MARCH 15, 2005

Our 2001 Prius now has 42000 miles.  After being the most reliable, boring car to own, it finally has done something worth writing about.  Several times the auxilary battery has died.  The first time we thought we had left the door ajar overnight.  The second time we thought the valet had left the door ajar or the ignition on.  The last time was after a week at the airport.

After getting a jump we took it in to the dealer.  Needed a new battery, $150, and the new, larger battery needed a new bracket, another $150, plus $44 labor.  Although we had commented on it earlier, and even had the computer read and reset after one episode, none of this was recorded on the service record, hence it was considered out of warranty.

My advise to Prius owners, take it in while you have less than 36,000 miles and ask to have the battery checked.  Make sure it is on the service record.  Then if it fails later, you will have some evidence it was a concern while it was in warranty.

AUGUST 25, 2003

It has been over a year since I added to this page.  There is simply nothing interesting to write about.  We have had our Prius for about 3 years now, and it has been a delight to drive, with almost zero learning curve and no maintainence problems.  We have no complaints about the acceleration, either.  And our other car is the 225 hp. Saab 9000 Aero!  Because of the low end torque of the electric motor, we are almost always the first one out of a light, and have never had a  problem merging onto the expressway.

Real life gas mileage is almost exactly the opposite of the EPA ratings - low 40s in the city and around 50 on the highway.  I did one run from Washington, DC to Cleveland at 54 mpg.  I blame the difference on the EPA test method.  The short 11 mile city run is started with a warm engine and a fully charged battery, so it is largely run on electric power.  In real life you start off cold, and if the battery is discharged during a trip, you pay the price by recharging it on the next trip.

JULY 2002

Off to Stratford, ONT for the 4th holiday to see a few plays and dine at the 3 premier restaurants there.  Drive up was fine, and we averaged 48 mpg.  Returning to the USA the backup at the Peace Bridge was about 2 hours, then we lost 20 min at the NY toll booth, then ran into stopped traffic just inside the OH line  that cost us about 1/2 hour.  All the sitting in traffic with A/C on cut into our gas mileage, so we only averaged 45 mpg for the trip.

JUNE 2002

Another chance to drive to Charlestown, 360 miles each way.  Temp in the high 70s driving down, and we averaged 52 mpg.  Coming home it was in the mid 80s so A/C was on all the way, yet we averaged 50 mpg for a 51 mpg round trip average.

FEBRUARY 2002
Yawn! Ho hum.  This car is so trouble free, just gas and go.  Had the 15,000 mile service done earlier this month, again free.  Did get an error message on the screen and took it to the dealer, but nothing was wrong and the technician checked the car and reset the computer right in the driveway while I watched.  We have been running 4 Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires on Echo steel rims this winter with good results.

SEPTEMBER 2001
Our Prius has over 11,000 miles now, and it has been totally uneventful.  There is nothing to do with this car except fill it with gas and drive it.  I took a trip to Washington, DC earlier this month, and got 49.6 mpg on the way averaging 55 mph.  I eased off coming back and got 54.8 averaging 50 mph including 2 brief stops.

AUGUST 2001
Two trips to Canada.  Mileage was close to 50 mpg, but this has become too commonplace to record.  We had the cruise control added between the two trips, and it sure is convenient.  Heights Toyota wanted close to $500, but Metro Toyota did it for $276.  Freeway steering no longer seems vague and does not wander as much.  Maybe I am getting used to it.  Prius is still wind sensitive.

APRIL 2001
Another drive to Louisville.  Weather was in the low 80's and we ran the A/C all the way back, and still got 51.1 mpg for the trip.

MARCH 2001
First service at 3750.  Cost $0 courtesy of the dealer.  Commented on vague steering on the highway.  Alignment checked out okay.  "They all handle that way."

DECEMBER 2000
Winter is taking its toll, and average mileage has dropped to 34 mpg.  Still not bad, both other cars are in the teens.  The Prius has never failed to climb our steep drive in the snow.  I attribute that to the ability of the electric motor and continuously variable transmission to deliver just enough torque to the wheels to move without spinning the tires.

We got the CD player installed.  It was a mistake not to have it installed at the port of entry.  There it was $335 flat.  At the dealer they added $46 additional for brackets, and wanted $75 labor for installation until I talked them out of it.

NOVEMBER 2000
We got her November 3, 2000.  Overall mileage the first week was 45 mpg.

We drove from Cleveland, OH to Louisville, KY over Thanksgiving.  Mileage was 42.1 mpg. going down and 49.7 coming back.

Several things could account for the difference.  We were pushing it going down - 70 to 80 mph, but more relaxed on the return - 65 to 75 mph.  Temperatures were in the 30s on Thursday and maybe 5 degrees warmer on Sunday.  But I think the real difference was breaking-in.  We started with 300 miles on the car and ended with about 1100.  On both legs we noticed that the mileage kept getting better the longer we drove.
 
 

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