I try not to double-up on same-car posts in one day, but I had to share this picture of the outside temperature gauge in our 2004 Toyota Prius.
It ain't kidding. Rght now, here in Yorba Linda, California, 16 miles inland from the Pacific, it is 106 degrees F outside. The weather service is predicting a high of 108 degrees.
At least the electrically-driven AC compressor starts off strong and begins pumping cold air almost immediately after I press the "Power" button to start the car.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing
dgcamero says:
02:27 PM, 09/27/10
I do remember being genuinely impressed with the ac in rental Prius (110+ In Phoenix, Death Valley, and "the Valley" around LA...) Was GM consulted I wonder?
actualsize says:
02:47 PM, 09/27/10
I'm no emissions expert, but I suspect it has something to do with the a start-up emissions strategy other cars with engine-driven compressors must deal with. This electrically-driven compressor runs off the battery, and can start however and whenever it wants. I don't think the Prius ultimately gets as cold as some others after, say, ten minutes, but it does seem to get cold sooner, especially in that most-noticeable first half-minute.
eclogite says:
05:21 PM, 09/27/10
You'll get no sympathy here, Dan. We've had some scorchingly hot stretches in Austin this past summer (last year was even worse). Today finally felt like Autumn - barely cracked 80. Simply wonderful.
mustang5507 says:
11:27 PM, 09/27/10
I'm not too far from Yorba Linda/Fullerton area....and it's a little more than 16 miles from the ocean I'm sure.
actualsize says:
07:06 AM, 09/28/10
@mustang5507: On the road, you're absolutely right. I was talking as the crow flies. I scaled it off a map with my thumb quick-like, so it might be 18 or 20. It topped out at 112F after I went inside and holed up with the AC on.
onramp says:
04:37 PM, 09/29/10
That was one seriously hot day for the history books! Thankfully, some overhead cloud cover and moisture started to move in the next day. It was still pretty hot, but at least the sun wasn't shining directly down completely unattenuated like a laser beam like it did on Mon.