Posted by Bill on April 2, 2005, 9:32 pm
>> that is not acceptable for a 27K car
>>>> But I do have a questions since the engine doesn't start until you are
>>>> under
>>>> way how can you warm up the interior on cold days like most cars also
>>>> haw
>>>> can you get the ice off windshields
>>>
>>>
>>> There are 12 volt heaters available that plug into the cig lighter
>>> outlet.
>>>
>>> Daniel
>>
> I don't understand the problem. I have a Ford Explorer and a Prius. I
> live in MN. I warm either of them up by starting the engine. I remove
> the heavier ice and snow with my broom/scraper. I set either of the cars
> to direct warm air toward the windshield. The only difference between the
> Prius and the Ford is that once the Prius cab is warm the engine will shut
> off, thereby saving me some gas. Yes, the Ford does have AstroStart and
> when it was my only car, I used that occasionally. I probably wouldn't do
> that now given the price of gas.
Much as I hate to reply to my own posts, I re-read the question and have a
better answer:
If the climate control system is set to auto and the interior is colder than
the temperature to which you have it set, the gas engine will start right
away, whether you drive or not. From what I've observed, the gas engine
runs a lot during the first five minutes even if the climate control is off,
probably to warm it up so the many transitions between gas, electric and
both will be smooth. The first five minutes after starting I get a louse 35
mpg, only twice what the Explorer gets. After that warm-up period it
settles into it's EPA rating.
Posted by richard schumacher on April 2, 2005, 9:52 pm
> that is not acceptable for a 27K car
> > There are 12 volt heaters available that plug into the cig lighter outlet.
Don't worry, you won't need them. Users in Canada, Minnesota, North
Dakota report that the passenger compartments of their Prii warm up at
least as fast as do old-style cars. Fuel economy does suffer in the
winter, sometimes getting as low as 30 MPG.
Posted by Kevin Kirkeby on April 3, 2005, 3:56 am
"this is not acceptable for a 27K car?" Why not park it in your living room
and move the coach and tv outside? they aren't worth 27K. makes about as
much sense, doesn't it?
KK
> that is not acceptable for a 27K car
>>> But I do have a questions since the engine doesn't start until you are
>>> under
>>> way how can you warm up the interior on cold days like most cars also
>>> haw
>>> can you get the ice off windshields
>>
>>
>> There are 12 volt heaters available that plug into the cig lighter
>> outlet.
>>
>> Daniel
>
Posted by Gompie on April 9, 2005, 1:04 am
> Ok I think I am convinced. I just ordered the prius with package 6 because
> some of the things in package 4 the wife wanted some things from 5 and you
> cant mix and match so we ended up with things that neither one of us want
to
> get what we both wanted so package 6 it is.
> But I do have a questions since the engine doesn't start until you are
under
> way how can you warm up the interior on cold days like most cars also haw
> can you get the ice off windshields
I have the impression that the cabin of our Prius gets warm even faster than
in our other 2 conventional cars. It really isn't a problem. The petrol
engine just runs for the first 5 minutes after starting in order to get
everything warmed up.
mvg,
Emmanuel
Posted by Caloonese on April 19, 2005, 10:30 pm
Who told you the engine doesn't start until you are under way?
It was a lie.
When you power up the car, within about 7 seconds, the engine will
start regardless. The car must heat up the catalytic convertor to
acheive its low emission rating. Don't worry, the car will burn your
gasoline to keep you and the car warm. As a result, the gas milage for
the first 5 minutes is always the worst. If all your trips are shorter
than 5 minutes, don't even dream to meet the EPA milage estimates.
>>>> But I do have a questions since the engine doesn't start until you are
>>>> under
>>>> way how can you warm up the interior on cold days like most cars also
>>>> haw
>>>> can you get the ice off windshields
>>>
>>>
>>> There are 12 volt heaters available that plug into the cig lighter
>>> outlet.
>>>
>>> Daniel
>>
> I don't understand the problem. I have a Ford Explorer and a Prius. I
> live in MN. I warm either of them up by starting the engine. I remove
> the heavier ice and snow with my broom/scraper. I set either of the cars
> to direct warm air toward the windshield. The only difference between the
> Prius and the Ford is that once the Prius cab is warm the engine will shut
> off, thereby saving me some gas. Yes, the Ford does have AstroStart and
> when it was my only car, I used that occasionally. I probably wouldn't do
> that now given the price of gas.