Actually, if I divorced myself from the "benefit of the doubt" I try to afford everyone...at least for a while... The suspicious aspect of the original post is the supposed timeline order. You first "Make a Down Payment". Then discover the forum. Then join the forum. Then read a single thread. Then cancel your purchase. Then go to the trouble of posting a Hello/Goodbye thread that passively/agressively and vaguely defines your reasoning? Thanks but no Thanks? Hello/Goodbye? Oh and Grumpie Cabby? Can I make the check out to G. Cabby?
I try not to act like I know exactly what I'm talking about when I haven't even done said thing. I live in Nebraska. We happen to get a fair amount of ice and snow (not as much as some places though). I know exactly one person out of hundreds and hundreds that ever put "snow" tires on their vehicle. And that was only because it was a rear wheel drive sports car. Please quit commenting on things you have no idea about.
And have a nice day to you too.... Listen, I've hung around this forum a dysfunctional amount of time. I've read numerous threads about driving Prius in the snow. Even without daily access to a Prius? I do know Gen 3 has underbody panels, I also know The Prius is a vehicle with low ground clearance. It does come with Low Rolling Resistance Tires. I'm not going to give up my opinion, just because YOU misunderstood or ignored the term "ideal". I never said the Prius wasn't viable in snow or ice. I simply said I think it fair to say it isn't the "ideal" vehicle, for that enviroment. Extreme snow conditions are NOT what the vehicle was primarily designed to deal with...even if it can. Why my rather benign definition and opinion on this matter seems to upset you so much? I have no idea. I mean the ORIGINAL POST entitled "What Newbs should Know"...which the OP supposedly references says: 5. A Prius is not a snowplow. It has low ground clearance and does not have 4WD. If you get bogged down the car's computers will not let you spin the wheels to try to dig or rocket yourself out (again, it does this to protect the drive train). If you drive in snow you should replace the original tires with snow tires and avoid unplowed roads. This is posted as a sticky....for reference..and so if you disagree with my opinion? I'm not the only one with it.....I think it fair to say the Prius NOT an IDEAL snow vehicle.. If you disagree? Fine...but maybe you should know what YOU are talking about?
I'm in one of the places that gets more than you, the Colorado Rockies. My Prius is just fine up and down treacherous mountain passes in blizzards, on service roads, and any other road any time of the year. It has a squirrly back end sometimes because of the weight but that just means don't corner like a madman. I did a season without snow tires and it was fine. I did a season with non-studded snow tires, and it was better. The fact that less than 1% of the people you know put snow tires on their vehicles means you don't live in a place that even remotely resembles winter. Snow tires are a majority stake around here. One winter set for the winter and then some all-seasons for summer. Those other two seasons really don't exist here...
Your first post validates my earlier point. Thank you. You would really only consider places in the mountains to have a true winter then? Even if where I live gets colder average winters than Denver?
And for any vehicle. I've put them on my FWD Gran Prix and my AWD Explorer and Escape Hybrid. That's why saying that needing snow tires in the snow was a reason for not buying a Prius was the give away the person was a fraud. Why would something that applies to all vehicles be a reason for not buying a Prius.
So I guess when 2k1Toaster says for most people Snow Tires are a majority stake...that's okay... but when I say "most of what I've read from people in environments where this is common...snow tires are a must." That's wrong? Thanks...But I Give Up.....
I don't know what your point was, but if fit the same as mine that the Prius does just fine in the snow, then OK. Denver isn't in the mountains. It is pretty far away from them. You can see them off in the distance, and it is 5000ft above sea level. I work at about 6800ft and live higher than 8000ft. I live on a mountain and drive into "ski-country" quite often (10000ft-12000ft).
Well I would say snow tires aren't a "must", but a "no-brainer". The driving experience is much better with snow tires than without. However it is possible to navigate the same scary terrain without them, but it does require an immense amount of concentration and car-feel. So for $200/yr to $300/yr it is a simple decision to get good snow tires ($600 for 4 tires, 2-3 years of service). But if you choose not to, then you are still ok, but you it is more mentally taxing. No matter what, chains are a good idea. Up until this past week chain access was a requirement on these roads. I too keep a set of good chains in the Prius cargo area under the false floor. I put them on once a year and make sure they are not broken/corroded. I have yet needed them, but you never know when you will need them.
Far be it for me to debate the minutia of the semantic difference between snow tires being a "must" or a "no brainer". I still have heard nothing that moves me from my original statement that The Prius is not an IDEAL snow vehicle. Especially in it's OEM, non-snow tired form. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a big check to write Grummpie Cabby.
I feel the difference is quite large. Must: A firm requirement No Brainer: A non-requirement, but recommended. Assumes the opportunity cost as a percentage of the potential cost for not following the recommendation is incredibly low. Agreed. No 4-wheeled consumer vehicle is ideal on the snow.
That's fine 2k1...like I said, I give up....but I'm not giving up my opinion or right to an opinion. The way you describe driving the Prius in extreme conditions "without" snow tires, and even admit to yourself now having Winter Tires and Summer Tires...still I think for most people would make snow tires a must. Look at it this way. You live in an environment that forces you to be well versed and familiar with driving in rather extreme winter conditions. So your "skill" probably gives you a bigger cushion as far as being able to drive ANY vehicle in the snow or ice... But for most people, perhaps where snow and ice are a rarer occurance, but just as dangerous when the conditions do arise, I'm still going to recommend getting Snow Tires for a Prius- the majority of the time. Oh well, at least we inadvertently hijacked a troll thread...that's not all bad...
Just get in the car and go. There is no "wrong" way to drive your Prius, and the things that people do here to hyper mile are really just that, to squeeze out as much mileage as possible. It's not something you *have* to do.
Yep. CR intentionally doesn't hypermile and yet they achieved the high mileage of any non-PHEV and non-EV (The most fuel-efficient cars).
