<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Prius for Piano Tech?</title></head><body> <div>Hi Michael,</div> <div><br></div> <div>My first experience was in a couple of feet in a storm in Dec. and it managed quite well.</div> <div>The different thing with this car is that it does not spin or rev. So one has to rock it. Being that it is not a straight ahead transmission (<font color="#000000"> Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT<font face="Lucida Grande" size="-3">)</font></font>), it is easy to rock. On the gear shift all you have is Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and B for brake driving. Kind of a low gear when going down long hills.</div> <div><br></div> <div>But I was in Wellesley Hills, and some of the hills that some cars could not make it, I went up without effort.</div> <div>I made it on purpose to try to go through a snow plow pile, and it did not go through ( two plus feet). But I was able to rock out of it with not great difficulty.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Other than that it manages quite well in wet weather; rain or snow.</div> <div>I do have to be more careful than if I would have my Subaru. The all wheel drive is just awesome. That is really what I miss from that car.</div> <div>There is also a  traction system called Vehicle Stability Control.</div> <div><br></div> <div>It manages sharp turns very well, and can take corners without effort.</div> <div><br></div> <div>6" fresh wet snow for me found that it could take it. It was a pretty mild winter here this year.</div> <div>There is a little bit of more contact with under the car since it is lower. A lot of of area under the car there seems to be shielded. I know that when some storms that it turned rough and icy it was fine.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Hope this answers your questions.</div> <div><br></div> <div>Victor</div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <div>From: "Michael Spalding" <spalding48@earthlink.net><br> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 05:32:56 -0600</div> <div>Reply-To: spalding48@earthlink.net, Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org></div> <div>Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?<br> <br> Victor,<br> <br> How does it handle in the snow?  Say, 6" of fresh wet?<br> <br> thanks<br> <br> Mike<br> <br> <br> > [Original Message]<br> > From: Victor Belanger <vbela@MIT.EDU><br> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org><br> > Date: 5/2/2006 6:19:29 AM<br> > Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?<br> ><br> > Hi Folks,<br> ><br> > Forgive me to be so late on this one. I was backed up on reading the list.<br> > I bought a Prius in Nov. '05.<br> > I am very pleased with it.<br> > I am also a double bassist, and that was VERY important for me to<br> > have room for my bass and amp.<br> > My bass is 45" tall with its case, and the diagonal measurement in<br> > the Prius with the seat down is 48'.<br> > So I can put my bass, my amplifier, and have room for two passengers<br> > plus me (seats are 40/60).<br> > You can't do that with the Subaru as you need to put the whole bottom<br> > part of the seat down in order to lower back rest of the seats.<br> > As someone said that there is a lot more space inside than it how it<br> looks.<br> ><br> > I have put a grand action diagonally with the seat down. Along with<br> > my tools, a Dampp chaser grand kit in its box, and did not need to<br> > put both seats down in the back.<br> ><br> > The rationale that it gets better mileage in the city that on the<br> > highway is not true for me.<br> > I get roughly 47mpg at the moment but expect 50'ish in the summer.<br> > I have done as high as 55.6mpg on the highway.<br> > I did a long trip from the Boston area to Vermont (Brattleboro) which<br> > is roughly 250 miles, and it only took half a tank! It is an 11 Gal.<br> > tank. That was impressive in my book.<br> > for California, MA, and VT the battery has a  warranty for ten years.<br> ><br> > As far as energy pick up, it is very fast. As you have the 4 cylinder<br> > and the electric motor pushing you at the same time. Acceleration is<br> > quick. Like acceleration in an electric tram bus, or a subway train.<br> ><br> > Is it a bargain? No. But based on doing something good for the<br> > environment it is very fulfilling.<br> > Something like that, personally is not about how much it costs.<br> > If cost would've been the issue, I would have gone on the cheaper<br> > side, and there are many cars out there that fit the bill.<br> ><br> > I owned a Subaru Outback before. I miss that car. Especially the all<br> > wheel drive!<br> > But I really did not need that big of a machine. Neither does the<br> > majority of the society.<br> ><br> > I commend Toyota and Honda for coming out with the hybrid system. It</div> <div>> has been wayyyyy too long for something like that to come out! There<br> > is certainly something political on that part.<br> > The fact that at a stop sign, cars are idling is pretty silly once<br> > you own a Prius, and notice that my car is dead quiet at a stop sign.<br> > In heavy traffic the engine barely starts. In small acceleration the<br> > gas engine does not go on.<br> ><br> > I could go on and on but that is enough.......This is my experience<br> > with the car.<br> > I hope this helps.<br> ><br> > Best.<br> ><br> > Victor Belanger</div> <div>></div> </body> </html>