I finally got to drive the PHEV again!

[Trex]

Hi,

As some know on here know I hardly ever get to drive the PHEV even though I own 2 of them. Wife and oldest son get to drive them mainly and they love them.

Me, well I mainly get to drive a Ford Courier diesel ute for work. This has a manual gearbox, manual windows, 4wd with high and low range, big offroad tyres, radio and tape player etc. So very basic but feels very manly. :lol:

So I come to the forum very seldom because I am very busy at work through the year (do not need the distractions) and I am probably not the best person to comment on the PHEV through my lack of driving it.

But I got to drive my newest PHEV on a long distance drive the other day.

Well all I can say is WOW. Quiet, smooth, comfortable seating position and view, good on the fuel, and even the fuel tank size and my bladder match up perfectly.

So to all you you people that come on here complaining about your first world problems you have with the PHEV I suggest you sell it and get on with your lives and leave us owners that loves the mighty PHEV in peace. :mrgreen:

Or maybe I should just stay away so I do not have to read the whinging. :idea: Feel like cutting my wrists after catching up on the posts I missed. :lol:

Ok, got that off my chest and feel better now. Now I am back driving the Courier and being jealous of you lucky people that get to drive the PHEV more than me.

But seriously, if I do not see you before, I hope you all have a good Xmas and all that other stuff.

Regards Trex.

 

[Tai626]

I am in the same boat, Trex.

My wife has the PHEV for most of days. And I drive her RAV4 before get my manly truck F150 on the road. Just can not get used to RAV4, even with the Sport version. Don’t like the high center of gravity and front wheel drive. I almost bought a used RAV4 EV (Only in the USA). It is just not my style.

Is there another Outlander in the horizon? Maybe...just need to save money and hope wife gets tired of PHEV and trades her RAV4 for...Model 3! And BEFORE my older daughter gets the driver license. Otherwise, I can see me driving the manly truck for long long time.

Tai

 

[Sumpy]

Happy Christmas to you Trex (and anyone else reading this ). Hope Christmas isn't too hot for you "down under" and you get some more PHEV time.

 

[AndyInOz]

Not too hot? Forecasted 39 degrees C for Christmas day here...

 

[Trex]

Otherwise, I can see me driving the manly truck for long long time.

Tai

:lol: :lol:

Hi Tai,

At least our loved ones are getting to enjoy the PHEV and I feel better for knowing they are in the better (safer) vehicle.

We just have to keep enjoying feeling manly driving our utes or as you yanks say trucks. Yes I like sound of that. Trucks. That sounds even more manly.

Regards Trex.

 

[Trex]

Happy Christmas to you Trex (and anyone else reading this ). Hope Christmas isn't too hot for you "down under" and you get some more PHEV time.

Hello Sumpy,

Hope you had great Xmas and all the best for the new year. Was not too hot, just a lot driving around seeing the in-laws and such so could not have a beer.

But I got to drive the PHEV.

Regards Trex.

 

[Tai626]

After 7 months, I finally got to drive PHEV for all 270 miles...in a day!
Here is a couple of thoughts:
-all passengers slept very well, even I was driving 80mph at 4.5% uphill. The extra torque needed came from electric motors. No noticeable additional noise. Driving ICE cars, my family used to wake up when I down shift to go uphills;
-wife was amazed that we could charge that much batteries when going down hill! I barely use the break;
-somehow the cruise control would cancel the EV mode. I was hoping to set the cruise at 75mph in EV mode so ICE would not start. Just can’t trust my lead footing;
-in the charge mode, most of time, only the front wheels are “powered”. I am expecting the front tires wear out faster than the rear ones (rotation needed);
-I would like to take a spare tire for long trips (from RAV4, same bolt pattern, little different offset). Just need to find an anchor point back in the trunk to tie it up securely;
-need more time to practice “piano” (per Anko): charge, EV, cruise, B0 to B5, displays, etc..that a lot of “keys” to learn how to play. Even if I get to play it well, probably I am just entertaining myself with no noticeable fuel economy.
I can see more road trips in near future. Really fun vehicle to drive.

Tai

PS. To Trex: I totally agreed that our love ones should drive the safer car. Interestingly, 10 years ago, we considered Outlander for my wife’s car among RAV4, RDX, X3. It took her 3 months to decide which one to go (RAV4 sport). This time, it only took her 30 minutes to decide that PHEV is her daily car...very quiet/full “tank” every day and she can rebuke her boss every time he tries to show off PHEV features from his new 530e. Her favorite history is when his boss noticed her car could take ChadeMo!

Pss. Check out this manly UTES for 2020: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFr2TgLAGQ

 

[greendwarf]

I want, I want, I want

 

[Sumpy]

Happy Christmas to you Trex (and anyone else reading this ). Hope Christmas isn't too hot for you "down under" and you get some more PHEV time.

