Toyota Prius on snow

To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,

I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
like to get some of your opinions here.

1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.

In particular, the following complaint kinda scares me. I'm just
wondering if this is a general problem.

[url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url]

"it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
a highway"


2. How about the cross-wind on the highway? Is it a major problem to
you?

3. Do you have any other problems with your Toyota Prius?

Thanks for your time and comments!
Dom

[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>
> [url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url]
>
> "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
> accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
> does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
> can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
> a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
> a highway"
>[/color]

I don't drive in snow / ice but there was (is) some talk on edmunds.com
townhall
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef28f96!make=CATS&model=Hybrid&ed_makeindex=.ef28f96
about the OEM tires, traction control and the Prius in snow ...


--
Rob Fruth - Houston, Tx
[url]http://www.rfruth.net[/url]

1981 Raleigh for errands & fun ____ __o
1997 Trek 2300 for real fun ! ____ _ \ | _)
2000 Civic hatchback (_)/ (_)

On 2005-03-09 10:45:02 -0800, [email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] said:
[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>
> I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
> candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
> like to get some of your opinions here.[/color]


I recommend you visit the Prius Chat web site: [url]http://www.priuschat.com[/url]

The site provides a tremendous amount of Prius information, including
discussions of the issues you cited in your post.

[email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>
> I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
> candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
> like to get some of your opinions here.
>
> 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.
>
> In particular, the following complaint kinda scares me. I'm just
> wondering if this is a general problem.
>
> [url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url]
>
> "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
> accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
> does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
> can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
> a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
> a highway"[/color]

Sounds like a traction problem is causing the transition between the
electric motor and ICE to go batty. There are winter tires available
in the 185/65-R15 size. The stock all-seasons are likely less grippy
than a real set of winter tires. Tire Rack lists 5 winter tires in
that size.

someone wrote:
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>>
>> [url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url]
>>
>>
>> "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
>> accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
>> does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
>> can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
>> a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
>> a highway"
>>[/color][/color]

Whoever wrote this does not understand how the Prius works. It uses the
electric motor to get moving from a dead stop - not the gas engine. I
have heard the Honda Civic hybrid uses both gas and electric to get
moving from a dead stop. Many of the reviews mentioned using the
traction control system during the tests. This is legitimate and I have
tested TCS on various cars and tried to get it to kick in. When it
does, the power is cut and in some cases the brakes are applied. This
appears to be a description of a working TCS.

I prefer to drive a manual transmission car where "Winter Mode" is
starting off in 2nd and "Traction Control System" in invoked by lifting
up on gas pedal and slipping the clutch a little if necessary.

[color=blue]
>
> I don't drive in snow / ice but there was (is) some talk on edmunds.com
> townhall
> http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef28f96!make=CATS&model=Hybrid&ed_makeindex=.ef28f96
>
> about the OEM tires, traction control and the Prius in snow ...
>
>[/color]

Don't know how much I would trust some of the post in
townhall-talk.edmunds.com.

" The tires on a Prius are too skinny to give you much traction. You are
at a disadvantage even though the Prius is a front-wheel drive and most
of the weight is over the front tires."

Go to tirerack.com and you will find this in completely wrong. In the
snow you want tall, skinny tires. This is why they often recommend
going done one size when you get snowtires.

someone wrote:
[color=blue]
> I don't drive in snow / ice but there was (is) some talk on edmunds.com
> townhall
> http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef28f96!make=CATS&model=Hybrid&ed_makeindex=.ef28f96
> about the OEM tires, traction control and the Prius in snow ...[/color]

Yesterday, my uncle dropped by to show me his recently purchased Prius. I
noticed that the tires are the same Goodyear Integritys that are also on
the Corolla and other cars. Those particular tires are definitely crappy
in winter.

[email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>
> I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
> candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
> like to get some of your opinions here.
>
> 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.
>
> In particular, the following complaint kinda scares me. I'm just
> wondering if this is a general problem.
>
>[/color]
[url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url][color=blue]
>
> "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
> accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some[/color]
reason[color=blue]
> does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
> can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes[/color]
such[color=blue]
> a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull[/color]
over[color=blue]
> a highway"
>
>
> 2. How about the cross-wind on the highway? Is it a major problem to
> you?
>
> 3. Do you have any other problems with your Toyota Prius?
>
> Thanks for your time and comments!
> Dom[/color]


Don't know about snow but here in Texas it works great...

