The Drive-a-Toyota Act
in [Toyota]
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From: DH on 6 Jul 2007 10:12 "Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop(a)nastydesigns.com> wrote in message news:elmop-0513AE.09521806072007(a)nntp1.usenetserver.com... > In article <5f6ilkF3bjin5U1(a)mid.individual.net>, > Bill Putney <bptn(a)kinez.net> wrote: > >> > On a brand new Prius? I've had the batteries take me 2 miles on a flat >> > (no downhill, no uphill) surfaced roadway with no ICE running. Not >> > sure >> > what you're talking about. >> >> Toyota's own article contradicts that. But they could have understated >> it to take into account a little aging of the batteries, i.e. not brand >> new as you stated. But still - two miles ain't much. > > shoot, I was thrilled. > > > >> > Shoot, simply separating the air conditioner from the ICE is a big >> > savings. >> >> So the a.c. is all electric? > > Yes. > > The overall engineering of the Prius, once you get into it *and* live > with it for a couple of months, is pretty amazing. They've taken the > gross inefficiencies and managed those out of the system; driving the AC > electrically is one good example. I have wondered for a while, so I might as well ask you while it's close to on-topic, how do they heat the thing? Traditionally, passenger space heat is waste heat from the engine. If the engine's not running, there's no waste heat. Is there an electric heating element in the Prius? -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
From: Jeff on 6 Jul 2007 10:42 Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote: > In article <dviji.43807$Of2.8277(a)trnddc06>, > Jeff <kidsdoc2000(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > >> Plus it has a continuously >> variable transmission, which is more efficient that automatic and manual >> transmissions. > > It's not even what I call a transmission, although obviously it performs > the task of one. CVTs are transmissions. The PSD is different enough that I would say that it is far more than a CVT. A far analogy between a PSD and CVT is PSD:CVT::My laptop:DVD player. My laptop has a DVD (and I do watch movies on it), but my laptop does far more. The analogy is also good, because the laptop eliminates redundant devices, like separate screens for the laptop and DVD and seperate power supplies. > The Toyota Power Split Device is so ingenious partially because of its > utter simplicity. It has nothing at all in common with a modern > automatic transmission of any kind. That's true. But neither do CVTs and automatic or manual transmission, except power goes into and power comes out at a different ratio (or the same ratio). > In fact, changing out from a traditional auto transmission to the PSD is > enough reason to put the batteries in the middle. From a maintenance > standpoint, they've taken out a hugely complex and frail component of > the modern drivetrain and replaced it with something much simpler, > requiring no maintenance, and incredibly less likely to break. You can also switch to a CVT, which is a really simple device, more simple than a automatic transmission. Thanks. Your message prompted me to learn more about how the synergy drive works. Jeff
From: C. E. White on 6 Jul 2007 11:00 "DH" <dh(a)stargate.com> wrote in message news:468e45aa$0$32552$88260bb3(a)free.teranews.com... > I'll have to ask one of the Prius owners around here (Frostbite > Falls, Minnesota) if the car was comfortable in the winter. I saw one reference where they commented on the excellence of the heater. I don't think you need to worry. I wonder why they don't use one of the heat storage devices to keep the water warm so they don't have to run the IC engine just to warm the water back up - http://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19990224/press004161.html . Or they could use a separate gasoline powered heater for the same purpose - http://www.webastoshowroom.com/BlueHeat/blueheat_faq.htm . Ed
From: DH on 6 Jul 2007 11:13 "C. E. White" <cewhite3(a)removemindspring.com> wrote in message news:468e5971$1(a)kcnews01... > "DH" <dh(a)stargate.com> wrote in message > news:468e45aa$0$32552$88260bb3(a)free.teranews.com... > >> I'll have to ask one of the Prius owners around here (Frostbite Falls, >> Minnesota) if the car was comfortable in the winter. > > I saw one reference where they commented on the excellence of the heater. > I don't think you need to worry. Simply using a heating element to speed up getting hot air from the defroster is a good idea and, since I usually dress warmly in the winter, anyway, probably meets my real need, which is to see the road. Even on a conventional car, this would be a welcome feature. I wonder if any luxury cars have it? Reminds me of a feature that Chrysler once offered on their minivans, a windshield heating element located where the windshield wipers park to help keep the bottom of the windshield de-iced and wipers free (I can't believe no one has copied this feature, nor that Chrysler seems to have abandoned it). > I wonder why they don't use one of the heat storage devices to keep the > water warm so they don't have to run the IC engine just to warm the water > back up - > http://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19990224/press004161.html . > Or they could use a separate gasoline powered heater for the same > purpose - http://www.webastoshowroom.com/BlueHeat/blueheat_faq.htm . > > Ed -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
From: Mike Hunter on 6 Jul 2007 11:24
Are you really that slow witted? Of course the dealership can screw you. How do you think you could screw the dealership? We did not expect you to understand the difference. You have it backwards, the sucker is the ones that will accepts the selling price as what he is paying for the car and does not obtain a "Drive Home Price" which is the total price one pays to drive it home, dummy. mike "DH" <dh(a)stargate.com> wrote in message news:468d2585$0$16315$88260bb3(a)free.teranews.com... > "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2(a)mailcity.com> wrote in message > news:WcqdnVy9JcjctRDbnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d(a)ptd.net... >> MSRP is meaningless. Forget the on line searches and get out in the >> real world and you will discover with any vehicle purchase, one must >> compare the "Drive Home Price," not the MSRP or even the selling price, >> among dealers or brands. >> >> Dealers add all type of fees and other smoke and mirror packages to the >> cars on their lots and their deals. If there is any rebate, or dealer or >> factory discounts they will be greater on the conventionally powered car >> than on any hybrid. The value of ones trade varies from dealer to >> dealer as well. >> >> mike > > I imagine that, in your dealer days, you had a pretty good name for the > people that compared the "drive home price:" "Suckers." > > Remember when you said, "we [the dealership] were the ones doing the > screwing?" I remember it. A rare moment of candor from "mike hunter." > |