Toyota Prius

bobbrown1

I read somewhere that Euro models have an "EV" Mode. Does anyone know the details of this feature? Is it simply a difference of softwear that can be programmed into a US model with the addition of a switch, or is the hardware also different requiring additional battery capacity?

john1701a

All the software is already included. Just adding a momentary switch to the proper connection point will enable this special mode.

Unfortunately though, if not used properly, it will actually harm MPG rather than improve it.

And of course, the EPA has absolutely no way of rating such a feature.

So... the general public in the US won't learn about its existance until years from now when the market and rating system finally matures.

Bummer, eh?

JOHN

wwest

Does it maybe tell the idiot ECU not to continually use the battery, and then be forced to use the ICE for recharging, while cruising down the freeway for a hundred miles or more?

Probably gain a substantial level of fuel economy that way.

falconone

Nah.. from what I read the ECU is smarter than everyone on this board (including me). Once the battery gets to a certain SOC the ICE kicks in. Only reason I see this feature usefull is for repositioning the car in the driveway.

falconone

Sounds like the same salesman that told me to save my money on ABS, it's a "light car". True story!! As usual, the LAST person I'd believe is a salesman. Gary, you seem bright and I enjoy your posts, but you're quite gullible. Oh.. and by the way.. NAV works great in Hawaii. I used my Garmin 2610 there last October and it was very helpful. Last I checked, Manhattan was an island too and I sure as heck would like to have a NAV there too!!

john1701a

> Only reason I see this feature

Give it some thought, you'll find all kinds of uses... the run to the gas station 3 blocks away, driving to the other end of the strip-mall, crossing to the stores on the other side of the street, many opportunities on the daily commute...

It would be great to have. But knowing it would heavily skew my data, I've delayed adding it for now. But later when the market finally changes...

JOHN

gagrice

I suppose NAV on Oahu would have usefulness. On the Big Island There are so few roads. And many are not on any of the mapping software I have tried. My main use for mapping would be to check the topography on property before going to see it in person. I can see using one in places that are unfamiliar especially big cities. I thought about one after reading one of your posts on the Garmin. I just don't see me spending $1k or more for one in a car.
PS
He was a nice salesman, but I would not buy a new Camry. At this time renting is more convenient.

ukbright

I drove the dealer model for 50 miles or so. Selecting EV puts you in all-electric; if you go above 30 mph (standard speed-limit in UK towns) the car discreetly 'boings' at you and drops out of all-electric. If the battery/ road conditions demand it, the ICE then starts straightaway. However 1. the ICE will start at any speed if the battery demands it, and 2. the recommended range in EV is less than 1(one) mile maximum.
I would regard EV as the 'friendly' mode: very useful for passing quietly through our old, small towns, and moving the car about on the house drive at night.

jprice

<you'll find all kinds of uses... the run to the gas station 3 blocks away, driving to the other end of the strip-mall, crossing to the stores on the other side of the street>

I thought the ICE didn't cut in til 42 MPH. What strip malls do you shop at? I'll stay away!

jprice

john1701a

Stealth mode has a maximum speed of 42 MPH.

EV mode has a maximum speed of 35 MPH.

Both will discontinue at lower speeds if the draw from the battery-pack exceeds a certain threshold.

JOHN

falconone

Actually... the 2610 has a great deal of roads that I didn't know about. I agree on the Big Island it would be a waste as there is just one road around the entire island. I could have used it on Molokai, but we got by fine. Oahu it is definitely helpful. I'm looking with interest at the new hybrid accord. Sounds mighty interesting. Be careful of that volcano, I hear it's about to erupt.

bobbrown1

Thanks to everyone for their reply. I envisioned an EV mode where maybe the battery pack was larger, and provision was made for external re charging. Such a setup would be fantastic--giving you a true dual mode vehicle that could run as an EV during the week, and a hybrid for weekend trips, etc.

gagrice

I'm back in SD now. Mauna Loa is rumbling again. I have only have one parcel that is vulnerable in zone 2.
I have a question on the Garmin. How accurate would it be for locating property lines? I have thought of using a GPS to mark lot lines. It is difficult to find known points for reference.

