Really bad gas mileage on 07

[Marla]

I did a search and read about gas mileage in other Prius's, and nowhere did I find gas mileage as crappy as what my brand new 07 is getting....30 mpg...I was more than shocked, I called the dealership to ask...they tryed to say everything was fine, but somehow I just have a hard time completely trusting a salesman (no matter how nice they are)

I have had the car exactly 5 days. It has 244 miles on it. I filled it yesterday w/6.5 gallons on the trip meter was 200 miles (44 miles is when I bought the car) The computer says 30.6...yep, thats about right when I do the long division. Thats worse than my old 95 Subaru! URGH! I think I want my money back <_<

I am driving mostly in town. 30 miles average trip. I let the car warm up, as it has been frigidly cold (below zero) since Sunday. I am not driving fast (obviously, due to weather).

BTW, snow tires really will benefit this car in this type of driving. THe little "slip" indicator light has been working overtime!!!! (winter storm/blizzards)

I am shocked and bummed out about the gas mileage. Do I have a lemon?

[Stev0]

I think it's the weather, and those short trips are killers. A couple of days ago I filled up at a station about two miles from home. Then yesterday I went on a bunch of errands, all about a mile apart. Result: 10 miles, 27 MPG average (today I had to go further, so it bumped to 20 miles, 35 MPG. Tomorrow I drive even further so it will hopefully be back at its regular 43 MPG when I get home).

[eagle33199]

Since the weather turned cold (10 degrees this morning!), my mileage has dropped... from upper 40's to lower 40's. Note that short trips will give you horrible gas mileage, as the car is still warming up.

You also said something about letting the car warm up... do you mean letting it sit there running before you get into it to go? Cause if so, that could be one of your problems. Sitting there burning gas while doing nothing is horrible for mileage - if you bundle up and just get in and go from the start, you'll see poor initial mileage, but overall your mileage will be higher.

[Presto]

The warming up is probably what's killing your mileage. Since the Prius stores the coolant in a thermos. You are pretty much ready to go as soon as the car is on.

[Marla]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Nov 30 2006, 10:43 AM) [snapback]355799[/snapback]</div>

The warming up is probably what's killing your mileage. Since the Prius stores the coolant in a thermos. You are pretty much ready to go as soon as the car is on.
[/b]

Even in 15 below zero weather???????

So far I have found the heater unit sucks too....even on "max hot" , it doesn't allow you to take off your gloves....of course w/wind chill we've not been above -0- for days now...(note to self: do not buy a new car right before winter weather sets in)

Anyway, yes, I let the car warm up so that the defroster is at least working....are you saying it will defrost windows as soon as it says "ready"?? I can't see where that much warm up would create that much of a significant loss in mileage....my old subaru isn't so highly affected by warm up and stop and go traffic (short hops) It was pretty consistent in 30-32mpg regardless of weather. How long do I accept such crappy mileage from a brand new car before I take it back and really complain?

[eagle33199]

the problem is you're burning a lot of gas by trying to let the car "warm up"... if you had purchased the car in the summer, you would have gotten great mileage, then come here complaining about how it suddenly tanked when it got cold.

We've all pointed out why you're getting poor mileage: short trips, warming up the car before going anywhere, cold weather requiring longer warming up.

There's no use complaining about it - there are environmental reasons for your mileage, and no dealer ever promises a given mileage for any car.
*Your mileage may vary*

If the winter mileage is really that much of a deal breaker, then go sell the car and get something else.

[skruse]

Let your Prius teach you how to drive - more glide and anticipation in advance of stop signs and stop lights, less substituting oil for knowledge, more "becoming one" with your 2007 Prius.

I'm on my second 2007 tank of fuel (just turned 600 mi on the odometer), driving with 30k experience on my 2005. The vehicle is new, the weather is turning cold and there is a long way to go to the 10k to 12k mile break-in point. The MFD is showing 47 mpg - not quite the 60 mpg I experienced with my 2005 and warm air temperatures.

If you live in a cold climate, look into installing a block heater and timer. Use synthetic oil. Be patient, continue to read PC and learn from your vehicle. Your goal is long-term fuel economy, not short term. Keep track of your driving using a spreadsheet.

[Paul R. Haller]

I bought an 06 in July and I live in a temperate area... SF bay area. My first tankfull was 52 MPG. WOW! Now, in winter, I'm averaging under 40 MPG. The winter fuel, the car not being broken in fully, and the use of the front and rear defroster each morning <It's parked outside each night> and constant heater use really make the economy go down fast.
-Paul R. Haller-

[Marla]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Nov 30 2006, 11:39 AM) [snapback]355837[/snapback]</div>

the problem is you're burning a lot of gas by trying to let the car "warm up"... if you had purchased the car in the summer, you would have gotten great mileage, then come here complaining about how it suddenly tanked when it got cold.

We've all pointed out why you're getting poor mileage: short trips, warming up the car before going anywhere, cold weather requiring longer warming up.

There's no use complaining about it - there are environmental reasons for your mileage, and no dealer ever promises a given mileage for any car.
*Your mileage may vary*

If the winter mileage is really that much of a deal breaker, then go sell the car and get something else.
[/b]

Honey, its not the *winter* mileage, its the fact of it being **SO** much lower than anything I've read on this forum yet.....hovering around 40 wouldn't have suprised me... hovering at 30 does...thats 25% less than anything I've seen so far on this forum....or on the "official" websites..

And dear, the dealer did make promises...that I would *not* get what the sticker said (60mpg) but 45-50mpg....In this horrid driving conditions I would settle for 38-40....30 seems off the charts...is something broken? (rhetorical question)

[Charles Suitt]

"Prius happy" ??

From these posts, it sounds like this Prius owner has MIS-NAMED himself.

In all of my efforts I have NEVER been able to achieve <30 MPG averages except for brief 5-minute periods on the Consumption Graph. I am in my 3rd year of Prius ownership and have just traded my 2004 for a 2007 Touring Edition. Even with the Dealer's tooling around on my new Prius and some minor adjustments in his Service Department [a visit to the Service Department ALWAYS lowers your MPGs], the first tank mileage exceeded 42 MPG average.

I must ratify previous comments about "warmup." The Prius does not really need "warmup." The ICE coolant thermos keeps coolant hot for well over 24 hours. I find that today [30º in Dallas] my 2007 Prius produced warm air into the cabin within <5 minutes and 2 blocks from home WITHOUT a "warmup" - that's better than our Camry does.

Prius happy will probably learn how to drive and enjoy his Prius and to stop using old driving habits which are 'leftover' from previous experiences. The Prius is a very different car and suggests a learning curve to take advantage of its features.