[email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
> 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.[/color]

I drove for a little in the snow recently, and there was no problem, at least
none more so than any other regular car. It's not an SUV or truck-lite type. The
main thing for snow is the tires, not the engine.
[color=blue]
> 2. How about the cross-wind on the highway? Is it a major problem to
> you?[/color]

Drove cross conutry this past winter as well, high cross winds through the
desert and hills of the southwest, no problems when I was 80-100mph.
[color=blue]
> 3. Do you have any other problems with your Toyota Prius?[/color]

Front lisence plate installation. :)
--
So why was a lightweight, under-trained, and ...slow... officer handling a
220+lb uncuffed violent offender? What sexist, judgemental, criminally ignorant
person thought that it was a great idea?
--till next time, Jameson Stalanthas Yu -x- <<poetry.dolphins-cove.com>>

~consul <consul@INVALIDdolphins-cove.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>domtam@hotmail.com wrote:[color=green]
>> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>> 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.[/color]
>
>I drove for a little in the snow recently, and there was no problem, at least
>none more so than any other regular car. It's not an SUV or truck-lite type. The
>main thing for snow is the tires, not the engine.
>[color=green]
>> 2. How about the cross-wind on the highway? Is it a major problem to
>> you?[/color]
>
>Drove cross conutry this past winter as well, high cross winds through the
>desert and hills of the southwest, no problems when I was 80-100mph.
>[color=green]
>> 3. Do you have any other problems with your Toyota Prius?[/color]
>
>Front lisence plate installation. :)[/color]

That'd certainly be no problem on Prince Edward Island (here),
we don't require one...


--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

In alt.autos.toyota [email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
>
> I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
> candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
> like to get some of your opinions here.
>
> 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.
>
> In particular, the following complaint kinda scares me. I'm just
> wondering if this is a general problem.
>
> [url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url]
>
> "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
> accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
> does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
> can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
> a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
> a highway"
>[/color]


I recently (a few months ago) drove through snow country in northern
California and Oregon. We hit snow a few minor storms while on highway 1.
The Prius did a great job.

The experience described above is not normal.

The traction control and CVT (continuously variable transmission) worked
great when we drove with an inch of snow sticking to the roadway.
The CVT means there's no gear changes (and associated lurching) as
the car tackles the up and down hill stretches. I found that it was
extremely sure footed.

I did not drive it in deeper snow, since I'm a central California kid.

<dbs__usenet@tanj.com> wrote in message
news:ce2dnSiP3qjSu-rfRVn-1g@comcast.com...[color=blue]
> In alt.autos.toyota [email]domtam@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=green]
> > To owners of 2004/2005 Toyota Prius,
> >
> > I'm shopping for a new car, and 2005 Toyota Prius is one of the
> > candidates. So far, there are many good reviews about this car. I'd
> > like to get some of your opinions here.
> >
> > 1. Do you have any problem driving your 2004/2005 Prius on snow.
> >
> > In particular, the following complaint kinda scares me. I'm just
> > wondering if this is a general problem.
> >
> >[/color][/color]
[url]http://www.autoweb.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1016237/Action/Reviews[/url][color=blue][color=green]
> >
> > "it hesitates so bad, that it becomes even dangerous. when you
> > accelerate (in snow), it looks like the electric motor for some reason
> > does not allow the gas engine to kick in and hesitates really bad, I
> > can't emphasized enough how bad it is. To the point that it takes such
> > a long time to pick up speed, that is literally dangerous to pull over
> > a highway"
> >[/color]
>
>
> I recently (a few months ago) drove through snow country in northern
> California and Oregon. We hit snow a few minor storms while on highway 1.
> The Prius did a great job.
>
> The experience described above is not normal.
>
> The traction control and CVT (continuously variable transmission) worked
> great when we drove with an inch of snow sticking to the roadway.
> The CVT means there's no gear changes (and associated lurching) as
> the car tackles the up and down hill stretches. I found that it was
> extremely sure footed.
>
> I did not drive it in deeper snow, since I'm a central California kid.[/color]

I can add to this as well. Drove to Bryce, Zion and Grand Canyon from CA in
winter. The car handled the snow (1-2") and the elevation without any
problems (loaded with 4 people). Returned over 45 mpg on the 2000+ mile
trip. The traction, vehicle skid control and lack of a shifting transmission
gives it a sure footing in slippery/icy conditions. I have read that it is
better to gun the accelerator than gently accelerate if traction is a
problem, the car will pull itself out of such conditions. This is from
people who live in the midwest who are used to seeing much more snow than I
do.

