: San Jose has had a similar program for three years, though Hahn said he proposed his plan after a suggestion from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)."

john1701a

> Hybrid vehicles use both gas and electric power.

You can't get much more VAGUE than that.

What does "use" mean?

JOHN

jprice

<<> Hybrid vehicles use both gas and electric power.

You can't get much more VAGUE than that.

What does "use" mean?>>

The NBC news tonight reported on this story, and explicitly talked about "the Honda and Toyota" cars, and pictured a Prius pulling into a parking place. I really don't think the city powers are trying to pull a sleazy end run here...

usbseawolf2000

I doubt that will happen here in NYC. Otherwise, those parking lots that charge $200-350 per month in downtown would go out of business.

If that happens, Prius would make the cheapest solution into Manhattan, beating the subway. ;-D

Dennis

little_pogi

This is just a proposal at this time. If everything goes well, it should start on Sept. 1 and ends 6 months after that. Unless the city council decides to extend it. It is limited to city owned parking meters only. There is also that car pool lanes excemption for single occupied hybrid vehicles being worked on in the California legislature. To me, these are all welcome perks of being a hybrid owner. I leave it up to the the lawyers to argue on the merits of what a "hybrid" or any related matters in a court of law.

john1701a

GM already has a "hybrid" available that doesn't really meet the criteria the city council had in mind. Did you know that?

Best of intentions will be taken advantage of if there is money to be made or saved. We need to be very specific about objectives; otherwise, the goals we intended will not be achieved.

JOHN

gagrice

If anyone were to buy a GM "hybrid" to get a free parking meter they are looney. I don't think you will see any of the hybrid vehicles that GM built for sale. The 500 are all allocated to fleet sales. I agree they are a lame attempt at building a hybrid vehicle.

rpgolfer

Hi gang,
   I've been getting a few smudges on my original floor mats. I stopped by PepBoys and found a set of cheap mats that almost matched the original color! They only cost 20 bucks and I consider that a bargain if it will preserve the interior for awhile. I have a Driftwood Pearl, Pkg. #9, tan interior.
Thanks,
Rich

gagrice

Are you getting it spiffy to put on eBay? Now's the time to strike while the fire is hot...

djasonw

Saw some good ones at Costco for 20 bucks. Set of 4 and they're quite durable. Quite similar to weathertech.

rpgolfer

gagrice-
   Not ready yet to sell. However, if the right price came along......
   Just passed 6k miles on the odo. I'm waiting to see the mpg average over 50 mpg. I do believe that with as many hills as I traverse, it's not going to happen too soon. I'm still very happy with the car. The nav system is like a cyber co-pilot. Everyone who rides in my car is amazed how restaurants, auto supply stores, etc are literally at arm's length. Anyone have any ideas re upgrades of the nav system cd? Is there anything better than stock out on the market? Will the dealer "repro" the system routinely?
Thanks,
Rich

gagrice

I have a question. You live in the Bay area, right? How does the Prius do on the real steep hills in San Francisco? You know the ones that make you think you are going to tip over backwards.

rpgolfer

Hi gagrice- I live 20 miles east of what we refer to as "the city". I haven't driven my car in SF yet, but I'm quite sure it would have no trouble negotiating the hills at all. I'm sure the people who live there who own Priuses gave some consideration to this. As the song says, "climb halfway to the stars." When driving in SF the things you must watch out for are driving on the cable car tracks (no traction) and people with manaul transmissions who can't seem to synchronize clutch and gas pedal. There are a few steep hills around the Bay Area that have posed no problem for me at all. As a matter of fact, I have to slow down because I usually catch up with the guy in front of me.
Thanks,
Rich

gagrice

I can identify with driving a stick shift in SF. My first trip there was in my 56 Ford PU. Taking off from a stop at the top of one of those steep streets was a real challenge. I was kind of curious if the battery was enough to get you up the hills or if the ICE kicked in.

djasonw

The Prius swallows up hills for breakfast as well as lunch. I've driven up some pretty steep hills and the battery hardly is taxed. Amazing what this car can do.

rpgolfer

I agree with djasonw, the hills wouldn't be too much of a problem. Most of the traffic hills there are seldom more than a block in length without either a stop or yield sign in between. A '56 Ford Pickup? Heck, if you can drive a stick in SF, you can drive one anywhere.
Thanks,
Rich

djasonw

I'd give anything to try and drive down Lombard Street. Too bad it goes down and not up!!

