New guy on the block! Hi

[vanvanvanvan123]

First time I considered a Prius was today.
Up until today, I thought either a Van, or a Cargo Van would be the most stealth in mostly suburb stealth parking.
Cargo Van appaently sticks out in certain neighborhoods. But I am living in a condo now with a lot of low income people here, and I see white cargo vans, complete with ladders on this block. So when I move out, I am thinking this is a good block for cargo van!

A mini van like a Sienna came to mind, but it has windows.
My biggest problem is I want to be near 70 degrees most of the time - and summers here can hit 90's.. winters can hit 32 F. Comfort means insulation, how in the world can you have insulation and stealth, they seem like opposites. Hanging a dang curtain in a car or van seems counter to commonsense. It is a red flag to me.

All of this, to say... the Prius seems to have my insulation issue, solved.
I am told, the thermostat situation in a prius means I could be cool or warm, with out much insulation at all!

Final hurdle, if the first above idea about a Prius ( thermostat on while you sleep.. batteries keep you comfy ) - is this
How can I sleep in a lower income suburb ( higher income is verbotten... is no way Jose ! ) in a Car like a Prius, without arousing suspicion with the inevitable curtains, and reflective material on windows etc????
To sum up:
It seems like Prius solves my comfort issues. but stealth is still in question?

Thank you
vanvanvan aka still on the fence -)

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Then there is this: If the Prius can be turned on while you sleep and the temp be thermostatically controlled? Big if! Why can't a van have the same batteries that the Prius has to accomplish the same thing?

 

[Suanne]

... the Prius seems to have my insulation issue, solved.
I am told, the thermostat situation in a prius means I could be cool or warm, with out much insulation at all

First, I want to say welcome to the forum!

In hot/humid weather, I sleep with my Prius' thermostat set at 78 which allows me to get a good night's rest.

But, please keep in mind that the engine still comes on intermittently. That is, you can hear the engine run for about 4-5 minutes every 25 minutes or so. It does this to keep the batteries' state-of-charge from getting too low.

So, sleeping with the Prius turned on so that you can sleep with the AC won't give you total stealth. Even tho' I've never slept with the heater on, I did test it out just recently and found that the engine ran a lot more than it did with just the AC.

Suanne

 

[Patrick46]

Hi VanVan!

well...if you DO get this Prius, then you'll hafta change your sign in name!!

I never knew that a Prius had a built in thermostat...that's interesting. (ya learn something new everyday!)

In hot/humid weather, I sleep with my Prius' thermostat set at 78 which allows me to get a good night's rest.

....but 78*?????

LLLLLLLL.........if it's get's over 70* I feel like I'm sleeping in an oven!

(I guess I'm just used to my cool coastal weather!)

Welcome to the forum Van!

Patrick form Oregon

 

[Suanne]

if it's get's over 70* I feel like I'm sleeping in an oven!

(I guess I'm just used to my cool coastal weather!) \

I spend most of my time in Western WA, and grew up in SoCal ... So, 78F does seem like a warm sleeping temp in comparison to those locations ...

But, let me tell ya, I never knew humidity like I've experienced in my travels in the southeast ... whew!

So, it may "only" be in the 80's at night, but it's the humidity that I found to be my biggest deterrent to sleep. The AC at night is used not only to cool it off a bit, but mostly to remove the humidity from inside the Prius. Otherwise, it felt like trying to sleep in a steam sauna, even with the windows wide open and a breeze.

I'm heading to FL now; so, hoping that night AC isn't needed during the winter time. But, I'll be ready if it is

Suanne ... glad to be enjoying the desert sun right now