In article <1115159199.708f48b0a730d43e3fddb20ac4f524f0@teranews>,
"S Narayan" <narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have read that it is
>better to gun the accelerator than gently accelerate if traction is a
> problem, the car will pull itself out of such conditions. This is from
> people who live in the midwest who are used to seeing much more snow than I
> do.[/color]

This is true with any front wheel drive vehicle. It takes a special
driver skill to maintain control in glare ice conditions and try to stop
at the same time with a front wheel drive. The only thing that will
save the average driver is anti lock brakes.
--

"Dbu^" <ntspam@spco.m> wrote in message
news:ntspam-13B614.18025703052005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=blue]
> In article <1115159199.708f48b0a730d43e3fddb20ac4f524f0@teranews>,
> "S Narayan" <narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >I have read that it is
> >better to gun the accelerator than gently accelerate if traction is a
> > problem, the car will pull itself out of such conditions. This is from
> > people who live in the midwest who are used to seeing much more snow[/color][/color]
than I[color=blue][color=green]
> > do.[/color]
>
> This is true with any front wheel drive vehicle. It takes a special
> driver skill to maintain control in glare ice conditions and try to stop
> at the same time with a front wheel drive. The only thing that will
> save the average driver is anti lock brakes.[/color]

The original poster was talking about accelerating from a stop. The
(T)raction (C)ontrol and (V)ehicle (S)kid (C)ontrol will not allow the car
to spin its tyres under such slippery conditions. If I tried this in my non
TC, non VSC FWD Integra, I would be spinning my tyres, going nowhere.

On Tue, 3 May 2005 16:57:37 -0700, "S Narayan"
<narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Dbu^" <ntspam@spco.m> wrote in message
>news:ntspam-13B614.18025703052005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=green]
>> In article <1115159199.708f48b0a730d43e3fddb20ac4f524f0@teranews>,
>> "S Narayan" <narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>> >I have read that it is
>> >better to gun the accelerator than gently accelerate if traction is a
>> > problem, the car will pull itself out of such conditions. This is from
>> > people who live in the midwest who are used to seeing much more snow[/color][/color]
>than I[color=green][color=darkred]
>> > do.[/color]
>>
>> This is true with any front wheel drive vehicle. It takes a special
>> driver skill to maintain control in glare ice conditions and try to stop
>> at the same time with a front wheel drive. The only thing that will
>> save the average driver is anti lock brakes.[/color]
>
>The original poster was talking about accelerating from a stop. The
>(T)raction (C)ontrol and (V)ehicle (S)kid (C)ontrol will not allow the car
>to spin its tyres under such slippery conditions. If I tried this in my non
>TC, non VSC FWD Integra, I would be spinning my tyres, going nowhere.
>[/color]

Has the world dumbed down so much that we fail to learn how to drive
and need a computer to do what we used to have to learn to do?


--
Scott in Florida

"Scott in Florida" <NotInTheNextLifetime@nope.ucan't> wrote in message
news:v54g711skkp5kqg6bckgo6q7gn9fdh05gb@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Tue, 3 May 2005 16:57:37 -0700, "S Narayan"
> <narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >
> >"Dbu^" <ntspam@spco.m> wrote in message
> >news:ntspam-13B614.18025703052005@news-rdr-01.rdc-kc.rr.com...[color=darkred]
> >> In article <1115159199.708f48b0a730d43e3fddb20ac4f524f0@teranews>,
> >> "S Narayan" <narayan@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I have read that it is
> >> >better to gun the accelerator than gently accelerate if traction is a
> >> > problem, the car will pull itself out of such conditions. This is[/color][/color][/color]
from[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> > people who live in the midwest who are used to seeing much more snow[/color]
> >than I[color=darkred]
> >> > do.
> >>
> >> This is true with any front wheel drive vehicle. It takes a special
> >> driver skill to maintain control in glare ice conditions and try to[/color][/color][/color]
stop[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> at the same time with a front wheel drive. The only thing that will
> >> save the average driver is anti lock brakes.[/color]
> >
> >The original poster was talking about accelerating from a stop. The
> >(T)raction (C)ontrol and (V)ehicle (S)kid (C)ontrol will not allow the[/color][/color]
car[color=blue][color=green]
> >to spin its tyres under such slippery conditions. If I tried this in my[/color][/color]
non[color=blue][color=green]
> >TC, non VSC FWD Integra, I would be spinning my tyres, going nowhere.
> >[/color]
>
> Has the world dumbed down so much that we fail to learn how to drive
> and need a computer to do what we used to have to learn to do?[/color]

No, I get along just fine in my Acura in snow. But the original poster was
talking about how to drive the Prius effectively in slippery conditions
given that it may have TC and VSC. Now, if you know how, please speak,
otherwise STFU.