gagrice

It was a 6 cylinder with a 3 speed on the column. Those hills are so steep I felt like the brakes on that Ford were not going to stop me from rolling backwards. I made 3 or 4 trips when my folks lived out in Walnut Creek. I liked Golden Gate Park & China town. I think the driving would be much more pleasurable with the Prius.

rpgolfer

Sylvia,
   Hello...At the top and bottom of each page in the light blue header, it shows the different pages of the reviews. It says, "Messages Page 182 of 179". Shouldn't it be the other way around? How did the numbers get out of whack? Just curious.
Thanks,
Rich

Sylvia

Interesting - I didn't notice that. Bug somewhere I'm sure. It seems that this is the only discussion being impacted.

I'll put it over to John/Sysop to look at. We may wait and see if it self-corrects when we get to page 183 and then take a look at it.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Sylvia

TODAY/Tuesday

3-4pm EST
noon-1pm PST
Hybrid Chat Room

jrct9454

...sounds good to me...

djasonw

Amen to that!!!! BTW... really enjoy your posts jrct9454!

alnvilma

Although the chatter has died off considerably, I still check in and thought I'd post an update:
 We drove to BC from Portland. Topped off the tank in Blaine (until it sloshed!)and drove to Squamish, BC with a lot of 'Marine' drives and highway. When I stopped and checked the screen it showed 59.1 mpg! Next day we fooled around Vancouver, Seattle and drove all the way back to Portland. >500 miles on the tank (1 bar left)and an overall average of 54.4 mpg. Most of the ride was with the cruise control set at 74mph. and I hit 90 mph once, by accident;) Is that great or what?

djasonw

That's fantastic! Hope you had a nice trip. I've been getting close to 50 MPG here and couldn't be happier!!

Sylvia

Thanks for the update! Wow, sounds like a great trip. I'm jealous!

jprice

From previous posts, I am given to understand that the Prius uses a bladder for the gas tank to reduce evaporative emissions; and as a consequence, it is difficult to fill the tank with a full 11.1 gallons. I wouldn't think that the normal metal gas tank would leak much vapor, though I can see the utility of the gasket at the filler tube. It would even seem possible to use a metal tank with an internal sealant coating. Hence my question...

djasonw

The official capacity is 11.9 gallons. Based on outside temps that can vary. I just don't know offhand, but I remember reading that as low at 15 F the bladder can reduce capacity by about 1/2 gallon or so.

kalmikey

I obviously got onto this bandwagon much too late :-)

So, I have an order in fairly close to home. Their official wait-list time is 2 years, but the salesperson I've been working with doesn't think mine will take nearly so long, because I have so few firm requirements.

Nevertheless, on the advice of various people, including djasonw, I started calling around some of the more out-state dealerships here in Minnesota. Perhaps surprisingly in a state that adores its trucks, I got almost no joy out of them. There was one, and only one dealer, way up North, that said that their wait list was less than six months... The rest are all a year or more, just like the metropolitan dealerships.

Ah, well. So much for that theory :-) Back to waiting!

jprice

<Based on outside temps that can vary.>

Exactly my point. What's the advantage to the bladder that compensates for the size variation? This, along with the accuracy of the fuel gauge are the two worst negatives of the Prius IMO. That doesn't change my mind about getting one, though; I've got to check my dealer about my eta (late August?)

djasonw

I haven't had the issues of the gas indicator problems. When my last light flashes I go about 20-40 miles and usually tank up with between 10-11 gallons. I surpmise there's an overly conservative fuel reserve that mitigates the possibility of ever running dry.

john1701a

> along with the accuracy of the fuel gauge

For those that don't feel any need to push beyond the 9-gallon limit the gauge was calibrated for, it works just fine. It is extremely accurate in that respect.

Those that push it to near empty invite issues. Those that top off with less than 2 gallons per fill do too.

In other words, those that simply fill up by the 9-gallon "add fuel" message, will typically never have any trouble... even in the winter, and there's lots of data to support that.

