Posted by Pete Granzeau on January 14, 2008, 8:12 pm
>After longly wanting a Prius for several years and waiting for my old
>car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So
>this past Thursday, I bought a new 2008 Prius with package #2 and I am
>happy with it, although I have only driven it 175 miles so far.
>First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for
>about 50% city and 50% highway driving.
I usually get around 400 miles between fillups. The MFD will tell you
how many miles on your current tank of gas (I used to reset the trip
odometer on my previous car, but that's not necessary with the Prius).
>Second, I like the car a lot, but the seats seem much too firm for my
>taste. My dad sat in the car at the dealership for an hour while I went
>to the bank to get money to pay for it and he had no complaints about
>the seats, but I find the driver's seat too firm. I am wondering if
>anyone else agrees and what my options are to fix that. I guess I will
>need to buy a seat pad or something for it.
I have no issues with the seat, so I can't help you there.
>Third, how long did it take you to stop reaching into your pocket to get
>the car key before you got used to the idea of not needing a traditional
>metal key to start the car? I keep doing that.
Very quickly.
>Speaking of keys, forth, how do you handle valet parking? Do you find
>that parking valets know how to start/stop your Prius? Have you
>mistakenly walked away without leaving a key with the parking attendant?
>Thus far, I haven't had my Prius valet parked, but I am concerned that I
>will forget to give the attendant the sensor thing so he or she can park
>the car.
I've only used valet parking once, but that valet knew how to start my
Prius. He won't be able to start it if you get out of the car, of
course, so he'll ask you for the fob pretty quickly.
While I was hospitalized for 5-1/2 weeks last summer, I had my daughter
turn the smart key sensors off (so the 12V battery wouldn't run down). I
was pretty weak when I got back, so I didn't turn it back on right away.
During that time, I had to take the car in for an inspection, and the
mechanic took the fob and spent about 5 minutes in the car, evidently
trying to get it to turn on. He finally figured that he had to put the
fob in the slot, and I was able to turn the smart key back on not long
after that.
Posted by richard schumacher on January 16, 2008, 4:47 pm
There is no typical. The only certainty is, when the last pip on the
fuel gauge starts flashing you must buy fuel immediately.
I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius.
Posted by Pete Granzeau on January 16, 2008, 7:59 pm
On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:47:38 -0600, richard schumacher
>I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius.
I did, at the hospital. They are all elderly gentlemen, and, I believe,
volunteers.
Posted by Shawn Hirn on January 17, 2008, 3:59 am
> On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:47:38 -0600, richard schumacher
>
> >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius.
>
> I did, at the hospital. They are all elderly gentlemen, and, I believe,
> volunteers.
Sometime, its damned near impossible to avoid having my car valet
parked, such as when I visit a dear old friend who lives in a high rise
apartment building in Manhattan. In all the times I have visited her, I
have never been able to find on-street parking and all the parking
garages in her area have valet parking.
Posted by Pete Granzeau on January 17, 2008, 10:17 pm
>> On Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:47:38 -0600, richard schumacher
>>
>> >I never let a valet monkey drive my Prius.
>>
>> I did, at the hospital. They are all elderly gentlemen, and, I believe,
>> volunteers.
>Sometime, its damned near impossible to avoid having my car valet
>parked, such as when I visit a dear old friend who lives in a high rise
>apartment building in Manhattan. In all the times I have visited her, I
>have never been able to find on-street parking and all the parking
>garages in her area have valet parking.
And you have to tip them. The guys at the hospital don't accept tips.
>car to die on me, my old car lost its usefulness to me last week. So
>this past Thursday, I bought a new 2008 Prius with package #2 and I am
>happy with it, although I have only driven it 175 miles so far.
>First, I am wondering how many miles is typical on a tank of gas for
>about 50% city and 50% highway driving.