I'm sitting here in Sun City, Arizona on the return leg of our three month cross USA odyssey. My daughters and I have driven over 8500 miles thus far in almost 2 months, and have had some wondrous adventures, learned lots of US geography and history, and have enjoyed the Prius. The car is, in fact, in for its 30,000 mile servicing as I type this. It is being serviced at Larry Miller Toyota in Peoria, AZ. I'll post more about that experience after it is done. The car has performed flawlessly during the trip, and I'm sure glad I've got cruise control. My mileage, with a roof top carrier, and a loaded car, has been in the mid to high 30's overall, with a low of 26mpg during some high speed mountain travels, and 43 mpg at slower speeds. I've been satisfied. It would have been nice to have the NAV on the trip, and I probably will get it with the next Prius I buy. All in all it has been a wonderful car to drive, the climate control has been excellent, the cruise functions well, the tires are holding okay (at 42 psi front, 40 rear). We have about a week and a half break here, then we are on to the California leg of our trip before heading home to far northern California. More later, Jim

I am VERY glad to hear of a driver doing cross country in the Prius! Many sites I have seen have said they felt it wouldn't be comfortable for long trips. We actually are getting the 2002 w/nav for a trip down to LA next year for my brother's graduation. We will be taking 3 adults in the car, and cramming what ever can fit. I did read that the maximum load capacity for the prius was 800lbs and that is why it can't tow anything. So please let me know how the CA trip went, since we will doing it next year-also are you driving on the grapevine? If so, I am curious to see how the battery holds up on the long uphill.Thanks!<br>Crystal

CleighRogue said on 11/15/01 3:06 pm:<br><br>&gt; country in the Prius! Many sites I have seen<br>&gt; have said they felt it wouldn't be comfortable<br>&gt; for long trips. We actually are getting the<br><br>Well, the only people I've heard complain about the Prius on long trips are those that didn't have Cruise Control installed. (The 2001s in the US did not have CC for an option. Since then there is a Cruise Control retrofit kit available for install on 2001s.)<br><br>&gt; read that the maximum load capacity for the <br>&gt; prius was 800lbs and that is why it can't tow<br>&gt; anything. So please let me know how the CA trip <br><br>the aerodynamics, and the construction of the frame, do not support towing.<br><br>&gt; you driving on the grapevine? If so, I am<br>&gt; curious to see how the battery holds up on the<br>&gt; long uphill.Thanks!<br><br>Many people have taken the Grapevine and other long uphill roads. Many have reported passing other cars and trucks that had trouble taking the climb. The battery will be mostly depleted by the top, but it easily recharges itself back to full through regenerative braking on the way back down! You'll see several messages about this route if you search on the Groups site. <a href=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/ target=new>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/</a>

Thank you for your information! I really appreciate it!! We have some smaller steep hills on the way south that we can practice on-I really like the idea of putting it in the (B?) gear for it to get charged on the way down, does it take some practice to get used to shifting to it while driving? We have been on a stick forever and I think it will be a little tricky to make our brain shift w/o our feet doing anything... we are getting the 2002 model with NAV and cruise, plus the fact that it has a light gray interior I think the trip will be very comfortable (our Saturn has ALL black dash, the car was almost always 10degrees HOTTER than outside when it was sunny and summer.

By: CleighRogue said on 11/20/01 12:17 am:<br><br>&gt;&gt; appreciate it!! We have some smaller steep hills on the way south that we can practice on-I really like the idea of putting it in the (B?) gear for it to get charged on the way down, does it take some practice to get used to shifting to it while driving? &lt;&lt;<br><br>The "B" gear simulates engine braking. The "B" gear is analogous (sp?) to the "2", "1", or "L" gear in a traditional automatic car. (The engine is used for some resistive force on downhills, to give your brakes some relief from overheating.)<br><br>Do not use the "B" gear for normal, all-around driving, as it'll reduce your MPG.<br><br>Regenerative braking (capture of energy normally used to heat brakes, used to recharge the battery) is usually on in normal driving ("D" gear). You'll see the little blue energy flow from the wheels through the "electric motor" to the battery on your Energy Monitor when you're coasting or braking. Regenerative braking only doesn't work in Neutral "N" gear, so try to avoid using "N" except for those special circumstances mentioned in the manual...

Thanks!! We just picked up our 02 Blue Moon Pearl yesterday :))))) We drove around and used the B mode it works really well... Such a smooth drive! We love it, I am still in shock that we finally have it!<br><br>Crystal