<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thanks Patrick, that the info I needed. When I was much younger, I didn’t mind risking life and limb to get where I was going, but these day’s I look for the opportunity to stay home and work in the shop so it sounds like the Prius wouldn’t be a bad choice.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bill<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </span></font></div> <p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>J Patrick Draine<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, July 11, 2008 11:48 AM<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Pianotech List<br> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: cars with better gas mileage</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 10:34 AM, Bill Costanzo <<a href="mailto:pnotuner@rochester.rr.com">pnotuner@rochester.rr.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> <div bgcolor=white link=blue vlink=blue> <div> <p><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Arial;color:navy'>Anybody have experience with the Prius in northern winter conditions, specifically traction in the snow and ground clearance?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Yes! I've owned my 2007 year model Prius for 1.5 year now. Previously I drove a Subaru Outback wagon which had plenty of clearance, and "AllTrac" (constant 4 wheel drive) (but poor gas mileage). Needless to say, *that* car was made for winter driving. The Prius wheelbase is low so it's not made for "plowing" through snow drifts, snow plow covered driveway entrances, etc. I have postponed a couple appointments due to bad winter road conditions, which I probably wouldn't have if I still had the Subaru. I suppose if I had purchased snow tires for the winter season I might have ventured out, but these days most manufacturers (and even tire stores) push "all season" tires that aren't really up for blizzard conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Miles per gallon drops to the low 40's when it's winter, partly because the passenger climate control depends on gas engine heat, partly because the battery is less efficient when it's cold. By April my mileage got back into the 50's and I'm currently averaging 53-55 mpg.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Patrick Draine<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size: 12.0pt'>Massachusettes<o:p></o:p></span></font></p> </div> </div> <p><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>No virus found in this incoming message.<br> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com<br> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.4.8/1547 - Release Date: 7/11/2008 6:05 PM</span></font><o:p></o:p></p> </div> </body> </html>