Modern cars are of such a high standard that there is no such thing as a bad car, just one that is more or less good, and for years I’ve maintained that any modern car can be fun. So I was challenged to prove it.

The challenge was set to prove that what is perceived as being the dullest car on sale, the Toyota Prius, can actually entertain. Not simply drive up and down roads reliably and in comfort, but make you smile.

Nothing more specific was laid out, so I made life easier, and booked the amazing facilities at Millbrook Proving Ground for a day. I’d now have every kind of road and surface available to play on, with complete safety and no oncoming traffic.

Using a new Prius, kindly provided by Toyota, I collected some motoring friends and set off for my first drive in a full hybrid. As a road car, the Prius is exactly as you’d expect any other road car to be; it made no effort to appear overtly green, although the weight saving thin body panels made their presence known with a rattling twang when slamming the doors shut. It’s quiet, smooth, surprisingly firm, and just works.

The official fuel economy figure of 72mpg is perhaps a little optimistic, but a smooth A-road run over 120 miles returned an average of exactly 50mpg, so it’s reasonably frugal.

But you’re not interested in that. You just want to know if you can have fun in a Prius.

Following a breakfast meeting at Little Chef where the crew assembled, we started out at Millbrook’s Steering Pad, getting to know the car a little. Hard turns, unsympathetic braking and rapid handbrake application was the order of the day, but the CVT gearbox and foot operated parking brake hindered progress. Our best handbrake turn frankly wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Halfords car park late on a Saturday night, such was its inadequacy. This wasn’t a good start, but was it us or the car?

Deciding to give up on that before we ruined the tyres, we headed to the High Speed Bowl. The Prius spec sheet suggested a top speed of 112mph, so that was our target. Pushing the 1.8 litre petrol engine and accompanying electric engine, we saw 121mph on the head up display. Whilst quick, the bowl is particularly undemanding, despite the barrier being just four feet from the car. No fun had yet been had.

The City Handling Circuit was next, and this was going to be against the clock. A full course caution was handed out to any other users, as the various speed limits from 5 to 20mph were going to be ignored. The ridiculously narrow and twisty course, with hairpins tighter than a Prius can manage on full lock, finally unlocked some entertainment, with the HUD showing 64mph on one run, squirming under braking for every turn and generally being resentful of what was being asked. A best run of 1:36.7, a worst run of 1:40.6, between five drivers showed it’s at least consistent. And we’d started smiling. The brakes and tyres had also started to make their presence known.

Heading to the Hill Routes, it was time to stretch the legs of the Prius once more. Initially using Hill Route Two, a short 650 metre ovalish route that encompasses an elevation change of some 20 metres, the Prius was asked to perform harder than it’s ever gone before, with speeds of 81mph being achieved at the dip. On the top turn, the stability control interjects, suggesting the speeds are somewhat outlandish but, on the exit, gives up its fight and hands control back to the driver, just as the front washes away like a window cleaner on speed. Dropping two wheels just off the tarmac, the Prius waved a disapproving finger and showed its displeasure with a slide from the rear. I catch it with a dab of oppo and I’m away.

Away to Hill Route Three that is, with gradients of up to 21%. And not just up, but down as well. Heading in to the penultimate turn at a leery 55mph, after being advised to take it at 40mph, the following crest looms large, the suspension compresses, the car squats, and then… silence. The slippery shape of the Prius cuts through the air, unhindered by such things as tyre or tarmac, clear space beneath the chassis showing the aero treatment metered out all round to maintain the Cd 0.25 figure. Then… bang. We’re back down, and scrubbing off speed rapidly for the approaching left hander. Dramatic? Yes. Tidy? No. Fun? Hell yeah!

The photographer is unhappy though, so we have to go round again. And again. By the end of the run, I’m unsure if it’s my back or the Prius that has taken most abuse.

