Saturday, February 02, 2008
SAFE ONLY IN WARM CONDITIONS
In the cooler world it aims to deliver, Toyota’s Prius becomes undriveable:
One Vermont Prius driver, suffering through a recent January snowfall, described Toyota Prius traction control as “dangerous in mountainous snow country” ...
Traction control failure in the Prius is no longer a isolated event. The continuing failure is producing damaging results.
In Medford, Oregon, Mike is the most recent victim of the reluctant traction control system.
“I am a seasoned driver in the snow. I can drive front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. I am a forester and have been driving in snowing conditions for 28 years, 22 of those years on the job,” he wrote. “I just had my first experience driving my Toyota Prius in the snow today. The engine cut out all power anytime the wheels slipped at all.”
All power was cut? Certain Prius owners might consider that an earth-saving feature, not a bug.
UPDATE. Prius thoughts from Ira K.:
So it appears that it is a poor-performing product in the snow. That made me wonder how it is performing in the Southwest desert. My wife and I are planning to move to the Las Vegas area in two years. During our visits to friends in the area, we keep hearing about the problems people have with their car batteries. It appears the intense heat kills the batteries. The normal life span for a car battery is only about two years.
The Prius has a huge, non-replaceable battery, correct? I wonder if the Prius will experience battery problems as well ... possible scorecard:
Prius 0- Snow 1
Prius 0 - Heat 1