I asked about renting a Prius, no one had any in Hilo.

lee_w

Anyone with Prices paid experience on Prius?

falconone

Gary... I don't think it would work as it only runs on the car battery. Garmin makes a new unit called a Quest. You can plug in longitude and lat and probably go by foot (it's a portable battery operated unit).

Good luck!

mfullmer

Please - misinformation!

The IS has fabric standard, leather or leather/alcantara trim as an option.

The GS300 has fabric standard.

The RX330 has fabric standard.

As a Lexus owner, I can definitely say that the Prius definitely has NEAR Lexus quality.

mfullmer

Wrong. Alcantara is not a fabric trim. It is part of a Leather mix and is suade-like. The standard fabric that Lexus uses is like the upgrade Fabric in the Avalon.

mfullmer

That would be bringing in a whole new dimension to the vehicle and much added hardware. The whole Hybrid advertising slogan is "The Car you Never Have to Plug In" (Not exactly but that is the message). Bringing in something more complicated would only end up in more complaints when people didn't plug their "car they never have to plug in" in.

The Prius is a great car and Hybrid technology is great as it is. Having a mode that lets you plug it in would just be adding unnecessary things to it.

tempusvn

Whatever is in other cars, this is what the Prius Upholstery is made of.

http://www.alcantara.it/english/istituzionale/prodotto.htm

On the site the list of other cars using the same fabric include:

http://www.alcantara.it/english/automotive/automotive.htm

Aston Martin
Audi
BMW
Jaguar
Lamborghini
Lotus
Maserati
Maybach
Mercedes
Porsche
Volvo

And others.

mfullmer

I don't mean to be argumentative but I looked all over that site and didn't see the Prius listed anywhere. I've been in both an Audi and the IS with Alcatara fabric and they weren't like the Prius at all.

gagrice

I envisioned an EV mode where maybe the battery pack was larger

A larger capacity battery would give you more stealth driving range. The problem is they cannot get enough batteries for the minimal size they are using in the Prius now. I think they used the least amount they could, to get the system to function under average driving conditions. If the current battery adds $3000 to the price you would have to add $3000 more just to double the size. The economy of the vehicle is in question at the current price. I think batteries was the Achilles heel for the GM EV-1.

backy

And, interestingly, the site doesn't mention Toyota or Lexus at all.

Does it really matter how you spell the name of the cloth in the Prius? Anyone who has sat in it and has compared it to the cloth in other cars can tell you it's a high-quality fabric.

mfullmer

I think I may have mentioned this in another post but I was quite impressed with the fabric even though I won't have cloth seats. Luckily you can get Leather here in the SE (installed at the Dist. Center) but if you like fabric seats these are certainly the best out there.

falconone

Leather=COLD WINTER/HOT SUMMER
Fabric= Great in all temps

Wish I could get that fabric im my Accord. I loved it!! Almost felt like ultrasuede.

gagrice

My wife likes leather, I like fabric. I wear shorts all year long and leather is not comfortable on bare skin. I'm with you on this one.

cej

I got home after a 4 day trip and my Prius 2004 would not start. The local dealer jump-started the auxillary battery and now is saying that there may be a "drain" on the battery that they are checking out.

A couple of questions (which may have been discussed before):
(1) How is the auxillary battery recharged? Does it have its own generator (or alternator) that runs off of the gasoline engine?

(2) What exactly does the auxillary battery power? Headlights? Radio? Display? I assume all of the above.

Thanks,
cedw

rpgolfer

cej- Check with John1701a's website and others and I think you'll find that the auxiliary battery is there for the "accessories" and to primarily "start" the computer(s) for vehicle operation. I'm planning a 3 week tour of the eastern half of our great nation next year. If I don't take the Prius I'll take the LeSabre and leave the Prius in the garage. I've heard that after a coupla weeks of inactivity the battery could go down. Check the info websites for more info.
Thanks,
Rich

railroadjames

O.K. I ordered my 04 Prius Nov.1st 03 Picked it up on Jan.30,04. It arrived almost to the day of the estimated 12 weeks delivery. My salesman was truthful, fair and upfront. The price was non-negotiable....straight list. This was the first time I ever paid retail for a car and yet felt it was worth it. As to the dealer, well, they were most helpful and co-operative. Out the door with Indiana Sales Tax it was $22,688.00 (pkg #3)

mfullmer

That is your perception. Leather actually takes on the temperature around it naturally so, if parked in the sun when it's cold, they naturally warm up. Doesn't matter though since all my cars have heated seats. As far as warmth, I can't stand hot but I never have a problem with seats that get too hot. They're not vinyl afterall.

