Operation in "real" winter environments

those PTC heater elements might be ok for a cool morning in Florida but at 10 below you might as well be smoking a cigarette.

 

Ok I know you guys are talking about some very extreme low temps however I have a question about the function of the heat and not so extreme temps. Is my heat going to work fine this winter when temps hit around 15- 20f? I like it warm, in the summer I usually set my ac to 76- 80f, my house is also around 80f all year. This will be my first winter with a Prius and I am going to be very very upset if my heat doesn’t work well. If I travel to the north (Maine) and it gets even colder will I have heat? I can almost (at least most days) get by with no ac but I refuse to be cold.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Sep 15 2006, 08:27 AM) [snapback]320014[/snapback]</div>

That just barely qualifies as "real" winter. It's no big deal for a Prius. Any warmer and you'd be able to cook stuff with the heater.

Basically, there is no issue whatsoever until the temperature drops to near 0 F.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Sep 15 2006, 09:31 AM) [snapback]320020[/snapback]</div>

So when I drive up to Maine for Christmas I am going to have problems during the drive or only when I first start the car?

I can handle a little warm up lag, but not having adequate heat wile driving is going to have me po’d

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IAO @ Sep 15 2006, 09:56 AM) [snapback]320036[/snapback]</div>

It all depends on two things.

1 What car are you coming from? Another small 4 cyl car or a big car with V8 and tons of extra heat.

2 How fast are you driving during warm up. Even at 15 deg F the Prius without mods will not warm up driving 25 to 35 mph with lots of stops at red lights. On a highway at 55 or faster it will warm up fine.

Around Boston area I find the car cold compared to most cars I've owned, but not compared to other 4 or less cylinder cars.
And I have added insulation and cold front etc that help me keep warm now, after freezing my first winter with the car.

I am now comfortable at any temps down to about -10 F at least.

 

I had a Mini Cooper S, but that car would warm up before I got even half a block from home. (1.6l supercharged 4 cylinder)

I am more worried about being stuck in traffic. I hope the car can stay warm wile I drive on the highway at 50- 60 mph.

If I have to modify this car just to stay warm, I am going to be questioning owning the car. Seriously if I get stuck in traffic or a bridge opening were I will be stopped for 15 or more minutes and I lose heat. I may consider going back to a Mini and I will not lease it at that that point. Im sure the trade in on a 2006 Prius with 6,000 miles would pay for a decently equipped Mini.

 

What effect will being parked in the street have on the car warming up / staying warm. I don't have a garage and my parking garage at work isn't heated. The worst we usually get cold-wise is a stretch of sub-10F temps.