[Michael F. Holahan]

Whomever:
No one buying a car with a less-than-two liter engine is interested in 0-60 mph acceleration. However, 40-80 is important for keeping out of the way of 18-wheelers when entering an Interstate or other limited access highway. How does Prius fare in that regard? I'm getting interested again.
Holahan.

 

[john1701a]

What does "interested" mean?

 

[john1701a]

Think about how incredibly vague "less-than-two liter" is. It makes no reference whatsoever to vehicle weight or shape. Heck, it doesn't even take into account the number of valves in the engine itself either.

You can't just pick a number out of the air like that. Though... that would be rather fun. Just think, we could pick on the "lesser" hybrids by just pointing out the voltage their system runs at or their maximum wattage the motor can handle. So for practical hybrid comparison, we focus on emissions & efficiency instead.

Looking constructively at speed, we can focus on passing as suggested. But that needs to be realistic. What speed would you be starting at? What amount of passing time is considered safe? And at what speed would you want to pass at? Without a baseline like that, numbers have no meaning. Remember, too fast can actually be even more danagerous than too slow.

 

[Guest]

Pick any sedan. Buick or Camry and and specs would all be relatively the same. On accelleration or passing. all comparable including the Prius. It handles like any other $20,000 sedan.

 

[john1701a]

> Pick any sedan.

That is simply just a comparison, not an objective analysis.

Identify the actual need.

Most vehicles are designed based on want, not what is actually required... because that's what sells. In fact, due to that many vehicles offer power well beyond what you need... because people believe that is necessary.

Let's talk numbers instead, not vehicles. I've been through this countless times now on other forums. All proved need was well fulfilled already. The ever-shrinking 0-60 times don't provide any benefit (the "diminishing returns" effect). You simply don't need to go faster. But if you did, there would be an identifiable value available. What is it?

 

[Guest]

John, I think the question is asking if the Prius has any passing acceleration and the simplest way of answering this is to compare it with any other car. In all respects when the "MFD" is turned off the Prius is exactly like any other car. In all peremeters.

 

[john1701a]

Of course Prius is fast enough. In fact, if you drop the pedal too the floor you will slam into the vehicle in front of you. Heck, accelerating onto the highway is always a casual task for me. I simply don't need the maximum available.

Prius easily fulfills the speed requirement. In other words, comparisons are pointless. If a traditional vehicle can go faster, that additional speed doesn't accomplish anything. You already have enough to safely pass someone, even while traveling at highway speeds.

Look for actual numbers. There are several reports of owners routinely driving at +80 MPH.

 

[Michael F. Holahan]

Acceleration, et al, et cetera.

Sirs:
Being totally unfamiliar with Prius' road characterisitcs and unable to test-drive one due to unavailibility I simply wanted to know if it has sufficient acceleration to merge with "freeway" traffic which too often consists of anarchists intent on driving 20, 30 or more mph faster than the posted limit, and do it safely. I am not an ingeneer nor a speculative philosopher. (a little Thomistic sometimes.) Just had a simple question i.e. Will it keep me out of harm's way provided I use due caution? I didn't mean to stir up any controversy. If "will perform like any other car" means as well as my 10-year-old (4 cyl.) Accord wagon, then I'll be quite happy with that estimation.
Thanks,
Holahan.[/i]

 

[mrv]

for most of the on-ramps onto rt.9
between Newton and Framingham MA,
there is a Stop sign (!) at the end
of the onramp. Posted speed on
most of this section of road is 50mph,
although I have caught myself doing
65mph on it and being passed...

Anyhow, no problems getting onto
the highway and merging. Just takes
a bit to learn the traffic patterns
(a traffic light a mile or two back,
helps to spread the traffic into
bunches of fast and slower cars).
Quite often, when leaving the onramp
behind another vehicle to get into
a large enough opening, I find
myself accelerating faster than the
car in front of me and I have to
immediately move into the left lane
to pass the car in front of me...

 

[john1701a]

Here's a real-world example for you, something I just did with my Prius 30 minutes ago...

I was following a small pickup, freshly loaded with building supplies from the hardware store we both were just at. At the stop-sign, I watched his load slide several feet backward as he pulled away. That really scared me... because the next stop was an upward hill. There's was no way it could remain inside much longer. I had to do something, either stop following him or stop him. So on that busy two-lane road, I punched it and passed him... despite it being a no-passing zone. Then when I got in front, I put the 4-way flashers on and glided to a soft stop. He and all the following traffic wondered what the heck I was doing, blatantly causing a road-block like that. I got out, walked back, and said "Your load shifted and almost fell out." He instantly started exclaiming cheers of thankfulness.

He had no idea how close he came to losing his purchase and causing an accident.

I was absolutely delighted by that demonstration of assertive driving.

Prius is definitely capable, no further power questioning is necessary. Just buy one.