Kirstie_H

Guys, you're very busily bickering over a post made awhile back by a member who posted once and never returned. You've managed to become so focused on an argument arising from this single drop-n-dash post that everyone's neglected a *new* member with actual questions about the Prius:
cej Sep 20, 2004 9:23pm

Any chance some of you knowledgeable folk could help him/her out?

kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host

rfruth

I don't mean to be hard to get along with but is the auxiliary battery = to the traction battery (as Toyota calls it) and if so how does someone jump-start a 200 some odd volt battery or is the 12 volt battery the one that gets the jump and then its up to the ICE to charge the big battery . How does the factory do it, just run the ICE or does it come pre-assembled and charged ?

tempusvn

The "Auxilliary Battery" is the 12 Volt battery in compartment all the way at the back right of the Hatch Area.

All it really does is run the accessories. It also provides the power for the computers to 'boot up' when you start the car.

The "Traction Battery" is the big battery right behind the rear seat. It is what runs the car in Electric Mode, Assists with power when needed when the ICE is on, and also starts the ICE using one of the Electric Motors as a big starter motor.

There is an circuit from the Traction Battery to the 12V battery that keeps the charge up in the 12V like an alternator would normally do.

Problems arise when you leave the car in Accessory Mode too long running things like lights and radio, because the 12V battery doesn't have a whole lot of capacity. But, if you leave the car in Ready Mode, the Traction Battery will keep the 12V charged, and the ICE will start whenever the Traction Battery gets low on juice.

If the 12V battery gets low, the car won't 'boot up' and thats what you're 'jumping' when you hook up another car either to the battery directly, or to the terminals under the hood provided for jump starting. It doesn't draw much current at all, because it's not really starting the ICE.

rfruth

Good explanation, thanks - so if the 12 volt battery is the auxiliary is the traction battery considered the primary ?

midnightcowboy

Alcantra yes, Not mention of Prius.

What makes you think the Prius is Alcantra ?

Show me just one reference. There are none on the Toyota web site.

If I had a dream 'I would dream that the Prius was an upgrade fabric almost like the Lexus base fabric which no one orders'

Wait oops that was just a dream!

Get Real,

MidCow

midnightcowboy

Now you are arguing "flip-flop" like Mr. Kerry. Yes, that is true the Alcantra is much superior to the "mouse fur". Let's face it the Prius interior is jst well ... Prius. Nothing more nothing less.

YMMV,

MidCow

Sylvia

Let's knock off the personal attacks and leave politics to the bloggers.

cej

Thanks for all the helpful and interesting information. Had no idea you could jump the auxillary batter using terminals under the hood!

usbseawolf2000

You can even jump Prius up with a 12V power tool(screw driver) rechargable battery.

Dennis

falconone

Alcantara is a fabric made by some Italian company. It is in the Prius. Accept the fact. I like it! Really nice feel. Sorta like ultrasuede. Way nice on my butt.

mfullmer

First off, it's ALCANTARA. Second, I never flip-flopped, UNLIKE Kerry. My only point is if someone out there thinks that the Prius quality (of materials, fit & finish, etc.) approaches Lexus, and I'm one of those who own a Lexus and think that it does APPROACH it, then period, end of story. What what person thinks has nothing to do with what another person thinks. Your response seemed based on the perception that someone compared the Prius as being just as luxurious as a Lexus, which was never the case.

It makes no difference to me anyway because the only Prius I would buy would have Leather.

I will argue this until the end though - The Prius I rented was the BASE model (Not even the rear wiper) and I can honestly say that for a $20k car I was very, very impressed with quality of the materials and fit and finish. That coming from someone who only has had luxury cars in the past.

