To LA and Back, a Prius Story.

F8L · 05-23-2007, 11:07 PM

I took a trip from Fairfield, CA. to Glendale to visit my old friends and attend the annual Bug Show at the Natural History Museum.

The trip there saw temps in the low-mid 80s and very little wind. I maintained a speed of 65mph when possible and never over 75mph to pass big trucks. I did no drafting other than when stuck behind a truck for a short time. I didn't attempt any real hypermiling but I did drive fairly smoothly.

The trip back was less than flattering. There were high winds and the temps were about the same. No matter what I tried I couldn't bust anything better than 43mpg. I wasn't going to take a shot of that. lol

So in essense even though the distance traveled and the road conditions were the same there and back the high winds caused a significant change in MPG.

That is the story.....

seasidetraveler · 05-23-2007, 11:12 PM

You were in the neighborhood and didn't say hello?

I have never gotten the greatest mileage on long freeway trips, but still better than any other non-hybrid car I have ever owned, much better.

I just filled up today and averaged 50 mpg. That is good for my driving!

F8L · 05-23-2007, 11:18 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ May 23 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]448704[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

You were in the neighborhood and didn't say hello?

I have never gotten the greatest mileage on long freeway trips, but still better than any other non-hybrid car I have ever owned, much better.

I just filled up today and averaged 50 mpg. That is good for my driving!
[/b]

LOL I almost made plans to go to the Prius meeting in Lake Forest but it was another hour further south and I just couldn't get up that early on Sat. after staying up so late.

I hear ya though. 50mpg is about as good as I can get without resorting to ticking people off with my driving.

seasidetraveler · 05-23-2007, 11:29 PM

A Prius meeting? WHA?

Also- I travel a lot up to Fresno, CA to visit family, and I can't go slower than 75 mph, my Prius wont let me

Such an ugly, boring drive... I usually cruise at 80 mph so that is why I get in the mid 40mpg's

F8L · 05-23-2007, 11:34 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ May 23 2007, 08:29 PM) [snapback]448718[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

A Prius meeting? WHA?

Also- I travel a lot up to Fresno, CA to visit family, and I can't go slower than 75 mph, my Prius wont let me

Such an ugly, boring drive... I usually cruise at 80 mph so that is why I get in the mid 40mpg's
[/b]

This one

I hear ya on the speed. 65mph was just fine on the way down because I was listening to "Collapse" by Jared Diamond on cd. On the way back I was listening to "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris and he was going on about 14th century christians and modern muslims. I was so disgusted I couldn't help drive faster as if I could somehow speed through history. lol

seasidetraveler · 05-23-2007, 11:42 PM

Darn, I missed it! I was coaching a class all day Saturday! I will have to see if there are other clubs nearby- Lake Forest is only 30 minutes from me.

OlsonBW · 06-01-2007, 02:41 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ May 23 2007, 08:07 PM) [snapback]448697[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I took a trip from Fairfield, CA. to Glendale ... So in essense even though the distance traveled and the road conditions were the same there and back the high winds caused a significant change in MPG.[/b]

A couple weekends ago my wife and I went from Federal Way, WA (between Tacoma and Seattle) to Portland OR. Our mileage in the morning going down was in the mid 50s. On the way back that evening it was in the low 40s and we ended up with just above 45 mpg for the trip. It felt like I was hitting headwinds all the way back.

F8L · 06-01-2007, 08:43 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OlsonBW @ Jun 1 2007, 11:41 AM) [snapback]453391[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

A couple weekends ago my wife and I went from Federal Way, WA (between Tacoma and Seattle) to Portland OR. Our mileage in the morning going down was in the mid 50s. On the way back that evening it was in the low 40s and we ended up with just above 45 mpg for the trip. It felt like I was hitting headwinds all the way back.
[/b]

Well duh! You were going NORTH on the way back, everyone and their Ent knows going North is going uphill. :P Sorry for the Lord of the Rings reference. lol

I noticed this effect nearly every day i commute from Fairfield to Sacramento on I-80. On the way to Sac I get 49-50mpg but on the way back I hover in the 39-43mpg range. My average to Sac last night was 54mpg (no real wind) . I drove around town then went back to Fairfield and the return trip dropped my average to 47mpg (lots of wind). Grrr I hate windy days!

hill · 06-03-2007, 02:18 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ May 23 2007, 11:18 PM) [snapback]448706[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

LOL I almost made plans to go to the Prius meeting in Lake Forest but it was another hour further south and I just couldn't get up that early on Sat. after staying up so late.

