Reader’s Ride of the Week: Proud Prius

David S.
By David S. Wallens
Jul 24, 2017 | Toyota

“You guys actually gave me a nod many years ago in one of your issues for doing the unthinkable: autocross with a Prius,” writes Paul Sexton. “Well, I’m still at it.” Paul is now on his third Prius, this one being a 2015 model.

“What’s it like to autocross a Prius?” Paul continues. “Interesting. Obviously autocross has its own difficulties. Let’s throw in a roughly 3000-pound gas/electric hybrid that was NEVER built with any idea of motorsport in mind, and it really gets very interesting.”

A Miata might make more sense, he admits, but the Prius has its advantages. “Let’s be honest: How many other cars are going to get people’s attention–on course, at speed–than a bright-red Prius?” he explains. “Throw in the fact I commute roughly 90 miles a day to work at a Toyota dealer I’ve been a part of for 16 years, and you can begin to see why I have the Prius.”

For 2017, Paul added some fresh dampers while moving to fresh Bridgestones. Plus, he gets help from RacersHQ, Rynopower Sports Supplements, Virus International and Amsoil. “I’m hoping this combination will be enough to bridge the gap between myself and the kings of the H Street class,” he says. “Time will certainly tell.”

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Comments
759NRNG
759NRNG HalfDork
7/24/17 12:49 p.m.

Well I guess why not.....most of these I encounter while driving the 'V' are either into the frugallastouncempgpissy'alloff mode or berk your V I'm agonna show you how to really take this on ramp....so there!

AClockworkGarage
AClockworkGarage HalfDork
7/24/17 1:51 p.m.

My local club has an EV/Hybrid class. I've been considering it for a few years now...

MugenReplica
MugenReplica New Reader
7/24/17 2:18 p.m.

How about Prius Road Racing???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJZoyLJvxNQ

maschinenbau
maschinenbau GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
7/24/17 3:55 p.m.

Didn't someone on this board stiffen the rear of their Prius by welding a big plate over the opening on the torsion beam axle?

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
7/24/17 5:40 p.m.

Box in that rear twist beam! Best. Mod ever! Real tires in real sizes (bf gforce sports) are a revalation too, I run 205in front and 195 rears cause thats what I had. Still averaging low to mid 40mpgs. I've got all of a 50 shot apart from a bottle but I'm a little scared to spray it with the atkinson and plastic intake. Anyone know if it's ok to spray a prius?

jere
jere HalfDork
7/24/17 10:34 p.m.

In reply to MugenReplica:

That's promising he made it 1 minute before spinning out

I am gonna bite the bullet on one pretty soon myself its nice to know there's a little light at the end of the tunnel

Vigo
Vigo UltimaDork
7/24/17 11:42 p.m.
759NRNG wrote: Well I guess why not.....most of these I encounter while driving the 'V' are either into the frugallastouncempgpissy'alloff mode or berk your V I'm agonna show you how to really take this on ramp....so there!

I hit 93 in a Prius today. Which, if you think about it, is WAY closer to its top speed than the 117 i touched in the 911. I always drove the Prius hard. It's 'only' averaging 38mpg now. Cry me a river.

Didn't someone on this board stiffen the rear of their Prius by welding a big plate over the opening on the torsion beam axle?

I picked up a 2nd stock rear sway from my friend who upgraded his Corolla and was just going to double up with longer bolts, but now that my mom drives the Prius occasionally I gave that up. I got it royally sideways once anyway. WITH stability control. I never did try it on the Prius but coming off my experiences getting my Insight and Caravan to rotate playfully, i second the 'traction stagger' recommendation.

MugenReplica
MugenReplica New Reader
7/25/17 7:00 a.m.
jere wrote: In reply to MugenReplica: That's promising he made it 1 minute before spinning out I am gonna bite the bullet on one pretty soon myself its nice to know there's a little light at the end of the tunnel

Lol, I know what you mean. There are a few other vids on there where he did reasonably better. It's one of those things, you buy and modify to hope for the best enjoyment possible whether it be daily or project status.

Owning an iQ, I get a lot of crap from people. Here's another Prius build that recently crashed unfortunately.....

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57786

He currently has the Quantum kit for sale too. I followed the auction on eBay and he got the kit for virtually nothing, but the 1NR-FE has a narrower head setup than the 1NZ-FE, so I can't use it, but maybe something ala BLITZ kit/style for you in the future....

"No pix yet unless you want to check out the May 2005 issue of CARGO magazine, Page 103

It says:

"BLITZ Prius Turbo Kit"

This K2 turbo bumps HP from 76 to 130HP, and added to the 67 hp from the electric motor, gives you 197 HP (so says CARGO).

Okay! And we presume that doubling the horsepower might affect...um...fuel mileage?

So tell me again... why do you buy a pretty heavy, underpowered, top-heavy, gas-stingy hybrid electric car and then turbo-charge it?

Am I missing something? Or am I just an old-fashioned kinda guy?

Here's the website, but no product yet---article says:

"it will go into production if enough power-hungry hybridheads speak up."

http://www.blitz-uk.co.uk/2003/turbo.html "

Aspen
Aspen Reader
7/25/17 9:45 a.m.

I tied to autox my CT200h once. The first run is fine as you have full battery reserves. By the 2nd run the battery is pretty much done. How are you supposed to regen it at an autox? Leave drive up and down the street and then come back?

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