Share your thoughts about the Prius and Micki Maynard's Prius diary (http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/prius-diary/) at Green Inc. (http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com).

Hi, everyone, I'll be happy to answer your questions here about my stories, or take suggestions for future Prius Diary episodes.

In the next episode, we're planning to visit the new home of the Prius in Tupelo, Miss., where I was interested to discover that the Prius is not a common car. I'm also starting to prepare for driving the Prius in ice and snow -- which everyone tells me is a different experience than driving on dry pavement.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Best, Micki Maynard

I love my Prius, but I'll say that it doesn't handle well in ice and snow. I'm particualrly frustrated because its traction control can't be disengaged. Once the tires start slipping, you're dead in the water -- no amount of pedal will get it to move. This is particularly dangerous by our house, since the car inevitably bogs down in a blind curve 10 feet from our driveway! Now I know to take our 4Runner on such days.

I'd be interested to hear of any suggestions to improve performance in ice and snow!

Hi, Janis, if you visit the Prius Diary at www.nytimes.com, and look through the comments, several of our readers have posted tips for winter driving.

I also found some tips here: http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/f10/cold-weather-driving-tips-15532/

It will be interesting to find out how the Prius does in a Michigan winter. We only have a few big snowstorms each year where I live, but it can be a challenge to traverse side streets, even in an SUV.

Best,
Micki

I rented a Prius, to test it out, planning to buy one. I rented it for a weekend but returned it after 8 hours. I found the power dangerously inadequate for certain situations, such as a long upgrade on a highway. Also it really feels to me like a $15,000 car. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED!!!

There is a new model to appear some time in 2009, I think over the summer. It will have a 1.8 engine instead of 1.5, be more powerful AND offer better MPG than the current model. I will try that one, as well as the so-called Honda "Prius-killer" due spring of 2009.

I also tried the Camry but handling is, uh, not my cup of tea.

They COULD be producing, right now, a fun handling decently powered 40mpg hybrid. Why do they fail to do this?

The auto companies are always a mystery to me.

Art M.

Apparently my previous answer did not work

Art M. I am sorry that you did not like the car. I have one and I really enjoy it everyday. I have a pretty long commute from Durham, NC to Raleigh, NC (20 miles) and the car is fantastic for such purpose. I average 49 MPG. So I don't even use a gallon of gas on my way to work.

Of course, the car is not as powerful as other models but I certainly never felt that it is "dangerously inadequate". Maybe you are used to drive very powerful cars. The purpose of the Prius is to drive smoothly so that you really get an good gaz mileage. (Rf to Micki earlier posts). Therefore, having a more powerful engine would probably be counterproductive.
It's kind of a game. How far can I go with a tank of gas?

Have you tried the Ford Escape Hybrid? It might be an option for you.

Regarding the new Prius apparently its released has been delayed.

Micki, I really enjoy reading your blog.

This thanksgiving we are going to take the car on a trip from North Carolina to Michigan. It will be interesting to see how it performs in the Mountains of West Virginia.

Take care and enjoy your new Prius.

I have also heard that Prii is the plural of Prius. I even read this in the NY times. I don't remember where and when though.

For those who haven't seen the latest Prius Diary Extra from Micki, take a look: http://is.gd/3MFH

Toyota, it seems, is considering new, smaller variations on the car, under a separate Prius brand.

Many thanks to the growing number of fans of Green Inc., by the way. We're happy to have you. -Tom Z.

Merci, Jean-Gabriel!

I drove my Prius on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Kentucky last weekend. What a gorgeous drive, and what a pleasure in the Prius. I felt perfectly safe and certainly felt like I had enough power.

Bon vacance,
Micki

I'm an original Prius driver -- bought a 2001 from Toyota online, and replaced it, again in response to a Toyota online offer, when the 2004's came out -- the completely new redesign. I've put about 60000 miles on it in the not quite 5 years I've owned it despite the fact that it sat almost idle for a year as I recovered from an accident (not an auto accident) in rehab facilities. I've driven between Florida and Ohio on I-75 more times than I can count at expressway speeds and have never felt underpowered. I've driven through the Smokeys of Tennessee and North Carolina, delighted in the handling. admittedly I couldn't accelerate all the way to the top of some of the steep grades like I could have in my previous Lexuses, but I didn't have to crawl up them either.

I admit that I never tested it on the kind of long, long grades that Mr. Altman might have to face in California. (I note his Berkeley address.) It's possible I suspect that a long enough one might exhaust the battery so that the electrical boost is no longer available and then the little Prius engine might have to labor indeed. It's been a long time since I drove a motor home dragging a Jetta behind it on a trip in California, but I remember some climbs that took forever.

Larry Lodico

I did test Prius a couple of times, thanks to Philly Car Share. I've driven from Philly to NY one occasion, it was flawless on the highway. In the city, it is like nobody, a silent car, more silent than my foot steps if I prefer to walk. Engine is like a baby, I hesitate to wake her up, but as I said, on the highway it was a monster, or let's say, rock star:) I was literally chasing, or following up a Mercedes, the MPG was also spectacular. We are expecting the new Prius model in Turkey. Now that I work for an LPG Autogas Conversion Kit manufacturer, I would be interested in converting the Hybrid to tri-fuel car: Hybrid,Gasoline, and LPG. Voila!

