PvH's Frequently Asked Questions about the PRIUS ... I could go on (and on!) about my love affair with the Prius, but will instead just answer some Frequently Asked Questions: Do you have to plug it in? How's the performance? How does it handle in Colorado (mountains, snow, etc.)? How's the mileage? How comfortable is it? How much $$$? How reliable is the car? Anything ever go wrong with the Prius? Does PvH work for Toyota? Where can I find out more about the Prius?     Q: Do you have to plug it in? A: No! You put gas in it as with any other car. When you step on the gas, both the gas engine and electric motor push the car off the line (quite well, I might add!). Then when you coast or apply the brakes, the "Regenerative ABS" sends energy from the spinning wheels back to the battery, thus recharging it.   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How's the performance? A: At least as good as other compact cars. Starting off the line gets a big boost from the electric motor, and I can easily cruise with everybody else down the speedway (excuse me: "highway") without even coming close to maxing out the engine.   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How does it handle in Colorado (mountains, snow, etc.)? A: Other than "off-road four-wheeling" (which I would much rather do on my Mountain Bike anyway), I have yet to find a thing that my Prius cannot do. It has gone up every mountain pass with ease, and the gas engine turns itself off for most of the ride back down. Since it's a relatively heavy car, it plows through deep snow with ease, and I've never been able to make it skid on the ice.   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How's the mileage? A: EPA ratings are 46 mpg on the highway, 52 in the city (since the gas engine turns itself off while idling at traffic stops, and then comes back on automatically when you hit the gas), and 48 overall. Even with my lead foot, and under all kinds of driving situations, I've been able to keep my own mileage in the mid- to upper-40s. With a 12-gallon tank, that lets me go at least 500 miles (on average) between trips to the gas station.   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How comfortable is it? A: I've drove a Buick Regal in the 70s, a Mazda GLC in the 80s, and a Honda Civic in the 90s. I can honestly say that my Prius is at least as comfortable to drive and ride in as any of them. Thanks to its being designed for primary use as a "city car," one actually does sit higher in the Prius than in other cars. I noticed this especially when I drove a Camry (a mid-size, mind you!) for about a week. The Prius is MUCH easier to get in & out of than most low-to-the-ground cars or SUVs that require a stepladder! I have also had "full-size passengers" comment on the Prius's roominess ... even in the back seat!   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How much $$$? A: As with most new (and better) technologies, you pay a little more up front, but the savings last for the life of the car. I drove my Prius off the lot at Burt Toyota for about $23,000 -> well within my price range, but I admit to "negotiating" very little, so I probably could've paid even less. AND consider all the ways that the Prius continues to save me $$$, especially compared to regular cars: Toyota claims that it costs about $35,000 to make a Prius (they're still not being produced in the same mass-quantities as other cars), so you're already "getting quite a deal." Huge income-tax breaks from the Federal (about $2,000) and Colorado State (closer to $3,000) Governments for buying one. Continued (annual) huge income-tax breaks (at least from the State of Colorado) for owning and driving one! (I found this out while filing my 2001 Colorado Income Tax) Fewer trips to the gas station (thanks to high mileage and a 12-gallon gas tank). Cheaper gas (although the Prius User Manual recommends mid-grade octane, several Toyota Service Departments in Denver recommend Regular to solve a few specific problems). Fewer trips to the mechanic (since the gas engine isn't on all the time while driving, the oil only needs to be changed every 5,000-7,500 miles!). And less of an environmental footprint than from regular vehicles, especially with regard to fuel-consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions ... future generations will thank you!   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: How reliable is the car? A: First, consider Toyota's warranties for the Prius: 3 years / 36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain 8 years / 100,000 miles on the hybrid system (electric motor, battery, etc.) I can also honestly say that I have yet to have a single problem with the car - or its new technology - that couldn't be chalked up to "operator error." I will admit that the Prius's heavier weight (2,700 lbs) has worn out my tires more quickly than with other cars, but I blame that more on Bridgestone (the OEM tires) than Toyota. My next set of tires will be Michelin X-1's, which I have heard nothing but good things about from other Prius drivers.   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: Anything ever go wrong with the Prius? A: Obviously, the Prius can't carry as much as the average SUV or minivan. And sometimes I miss not having a fold-down rear seat (Toyota was afraid of messing with the battery, right between the back seat and trunk). But I play a lot of ice hockey and mountain biking, and the Prius has never failed in getting me and all my gear to the rink or the trail. The combination of gas engine, electric motor, and large battery makes the Prius heavier than most cars, thus causing additional/accelerated wear on its tires. But I've heard nothing but good things about the Michelin X-1, which I plan on making my next set of Prius tires. Toyota says that continued high-speed driving (e.g. on a long desert highway) can eventually drain the battery, forcing you to coast and/or apply the brakes once in a while to recharge it. But I have yet to encounter this "problem." For getting yourself, one or two other people, and all their stuff around town, "I still haven't found anything that the Prius cannot do!"   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: Does PvH work for Toyota? A: "No, but I'm working on it!" I maintain active contact with Toyota, and would love to someday be an "evangelist" for the Prius (at least in a more official capacity than this). Otherwise, as of July 2002, there is no official relationship between Toyota and Phil von Hake / PvH Communications other than "Carmaker-Customer." ... I just happen to love my Prius - and all that it stands for - so much that I want to see a LOT more of them on the road!   (Return to FAQ List)   Q: Where can I find out more about the Prius? A: Toyota has its own excellent website for the Prius ... And don't just take Toyota's or my word for it: register with the "Toyota-Prius" Yahoo! Group to hear more real-world experiences from my fellow Prius drivers.   (Return to FAQ List)   Long Story Short -> GET A PRIUS! You'll be very glad you did ...