Is the Toyota Prius a good first Car?

Some features of the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius?

• Hi, soon I will buy my first car! I want to know some features of the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, because it is a more sophisticated car than others. Now I list some questions for this car: 1) About the CVT transmission, if I leave the brake the car starts slowly or just accelerate? 2) When to use the button with a "P" letter near the CVT transmission? 3) In the HSD, the heat engine works according to the driving situations or after some MPH? 4) Which driving style is the best, so the batteries can't consume too and works efficiently? 5) When I'm at the traffic lights, at the starting I need to do the Kick-Down or press gradually? 6) On the Freeways at 65 MPH the heat engine works without the batteries or both? 7) About the trunk, I want to know if enters there a medium Mountain Bike? 8) There is any button like Eco-Mode or else? 9) It is possible to drive electrically without the heat engine at lower speed? 10) Which color would be the best in a very hot climate, for a boy? Last question, Toyota Prius enjoys a good reputation in California and in the southwest area? If possible you can describe to me step by step to do when i go on and out the car, (ex. Insert the key, press the power button, press the brake, etc.) Please, describe me all about this fabulous car, also the particularity because I'm a beginner. Thank you!

• Answer:

  1) About the CVT transmission, if I leave the brake the car starts slowly or just accelerate The transmission really isn't a CVT transmission, in fact, it's not a transmission at all in that the Prius never shifts or goes out of gear. Toyota has emulated the behaviour of an automatic transmission in that if you let your foot of the gas without pressing the accelerator it will "creep" on level ground. 2) When to use the button with a "P" letter near the CVT transmission? Basically never. Pressing the Power button to turn off the Prius automatically puts the Prius into park. The only time I use it is for long railway crossings. 3) In the HSD, the heat engine works according to the driving situations or after some MPH? The gas engine will come on when: 1. More power is required then the electric motors can give. 2. The battery needs charging. 3. The engine needs to be brought up to temperature (and the catalytic converter). 4. When the cabin requires cabin heat--it doesn't always run, but the heater cools the engine fast so it comes on because of #3. 5. The gas engine will spin anytime the vehicle speed is over 41 mph. This is to protect the smaller motor from over-revving. 4) Which driving style is the best, so the batteries can't consume too and works efficiently? The Prius is basically a gas car. The efficiency comes from having a small Atkinson cycle engine that is sized for steady state driving. The electric motors are there to provide the additional acceleration needed and also to allow the gas engine to shut off during periods of very low power demand when even the Prius' engine would be inefficient. The most effective driving style is pulse and glide using a Scanguage to monitor acceleration by driving to the ignition timing. http://www.scangauge.com/ 5) When I'm at the traffic lights, at the starting I need to do the Kick-Down or press gradually? This question makes no sense. There is nothing in the Prius to Kick-Down. You accelerate at ignition timing of 14 for slow streets and 17-18 for fast streets (50 mph+ limit). 6) On the Freeways at 65 MPH the heat engine works without the batteries or both? The electric motors are always operational. The way the Prius driveline works, it requires the electric motors to be running. There are two, a large and a small, and one is always providing power while the other is generating. They change roles depending upon the conditions. 7) About the trunk, I want to know if enters there a medium Mountain Bike? With the rear seat down you can put in one or two bicycles without removing the front tire. 8) There is any button like Eco-Mode or else? In the 2010 and later Prius, all the Eco-Mode does is adjust the accelerator pedal feel. That is, totally off the accelerator and floored are the same in both modes, but the progression is different. This is mainly a marketing gimick. 9) It is possible to drive electrically without the heat engine at lower speed? Yes, but you will kill the mpg. Every bit of energy that the Prius uses comes from the gas tank. If you use battery power, you have to put it back by running the engine more. There is an energy conversion loss between each energy transformation. So the best thing is to think of the battery as if it were a credit card. Used sparingly a credit card can even out monthly finances, but if you put a lot on it you won't be able to pay it off at the end of the month and will acquire interest charges. 10) Which color would be the best in a very hot climate, for a boy? White. But really, most heat comes through the glass which is the same regardless of paint colour. - Last question, Toyota Prius enjoys a good reputation in California and in the southwest area. And everywhere else. It has a very high owner satisfaction rating. My 2004 Prius has cost 12 cents per mile for dealer maintenance, tires, and fuel combined over the 120,000+ miles I've driven it so far. - Insert the key There is no key, you keep the fob in your pocket. To start put your foot solidly on the brake and press the power button. The dash will display ready. There's nothing to it. - Please, describe me See the links below. My 2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only): 2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles 2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles 2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16174 miles 2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18384 miles 2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21755 miles 2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16177 miles 2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12134 miles