Sylvia

Hi guys - if you want to talk cars, etc. - great. If you want to talk Politics I can recommend a few great boards for it. Political sniping in the posts derails the conversations. Further comments will be deleted (sorry - you've been warned).

railroadjames

1st of all..if you're serious about a PRIUS you already know that it can be had @ list price. End of story. Toyota's reputation is on the line and stands behind this "car of the future- TODAY" (don't forget 8yr 100K warranty). Here's a reality check...Gas is on the rise. In Europe there are over 6 countries w/ $5-$6 dollar a gal costs. It's coming to your hometown sooner than you think. Those big GAS GUZZLERS will be dinosaurs soon. ITS' COMING. Technology will win
out as it always has in the past. If you don't think so...Have you seen anyone using a brick cellphone lately?

lee_w

So does anyone have any buying experience with the Prius?

usbseawolf2000

A special story covered the incredible work that went into developing the new Prius. It is a great read. Give yourself a good 30 minutes. :-D

Web link to Special Story:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/environmental_rep/04/special/index.htm- - - l

Download the whole 92 pages report here:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/environmental_rep/04/download/pdf/e_s_- - - report_2004.pdf

Dennis

rfruth

Lots of info there, thanks, naturally I like all the awards the Prius has won !

usbseawolf2000

"naturally I like all the awards the Prius has won !"

Year----Country-----Award
1997-98 Japan &#145;Car design award&#146;
1997-98 Japan &#145;Car of the Year&#146;
1997-98 Japan &#145;New technology of the year&#146;
1998 UK &#145;Environmental Commitment&#146;, AA Awards
1998 UK &#145;Auto Design Award&#146;, IBCAM-British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers
1999 Austria 1st rank &#145;Environment Award&#146;, ARBOE (Austrian touring club)
1999 Austria &#145;Environmental Award&#146;, Freie Fahrt (Austria)
1999 UK &#145;Esso Energy Award&#146;, Royal Society
1999 World &#145;Global 500 Award for Environmental Commitment&#146;, United Nations
1999 Europe &#145;Best Eco Engine&#146;, International Engine of the Year
1999 Europe &#145;Best engine 1.4L-1.8L category&#146;, International Engine of the Year
1999 UK &#145;Special car award&#146;, Fleet News
1999 UK &#145;Technical innovation award&#146;, Fleet World Honours
1999-00 Japan &#145;Car of the double decade&#146;, by Japan&#146;s COTY committee
2000 Europe &#145;Best Eco Engine&#146;, International Engine of the Year
2001 UK &#145;2001 Specialist Award&#146;, Top Gear
2001 USA &#145;Best Engineered Car of 2001&#146;, Society of Automotive Engineers
2001 USA One of the &#146;10 Best Engines for 2001&#146;, Ward&#146;s Auto World Magazine
2001 USA &#145;Greenest gasoline-powered passenger sedan in the United States&#146;, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
2001 USA &#147;Corporate Achievement&#148;,
2001 National Conservation Achievement Awards
2002 Belgium &#147;FuturAuto&#148; prize winner, Belgian Federation of Automotive Journalists

The recent awards listed on John's site:

Motor Trend 2004 Car of the Year
North American 2004 Car of the Year
2004 Design of the Year
Best Engineered Vehicle for 2004
International Engine of the Year 2004
Best New Engine 2004
Best Fuel Economy Engine 2004
Best Engine 1.4-liter to 1.8-liter 2004
Car & Driver One of the Ten Best in 2004
Fortune Magazine 25 Best Products of the Year
Popular Science Best of What's New award

I am sure there are more than that. You know you are a Prius fanatic if you read every single one of those awards, line by line. :-D

Dennis

Kirstie_H

Please reserve this discussion for exchanging purchase price and shopping experiences. If you visit our Hybrid Vehicles board, there are loads of topics in which to discuss the merits of owning hybrid vehicles.

kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host

scheil2

Regretfully I have decided to quit this site. I am sick and tired of the pop-ups I get EVERY time I log on. Maybe it's not Edmunds fault and maybe it is their fault.

backy

Get a pop-up blocker--some are freeware. Edmunds.com isn't the only site that has popups.

usbseawolf2000

Try using this browser. It has popup blocker built-in. It's free also.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Dennis