something's not right

[mfarmer1]

Ok, new Prius owner here. Sorry if this is the same old same old. Anyway, got this car because I drive about 30K per year and wanted to save some money. I'll say it up front, I could care less about being green, I think man-made global warming is a crock, and I don't even recycle aluminum cans...I'm in this to save money to spend toward jet-a fuel to get me to exotic scuba diving locations hopefully leaving a Godzilla-like carbon footprint everywhere I go before Mother Gaia reclaims my body. Ok...the first two tanks I'm not even getting 38MPG. I keep it between 68-75 on the freeway which feels as if I'm almost walking it's so slow compared to how I'm used to driving. Even then I'm almost a road hazard here in southern California. I also drive at least 35 miles at a clip on the freeway to start and end my workday, so it's not all stop and go. I see people here talking about 60+ MPG and either they're lying, only drive downhill and never use the AC, or I've got a lemon. Is there a bunch of extra smog junk slapped onto California vehicles courtesy of the socialists in Sacramento hurting the mileage? My father in law has had one of these things for four years and he states he gets 41 MPG routinely. Wish he would have told me that before I bought this thing...wish I would have asked. I would have been better off buying some el-cheapo car that gets 32 mpg for half the price. Oh well, I've got my deposit down on an Aptera due to be delivered next Spring. Anyway, I just need to hear if this is routine for a new Prius and if I can drive like a normal person and will see improvement or if I have to turn into some obsessive hyper-miling geek to get at least the EPA estimates. After all, they already forced Toyota to drop the estimates 20% or so. Thanks.

[tasker109]

i think the biggest thing that is affecting your mpg's is your speed. nobody gets good gas mileage doing 75 miles and hour. also this time of year, a/c eats up your mpg's.

[dwreed3rd]

I probably should not be one to answser, but have faith, they will come. It is my understand that long drives at highway speeds are not the Prius' forte. At least, not without pulse and glide. The "stop and go driving" that you actually claim is not "all" of your driving, Is actually the Prius' forte. Remember, the Prius extends MPG by storing energy from breaking and slowing down to power the motor generators, thus saving gasoline. Long runs at highway speeds w/o breaking or downhills are not condusive to taking advantage of the hybrid system. That's my novice optnion. Much better and more accurate opinions and advice will follow. Welcome to the group. I hope it works out for you. But then, as great a car as the Prius is, it is not the best car for everyone.

[Kcissem]

Originally Posted by mfarmer1

I see people here talking about 60+ MPG and either they're lying, only drive downhill and never use the AC, or I've got a lemon.

Maybe no one is lying, maybe you don't have a lemon and just maybe it is the driver? I see you blamed everything else but left out the possibility it may be a driver defect.

As someone already said going 75mph is not the prius's forte, it has been said for every 5mph over 55 you lose about 5mpg. My first tank i drove 65 to 70mph and averaged 48mpg. My second tank i slowed to going around 60mph and averaged 55mpg and now on my third tank still traveling at 60mph but raised my tire pressures to 42/40 i am at 59mpg. I also have been practicing the different driving techniques such as pulse/glide and warp stealthing i've read about on here as well as just simply slowing my speed down and staying in the slow lane.

you can't drive a prius like any other car and expect to get the epa or above mpg estimates, you have to take advantage of the hybrid system to get the most efficent fuel use and as anything in life this can take practice and patience

[Sp33dy_gr33n]

mfarmer, slow down a little and coast when you can. You'll get the hang of it. On another note - you should recycle more - my kids would appreciate it.

[efusco]

New owner? Want MPG help? Read this first.

[mfarmer1]

Originally Posted by efusco

New owner? Want MPG help? Read this first.

Efusco,

Thanks. However, I just need to drive, not play games with my car. The dealer should have told me that I would need to master "warp stealthing" or drive 20 mph slower than every other car around me on the freeway to achieve the advertised mileage.

I just bought a Toyota Corolla for one of my employees. 17K out the door. He gets 32 mph and drives like a normal person. No offense, but most of us are too busy to worry every second about how we're driving a car in order to maximize its efficiency. That's borderline time to go to the shrink behavior.

I'll keep it until next Spring when my Aptera gets built and delivered. Even if I only get half the advertised mileage in that contraption, it will still be 150 mpg.

[mfarmer1]

Originally Posted by Sp33dy_gr33n

mfarmer, slow down a little and coast when you can. You'll get the hang of it. On another note - you should recycle more - my kids would appreciate it.

Thanks for the tips, but it looks as if I bought something not for me. I just want to get in and drive, without having to master quantum physics and worrying about "warp stealthing", "black hole avoidance", and the Borg for that matter while trying to address IT concerns for my clients. With that said, the bluetooth in this car is the best one I've ever used.

Check out Penn and Teller's Bullsh*t episodes on recycling on Youtube. You might be surprised.

[mfarmer1]

Originally Posted by tasker109

i think the biggest thing that is affecting your mpg's is your speed. nobody gets good gas mileage doing 75 miles and hour. also this time of year, a/c eats up your mpg's.

Like I said...that's slow for me. I bought the wrong car. I really don't mind paying the gas prices and in fact have rather liked the fact that traffic has been slightly lighter as of late, but thought I could save some money by moving to a more fuel efficient vehicle. Don't get me wrong, 38 mpg is certainly more than I get in my Pathfinder, but the trade-off is huge and probably not worth the cost in my case. Thanks.

[kazots]

I think you are correct in saying this car may not be the right car for you. I notice when I am rushed and push my Prius and always staying on the gas I only get 43 mpg. I find the Prius made me understand, "slow down and smell the roses."