[/b]

Only an hour away from Lake Forest, and you didn't stop by for a ride on our ALL electric boat? (see avatar, house w/ red roof)

GadgetMan2 · 06-03-2007, 07:00 AM

My 2007 has just over 2300 miles on it now. From day 1, I have never gotten below 49 MPG and average 50-51 daily. On a few occassions I have hit 56+. On the highway, I set the CC at the max speed limit (or slightly higher) and always get 50+MPG. In all cases, I figure an average car or truck gets about 25MPG (some more, some less). At 50MPG, I feel good to get 2x the milage most folks. So, when gas hit $3, I tell people I pay the equivelent of $1.50. In those terms, most people see the benefit of the Prius. Now, to get about the same gas milage as a motorcycle, but with AC, premium sound, all weather driving, bluetooth, etc... is a REALLY great feeling.

I was surprised yesterday to have the wife and one of the kids in my Prius for about 100 miles with AC running all the time and STILL get 51MPG! It makes using the AC a no brainer. No more trying to minimize it's use.

05-23-2007, 11:07 PM	#1
F8L Collecting Data on Nature Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA. Posts: 3,997 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	I took a trip from Fairfield, CA. to Glendale to visit my old friends and attend the annual Bug Show at the Natural History Museum. The trip there saw temps in the low-mid 80s and very little wind. I maintained a speed of 65mph when possible and never over 75mph to pass big trucks. I did no drafting other than when stuck behind a truck for a short time. I didn't attempt any real hypermiling but I did drive fairly smoothly. The trip back was less than flattering. There were high winds and the temps were about the same. No matter what I tried I couldn't bust anything better than 43mpg. I wasn't going to take a shot of that. lol So in essense even though the distance traveled and the road conditions were the same there and back the high winds caused a significant change in MPG. That is the story..... __________________ 2005 Prius California Rangeland ConservationCoalition Ranchers, Environmentalists, And Agencies Working Together For The Benefit Of All.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Another Prius Hummer story	chogan	Prius Main Forum	1	09-28-2006 03:10 PM
Sea Lion on Prius story--I can't be the first	efusco	Prius Main Forum	4	01-13-2006 03:04 AM
another story knocking the prius	syncmaster	Prius Main Forum	45	10-30-2005 11:07 AM
Goofy Prius Story	cha95sim	Prius Main Forum	7	07-19-2005 03:01 PM
NBC Prius story this weekend	jkash	Prius Main Forum	0	12-01-2003 06:32 PM

05-23-2007, 11:12 PM	#2
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: So~Cal Posts: 614 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You were in the neighborhood and didn't say hello? I have never gotten the greatest mileage on long freeway trips, but still better than any other non-hybrid car I have ever owned, much better. I just filled up today and averaged 50 mpg. That is good for my driving!

05-23-2007, 11:29 PM	#4
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: So~Cal Posts: 614 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	A Prius meeting? WHA? Also- I travel a lot up to Fresno, CA to visit family, and I can't go slower than 75 mph, my Prius wont let me Such an ugly, boring drive... I usually cruise at 80 mph so that is why I get in the mid 40mpg's

05-23-2007, 11:42 PM	#6
seasidetraveler Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: So~Cal Posts: 614 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Darn, I missed it! I was coaching a class all day Saturday! I will have to see if there are other clubs nearby- Lake Forest is only 30 minutes from me.

06-03-2007, 07:00 AM	#10
GadgetMan2 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 55 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My 2007 has just over 2300 miles on it now. From day 1, I have never gotten below 49 MPG and average 50-51 daily. On a few occassions I have hit 56+. On the highway, I set the CC at the max speed limit (or slightly higher) and always get 50+MPG. In all cases, I figure an average car or truck gets about 25MPG (some more, some less). At 50MPG, I feel good to get 2x the milage most folks. So, when gas hit $3, I tell people I pay the equivelent of $1.50. In those terms, most people see the benefit of the Prius. Now, to get about the same gas milage as a motorcycle, but with AC, premium sound, all weather driving, bluetooth, etc... is a REALLY great feeling. I was surprised yesterday to have the wife and one of the kids in my Prius for about 100 miles with AC running all the time and STILL get 51MPG! It makes using the AC a no brainer. No more trying to minimize it's use.