The high speed work done, we head back to the Steering Pad, more aware of the capabilities of the car. Handbrake turns still embarrass, but J-turns are a different matter. Slipping backwards at 30mph before flicking the wheel hard round, it’s actually possible to see the tyre shedding rubber, some of the hotter bits of which remain stuck to the door panels. Halfway round, it’s a move to Drive, straighten up the wheel, and power out. Yes, J-turns are possible. As are reverse donuts, and all manner of other inappropriate behaviour. Right up to the point that the Hybrid system overheated, but that’s nothing a ten minute break couldn’t fix.

All day there’d been nothing but smiles and laughter. Yes, that was in part due to the company we were keeping. But a big part was behaving this way with a Prius.

It performed far far better than anybody expected. It put up with more abuse in one day than most cars get in a lifetime, yet still it returned a surprisingly high 21.2mpg and still it started first time, took us home in comfort, and returned 50mpg once again. Amazing.

And fun. Case proven.

Thank to Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd. for helping to make this possible, and Toyota (GB) Ltd. for being brave enough to lend us the car. Thanks also to MPS Photography for taking some stunning pictures.

Other Events

A shiny Toyota Prius arrived at Cima Racing Towers yesterday, its gleaming white paintwork looking impressive next to the mucky orange that now adorns The General Lee(xus) sitting next to it.

Thus far, we’ve managed a reasonable 50.7mpg, despite making no effort whatsoever to drive particularly economically. The transition from battery to engine to hybrid power is smooth, and the car feels surprisingly taut.

I’m looking forward to seeing what it can do on a closed course. Heavy rain is currently forecast, so that could make the handling circuit more interesting!

All I need to do now is figure out how to turn off the traction and stability control…

We’re doing all this as we want your money so that Comic Relief can help to transform the lives of people across the UK and throughout Africa, so head to our fundraising page athttp://my.rednoseday.com/priuschallenge2011 now and donate.

Other Events

You’ve probably seen us on Twitter where we’ve said any car can be fun to drive. Can’t it? Even a hybrid with a CVT gearbox and foot operated parking brake?

Using a Prius kindly supplied by Toyota, and the wonderful facilities at Millbrook Proving Ground, we’re going to take a break from our usual banger rally silliness and find out.

We’ll be pushing the car hard, round alpine roads, city circuits and skid pans, all in the name of research. Don’t think this will be easy – it’s hard graft we’re putting in, just so you know you can buy a fun car and do your best for the environment.

And we’re doing it all for Comic Relief, so do hand over your money.

If you’re a petrolhead (like most of those involved are) then perhaps you’d like to give 50p or £1 for every MPG we’re under the official government figure (that’s 72.43 mpg) at the end of the day?

Perhaps stick some money in and drop us an email with a guess at the final MPG figure – closest could win something, although don’t get too excited.

Or just stuff some money in as you’re a thoroughly nice person?

Either way, we want your money so that Comic Relief can help to transform the lives of people across the UK and throughout Africa, so head to our fundraising page at http://my.rednoseday.com/priuschallenge2011 now and donate.

Do it. Now.

Other Events

The General Lee(xus) was put through its paces at Silverstone recently, thanks to the wonderful people at the Silverstone Track Club.

Invited down to put their new track day product to the test, we decided to stretch credibility to its limits and eschewed the option of a BMW sports car or an aging Toyota MR2, and instead arrived with a two tonne, four litre luxury car. Painted orange. With a Confederate flag on the roof.

However, The General was still very much under-tyred, with the front tyres being somewhat shy of the legal minimum tread depth. Fortunately our good friends at Continental Tyres stepped in and provided a new set of ContiSportContact 2’s, so we weren’t in danger of sliding off the damp circuit.

Thrashing The General round the technical Stowe and super fast Southern circuits, we managed to achieve 8mpg, but did show a clean pair of tail lights to a Porsche Boxster, amongst other less exotic machinery. With no metal bent, and tyres still mostly in one piece, it was definitely a successful day.

The dry run for Silverstone’s product went well too; they’ve got a great package for track days available, and we’d recommend at least taking a look. Race instructors and sports psychologists sre on hand, so your technique will improve, and you’ll come back a better, more confident driver.

2010 Home2Rome, Other Events