Hello Sumpy,

Hope you had great Xmas and all the best for the new year. Was not too hot, just a lot driving around seeing the in-laws and such so could not have a beer.

But I got to drive the PHEV.

Regards Trex.

And a happy new year to you and yours Trex (and to everyone else reading this )
It sounds like your Christmas was similar to mine, with the exception of the weather (my air con gets used to demist and dehumidify as opposed to keeping you cool).

Not too hot? Forecasted 39 degrees C for Christmas day here...

That's way too hot for me, but looking on the bright side your solar panels musts have been harvesting a load of the wiggly stuff

 

[Trex]

Really fun vehicle to drive.

Yea, if we can get the car off our loved ones.

-in the charge mode, most of time, only the front wheels are “powered”. I am expecting the front tires wear out faster than the rear ones (rotation needed);

With my oldest PHEV, I am on my second set of tyres, I did NOT notice uneven wearing. I think what is happening is at only light loads in Parallel mode only the front wheels are driven but when needed to for higher loads like climbing hills etc you should notice the rear electric motor coming in to help with the load.

Then we have EV mode (and Series mode) around town etc where both electric motors are powered.

What I did notice with the Toyos tyres that I replaced is they lasted pretty well so the PHEV to me is "good" on tyres.

-need more time to practice “piano” (per Anko): charge, EV, cruise, B0 to B5, displays, etc..that a lot of “keys” to learn how to play. Even if I get to play it well, probably I am just entertaining myself with no noticeable fuel economy.

As a person that even anko might say has done a bit of testing fuel economy on the PHEV the only thing I would say is just try to avoid Series mode ie try to be in EV mode on the slow bits. If that includes using Charge mode (or Save mode ) on the fast sections (when in Parallel mode) so be it.

 

[Trex]

Pss. Check out this manly UTES for 2020: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MGFr2TgLAGQ

About time they came out with EV utes, oops I mean TRUCKS.

 

[Trex]

I want, I want, I want

Does that mean you like, you like, you like?

 

[Trex]

It sounds like your Christmas was similar to mine, with the exception of the weather (my air con gets used to demist and dehumidify as opposed to keeping you cool).

I just want to know how the hell we survived the "old days" without air con. I guess we were tougher then? Or the front quarter windows were a god send IMO in those days for demisting and cooling.

Not too hot? Forecasted 39 degrees C for Christmas day here...

That's way too hot for me, but looking on the bright side your solar panels musts have been harvesting a load of the wiggly stuff

Did not get to 39C here. We had a strong Northeasterly sea breeze here that kept the temp down. But not sure about AndyInOz.

Yep, get a lot wiggly stuff :lol: at this time of the year in more ways than one ie snakes and spiders (crawly) as well as amps or volts.

 

[greendwarf]

I want, I want, I want

Like is too mild a word, Trex - Happy New Year

 

[greendwarf]

I want, I want, I want

Does that mean you like, you like, you like?

Like is too mild for what I feel about it, Trex - Happy New Year

 

[anko]

-need more time to practice “piano” (per Anko): charge, EV, cruise, B0 to B5, displays, etc..that a lot of “keys” to learn how to play. Even if I get to play it well, probably I am just entertaining myself with no noticeable fuel economy.

It does become a bit boring to drive the car having no buttons to push. Probably that is the biggest motivator for playing the piano indeed :lol:

 

[anko]

As a person that even anko might say has done a bit of testing fuel economy on the PHEV the only thing I would say is just try to avoid Series mode ie try to be in EV mode on the slow bits. If that includes using Charge mode (or Save mode ) on the fast sections (when in Parallel mode) so be it.

I am with you there. On both accounts ;-)

 

[Trex]

I want, I want, I want

Does that mean you like, you like, you like?

Like is too mild for what I feel about it, Trex - Happy New Year

Thanks and Happy New Year to you Mr greendwarf Sir.

And may you get a manly ute ,oops truck , to drive as well.

 

[Trex]

As a person that even anko might say has done a bit of testing fuel economy on the PHEV the only thing I would say is just try to avoid Series mode ie try to be in EV mode on the slow bits. If that includes using Charge mode (or Save mode ) on the fast sections (when in Parallel mode) so be it.

I am with you there. On both accounts ;-)

Hi anko, good that someone around here remembers those tests I did on fuel economy.

Happy New Year.

 

[AndyInOz]

Not too hot? Forecasted 39 degrees C for Christmas day here...

That's way too hot for me, but looking on the bright side your solar panels musts have been harvesting a load of the wiggly stuff

Hiya! Yes, plenty of wiggly stuff going into the mains, last power bill was $40 for a quarter.

The forecasted hot weather didn't arrive on Christmas day, the max was 32.4, which was just lovely.

Two days later, we hit 40.9 bleh.

Happy New Year PHEVrybody!