In other words, some of us are really tired of the power misconception. After 5 years, you'd think we'd be able to reply with just a summary of unquestionable facts. Apparently, that still isn't the case. Any suggestions?

 

[Canadian Prius]

I have been driving for 40 years, and I've owned dozens of cars of many types, and the Prius does well by comparison to any of them. The Prius has all the power necessary to operate safely in any kind of traffic situation. It has good accelleration from any normal driving speeds. The braking and handling are also excellent.

Sure, there are plenty of cars that can beat it in a drag race - if that's what you're in to, then buy a muscle car with a huge engine. Other than that, I doubt that you will ever have the need for all the available power a Prius can deliver.

In fact, most Prius owners probably drive in a fairly moderate way since they are likely interested in gas conservation. In those cases where immediate power is needed, the Prius is quite surprising to such a driver since the contrast to moderate driving is quite unexpected. Being accustomed to handling the car in a gentle way, one tends to forget that serious power is available when needed.

This is what matters. Numbers are good for comparison, but they don't tell you what your level of confidence will be while driving a car in traffic. That confidence comes from the experience of driving the car. I doubt there will be any Prius owner who will say their experience is less confidence-inspiring than mine has been.

 

[ehurtley]

No one buying a car with a less-than-two liter engine is interested in 0-60 mph acceleration.

Hrm. I used to own a Ford Escort GT that had a 1.8 liter engine that could do 0-60 in about 6 seconds. And a top speed above 140 mph. It was a nice little Mazda-manufactured engine that had a whopping 185 horsepower, and red-lined at 9,000 rpm.

That said, even though the Prius has a 'small' gas engine, the electric motor more than makes up for it, since acceleration is determined by torque, not horsepower; and electric motors have a LOT of torque, all of it available at zero speed. Unlike gas engines, that have to rev pretty high to get their max amount of torque. I would favorably compare my day-to-day acceleration needs of the Prius to my old Ford, or to my wife's old Nissan Maxima, a V6 car. Yeah, it's not a 'race' car, but it has more than enough power for just about any driver, and just about any situation.

 

[ElectricTroy]

How many times do you actually "pass" another car at 40 mph? I imagine two situations:
- single lane road - oncoming cars prevent passing
- multi-lane interstate - traffic is bumper-to-bumper... again no opportunity to pass

Personally I find little opportunity to test my car's 40 to 80 acceleration. Anyway here are the numbers from car&driver:
Top-gear acceleration,
30–50 mph 5.5
50–70 mph 7.9


Accord Hybrid 3.0 liter:
Top-gear acceleration,
30-50 mph: 4.0
50-70 mph: 5.1

 

[ehurtley]

I used to drive from Portland, OR to Prescott, AZ (It's in Northwestern Arizona, about halfway between Phoenix and Flagstaff, but not on the major freeway,) and back half a dozen times per year. Half of the trip is on small state highways with varying 55-75 limits, all with 55 limit on trucks. I would drive it 'straight through' in 20 hours, only stopping for gas and fast food. One stretch would invariably be driven in the middle of the night was heavily used by trucks, with very few cars at that time of night. I would pass these trucks on the two-lane highway regularly, probably 10-20 an hour, but on a stretch where oncoming traffic was light enough that there were plenty of opportunities to pass.

And in some cities, there are still times when multi-lane interstates are not bumper-to-bumper, yet still heavy enough traffic (and with inconsiderate drivers who drive 10 under the limit in the left lane) that you get opportunities to 'pass' instead of just cruising at a fixed speed.

Yes, I don't have to make a 40-80 acceleration that often, but when I do, I like having the power to do so. (The Prius has plenty. My now-rarely-used Ford Explorer XLT Sport, on the other hand, is a little lacking.)

 

[CaPriusLover]

There are times when I notice other drivers don't want to be behind me. My assumption is that they don't want to get "stuck" behind a slow car. I've been known, now and again, to punch it when a light turns green just to let everyone know that I HAVE the power, I just chose not to use it!

On my drive home, I have multiple times where I will pass other cars. This is usually when they are driving under the speed limit (I set my cruse controll to 67 MPG). Every time I punch it, I am reminded that the power is not lacking.

I keep telling people, I have a gas engine and an electric motor working together. Why wouldn't I have the power I need?

 

[Guest]

i also am a car guy and have owned everything from a four hundred horse chevy powered austin healy to violent motorcycles etc. i find the acceleration of the prius to be adequate and not a problem for others around me.actully pretty quick once its rolling. ive had absolutely no problem with merging speeds or passing speeds. its absolutely fine. sometimes i do miss my childish head snapping (but fun) acceleration of other vehicles ive owned but dont be fooled this car can gently but competently get out of its own way with no problem. in other words the acceleration is defintely safe enough.

 

[mrfredsporty]

oops! for some reason the topic said i was a guest. ive actually been posting for about a year.now let me try it again with my official name.
ps ahhh thats better