JOHN

djasonw

http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roadtest,view,Toyota.spy?arti- d=25876&pg=4

Hard to imagine a day does not go by without Prius news. I feel honored to be in this exclusive club!

jprice

<the 9-gallon "add fuel" message>

Is that when he gauge gets to the last bar, or when it starts blinking? I can certainly live with it if it's fairly repeatable - and, of course, I'll live with it in any case...

john1701a

It's when the "add fuel" message appears on the Multi-Display.

At the same time, you'll hear a reminder tone and the last square on the gauge will begin blinking.

JOHN

djasonw

Anyone see the August CR? I have a sub to their site so I will give some highlights. Obviously the Prius tops their list with 44 MPG. I know some of you have been achieving more (so have I). The Corolla they had got an abysmal 29 and the Accord (4cyl) got 24. Kudos again goes to the Prius.

djasonw

I just can't get over how popular the Prius is.. look at what I found....

http://www.smartmoney.com/consumerreports/autos/index.cfm?story=r- eport109&nav=CR_hp

jprice

<the 9-gallon "add fuel" message>

Okay - sounds good to me. After all, I'm presently driving a '90 Corolla GTS with >136K getting about 28 MPG (average last 5 fills). 13 gallon tank; I put about 8.25 gal in each fill. (I always fill when it hits the 1/4 mark.) Reading over my last few posts, I feel a bit foolish. Sorry to make waves.

backy

I get to ride around in a Prius in the Windsor area this week--brand new, Driftwood with grey interior (and no maroon accents), top package (whatever they call it here). Some differences to the U.S. version:

* Plastic wheel covers (but nice-looking)
* Black bumper rub strips on corners of bumpers
* Ignition is on far right side of dash, rather than near middle of dash--and no SmartEntry Start available, according to the owner
* Nav system has pleasant female voice with British accent
* Driver's seat has lever-type height adjuster
* Has E/V switch

The owner told me the Prius started selling in the UK in January and he had a five-month wait even though he ordered one in February. He paid about 20,000 GBP, which if you do the math is over $30,000 USD. He traded an Audi A2. I asked him what else he considered, and he said he looked at the Golf TDi but he liked the Prius because it was more "interesting" and because of its lower emissions--he admits to being "Green". He absolutely loves the car, is getting over 50 mpg so far on his first tank of petrol (which BTW is around $5 per gallon here). I have seen no other Priuses on the road yet but there are tons of small hatchbacks.

rpgolfer

Hi gang,
   alnvilma- Congrats on such a great trip. I will be going up to the Northwest next month for a wedding unfortunately taking the Buick (6 pass) rather than the Prius. I was at the World Expo in Vancouver (Canada) in 1986, what beautiful country!!! I'm thinking of perhaps a golf trip in September.

jprice- Call me an old fuddy duddy, but I try to refill my other cars when they get to 1/4 full. In some respects I think it's wise to do so to avoid "stirring up the junk" on the bottom of the tank and it always leaves me with a reserve. That habit came about from the 1973 oil embargo wheres gas station were open only so many hours per day. I always say, "Go with a sure bet". However, with the Prius I'll get down to the last bar and start looking for gas. Maybe someday I'll experiment with the "blinking" of the last bar, but I see no reason to push it. The only benefit I can possibly think of is when your fuel tank is low, there's less vehicle weight present and your mpg would increase.
Thanks,
Rich

djasonw

Can't blame you on that! I think people just like to test the range but I treat it like a normal car. When I get down to two bars and I pass a filling station I just top it off.

satwater

I have ordered a 2005 Prius and don't expect dealer delivery until next March. Are there any rumors as to new features for the 2005 model year?

gagrice

You guys are going to have to quit trying to make me jealous. I like those 500 mile trips without stopping for gas. Gives you some options on gas prices. My Suburban will go that far just costs $75 to fill it. Guess I'll go back to the SUV Haters forum. More fun! Let me know if Toyota ever decides to try and meet demand on the Prius...

kalmikey

Just at the moment, none that I've heard. In fact, while I may be wrong, I'm kinda getting the feeling that the 2005 will be almost entirely unchanged from the '04, in part because so much of the demand for the '04 is as yet unfulfilled. So the big difference will be behind the scenes -- more production lines churning out more cars.

Of course, if anyone's heard differently, dish, 'cos inquiring minds wanna know!