Larry,
it's great to hear about your driving experiences, and to hear from another Lexus-turned-Prius owner. There's plenty of challenging driving around Ithaca, as I've learned. Hope you're well.
Best,
Micki

Micki
Thanks for the sentiment. The Prius is working beautifully here. Tackles Buffalo Street without a hitch, and its maneuverability is great weaving through Collegetown and the Cornell campus. And it's easier to park in crowded downtown Ithaca than the big old Lexus ever would have been. And believe it or not, when I let one of the grandkids drive it's easier for me to get my size 15 feet in and out of the backseat of the car than it is most other cars including the Lexus.
Regards
Larry

I'm extremely satisfied with my six-month-old Prius, taking it literally around the country (from PA to SD, TX, back to SD, MA, SD again, NY, and now using it for a 30+ mile one-way commute in CT). I was pleasantly surprised to see fuel economy dip fewer than 5 mpg when the car was overweighed, driving highway speeds for days at a time. The first frosts I've experienced here in CT with it have not affected fuel economy any more than the usual ups and down of fuel formulation, and I keep my Prius at recommended tire pressure with the original tires still on. Just beware of those clay ditches on the Great Plains!

18100 and counting at 49 mpg -- cheers,
Joseph -- Magnetic Gray in CT

Dear Micki,

I have been driving an Infiniti XM35 for the last three years and I have to admit, I have truly enjoyed this vehicle. I have no complaints about it except that it runs on gas alone. My lease is up next weekend and I will be leasing a 2009 Prius. I am beginning to feel separation anxiety already. I finally had a chance to test drive the Prius this week and it was nice enough.

However, as I was driving home I couldn't help but notice how many big vehicles were on the highway and wondered if that will feel intimidating when I'm driving my Prius? Also as I hit the fair borough of Brooklyn I couldn't help but notice how many bumps and potholes I drove over with ease in my current vehicle and realized I will need to drive very differently in order to keep the suspension in my Prius in good condition. I'm can't wait until this transition time is over...

I am about to buy snow tires for my Prius, and am wonder about any suggestions out there. I am not sure what this traction Control, vs VSC is all about. I have a 2008 Prius and it has been terrific so far. I just want to get through the winter. Any snow tire suggestions?

I just got a bright red Toyota Prius last week!

I’m loving the keylessness and the GPS. It even saved me from getting lost on the way home from the dealership.

One question. Several times now, I’ve released the parking brake, or so I thought, but the red “your parking brake is on” light will stay on the dashboard. Of course, you cannot drive while that light is on. The Prius will not let you shift into drive at all. Once I had to release and reapply the brake multiple times and turn the car off and on over five times before the light went off. Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone else had this problem? My husband thinks I’m nuts

Rini. You are not nuts. We also have a bright red happy 2006 Prius and I've had the same thing happen. You may want to take it to the dealership and have it adjusted.

Another common problem is trying to get the car into and then out of neutral. It can take some practice to finesse it just right!

We live in Oregon and have found that it does very well in the constant rain. Not so good on the steep gravel roads. And it can be a little frightening in the snow/ice.

I have a 2004 Prius and have mounted the Hakkipaleta Nokian all-weather tires. I am in Minnesota and needless to say we need good tires here in the winter. I've never had a problem on ice or snow or wet or dry with these.

I have a 2008 prius and in summer and fall we got around 47 mpg. The temp here avg's around 32 degrees in winter. Our fuel consumption has gone down to 30 mpg with 28 being the worst. The toyota dealer says this is normal with heat and defrost. We are sparing with them, also the daily commute is 5 miles roundtrip. Does anyone else's fuel consumption increase by 50% in winter? I feel the EPA estimate is misleading if it was calculated with no heat or whatever for winter driving?
anyone else having this low mpg who lives in a cold climate. Also car is garaged so it is reasonably warm for startup. I love the car, but the fuel consumption seems wrong

Had a Prius here in Connecticut for a year. Handles the small hills (400 ft tall inclines are the "large" ones), the roads and highways just fine. Goes 65 mph all day long averaging 50 mpg. Can't beat it.

Handles snow and ice as well as any automatic transmission, 2 wheel drive car I've ever driven. Sure, four-wheel drive is better, and I prefer manual transmissions - but hey, can't have everything. The Vehicle Stability Control and Anti Lock brakes work as advertised.

Anyone having trouble in the snow? Drive as if there's a glass of water on the dash, half full, and don't spill it. This past winter I drove (on modest inclines) in snow and ice too slippery to walk on safely and had no trouble with the Prius.

Power? Plenty for a 4 cyclinder car. I have a Toyota Echo too. The Prius is our "big" car. Both in spaciousness, and in engine power. But clearly, it's not a muscle car, but then, that's kind of the whole idea.... yes? no?

The new 2010 Priuses have started arriving in North America as of this week!

philin upward