Drove a Prius today....

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by torqdork

Less worry than concern that those who can least afford it will be forced to pay thousands more and be less safe in smaller, lighter cars when we're facing a glut of fossil fuel inventory.

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editor...ar-mandate.htm

That said, I'm planning to auto-x my 2016 Prius if it arrives in time for the season opener. I think it might do well depending on classification.

First World Problems. For our kids' sake we need to start riding our bicycles.

http://www.climate.gov/maps-data#glo...mate-dashboard

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

First World Problems. For our kids' sake we need to start riding our bicycles.

http://www.climate.gov/maps-data#glo...mate-dashboard

Aye, I actually put nearly as many miles on my bikes as cars annually, although many of those are on an indoor trainer during Winter doing my pre-season gerbil imitation.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by torqdork

Aye, I actually put nearly as many miles on my bikes as cars annually, although many of those are on an indoor trainer during Winter doing my pre-season gerbil imitation.

You're doing better than I am. No excuse here. I live 8 miles from work and it's pretty much a straight shot by bike.

[torqdork]

@speedy is the serious cyclist here. I'm more of a fair weather outdoor rider with indoor trainer backup. He's also blindingly quick on track in his f/i, bbk BRZ.

[mikeschmeee]

Try Tesla next and report back

[Tromatic]

Originally Posted by mikeschmeee

Try Tesla next and report back

Never been in one. I can only assume they are as good as I have heard, and comparing a Tesla to an FR-S would be stupid.

ETA: Or maybe not. Tell us about your experience in a Tesla. Willing to bet the FR-S fares well in comparison, if you disregard the very obvious differences.

[Jegan_V]

Originally Posted by torqdork

Isn't Leaf full electric with <100 mile range and Volt hybrid <400 mile range? Prius hybrid range is >600 miles with no recharging needed, Plug-In Prius not sure, EV rated 95 mpg for 11 miles but needs 1.5-3.0 hours (120v-240v) recharging time to resume EV mode.

I haven't driven the electrics though, just going by 'net reviews. Prius hybrid is from personal experience with no hypermiling.

I guess we'll need to embrace these type of cars in time with the US CAFE mandate of 54 mpg on the horizon.

WEC, F1, and soon other series will be racing hybrids to podiums. Soon we'll be debating types of battery construction, energy densities and specific power outputs.

The Leaf's range is its biggest problem. Being a pure EV with no quick refueling option limits it from doing anything but city driving. As a car though its not that slow, its really quiet and reasonably comfortable. This is definitely the least polluting option though if that's why you went with Priuses in the first place. The Volt on the other hand keeps the engine and despite how complicated the system seems, it feels more refined and never have I encountered a situation where it actually seemed slow. In comparison the Prius becomes a bit of a dog once it gets to highway speeds since the engine is gutless and noisy.

[Packofcrows]

I'd take a Prius as a second car or family car. 2015 V or plug in <3

32mpg in town and 58mpg @ 70mph were real time numbers on a rental (Prius V).

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

I'd take a Prius as a second car or family car. 2015 V or plug in <3

32mpg in town and 58mpg @ 70mph were real time numbers on a rental (Prius V).

I've bettered the in-town average over 60K miles in my FRS (32.6MPG mixed driving) and have gotten as high as 35MPG on the highway.


Seems like a fair trade to not make the 58MPG to not have to drive a Prius.

[Sigh-on-Rice]

I have Prius v also. It was my daily for 3 months before FR-S. I still drive it on the weekends. I was getting 55 mpg on it. I get 27 mpg on FR-S. I would be saving $130 a month on gas. If you don't care about the driving feel, that's a great car. If you care about the driving feel even a tiny bit, then you know what that means...

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I've bettered the in-town average over 60K miles in my FRS (32.6MPG mixed driving) and have gotten as high as 35MPG on the highway.


Seems like a fair trade to not make the 58MPG to not have to drive a Prius.

I agree. But i still like the sexy mpg of the hipster Prius. I do 22-24mpg in town and 32 in hwy but i drive 75mph. If i did 65 or anything below 3k rpm id be close to you.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

I agree. But i still like the sexy mpg of the hipster Prius. I do 22-24mpg in town and 32 in hwy but i drive 75mph. If i did 65 or anything below 3k rpm id be close to you.

I think that may be the first time in recorded history "sexy" was used to describe "mpg"!

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Sigh-on-Rice

I have Prius v also. It was my daily for 3 months before FR-S. I still drive it on the weekends. I was getting 55 mpg on it. I get 27 mpg on FR-S. I would be saving $130 a month on gas.

Yea I get that. With the FR-S I've saved, on average based on the cost of each tank, $25.33 per FR-S tankful over my previous DD which had a lifetime MPG of 17.5MPG. Over 64,000 miles that has added up to right at $4,800 while not dreading getting in my car every day.

Originally Posted by Sigh-on-Rice

If you don't care about the driving feel, that's a great car. If you care about the driving feel even a tiny bit, then you know what that means...

Exactly. I do think the Prius series are decent cars for what they are, I just couldn't bring myself to drive one.

[KellieRahne]

Originally Posted by Tromatic

One of the big ones, the Prius V. I borrowed it from my sister to drag my seabag to my new compound. Jeebus, that thing sucks. If you are starting to wonder about the awesomeness of your FR-S/BRZ, drive almost anything else to be reminded of how friggin' lucky we are to have it.

The Prius is totally isolated from the road, or at least as good as it gets in a Prius. The steering was amazing on the freeway. Here's a turn, "ten degrees left rudder". WTF, nothing is happening. "20 degrees left rudder!" Now, all of a sudden, you get all 20 degrees and bunch of roll. Now you have too much rudder on and a serious list. Correct a bit to the right. Shit! Nothing is happening! A bit more right rudder! And again, you get it all at once. I used to think Prius drivers were NDF's (Non-driving Fucks) but I am now willing to concede that the car itself is an NDF.

Passing lane? Great, I can get around this brain-dead Prius driver. Wait.... All head full! WTF. I said ALL AHEAD FULL! WTF. ALL AHEAD FLANK! Finally, with great dignity, we begin to gain on the car ahead. When finally ahead, repeat the flappy-tiller steering. I will no longer blame my sister for causing me to white-knuckle it when she is driving. It's not her fault I'm seasick and we are going so slowly that we are going to be run down by a brodozer, it's the car.

J. Clarkson was right when he said everything about the 86 is immediate. It responds instantly and predictably to the smallest steering input, and you can feel it in both the steering wheel and gut. The car rotates around my ass like my MC does. It IS like a 250cc bike. The gas pedal will not save you, and if that is the only tool (or fun you have) "you bought the wrong fucking car". Throttle response is instant (providing you are in the right gear or not in the "torque dip", and if you can't do either you suck, get a Prius). You can feel trailing and off-throttle, and you have real engine-braking. You can feel what the car is doing, unlike the totally numb Prius. Seat of the pants vs. I have become comfortably numb.

I almost crashed because of the brakes. Unlike my fellow Oregonians, I'm looking two or three cars ahead, not at the bumper of the car directly in front of me, or better yet, a cell phone. Brakes on, three cars ahead! I'm already braking before the dolt ahead notices and I was still almost too late on the brakes. I'm just short of panic-braking, and I'm thinking this must be how it feels to crash an oil tanker. Stop, you fuck!

The FR-S/BRZ/86 is a fucking BRILLIANT car. I've said it before, and will say it again, knowing full well it will bring out the 'tards: this car is a taste of supercar for us plebes. It really is a miracle it got built at all.

Are you a Navy guy? I mean, I can't really tell by your post.

/s