What's your excuse, [you]?

jeneric · 03-26-2006, 02:32 AM

Whenever people ask me my mileage, I hesitate, trying to figure out what they really want to know and trying to extrapolate what the car is really getting at that moment. What about you?

I also want to know whether you give current or lifetime mpg, so tried to give both options for each response. If you give both, and more than one response, how about you go with what comes out of your mouth first?

P.S. Generally my wife kills my mileage with her short trips, but I wondered if it was more than that. I was ecstatic when I was at my best average so far (49.9) and let her take it, and she actually had it up to 50.1 when she got back. It was a longer trip, but not that much longer and I was impressed. Of course, that knocks all my brilliance in driving down a few pegs.

V8Cobrakid · 03-26-2006, 02:38 AM

i drive faster than other cars. my lowest mpg is 40. even this number seems to amaze all the suv drivers around.

**efusco** · 03-26-2006, 04:50 AM

I usually just say "I get about 53 MPG over the life of the car. My current tank is at about XX MPG. In the summer for my regular commute I get around 60 MPG for my regular route."

But it depends upon the audience. If it's another Prius owner I just give the 53 number, if it's someone who knows very little about Prius or has heard bad things and wants to know what I get I give the whole schpiel.

benighted · 03-26-2006, 07:03 AM

I just tell them I get 48 average in winter driving and 55 in summer driving

DaveinOlyWA · 03-26-2006, 10:30 AM

sorry, missed me. i give average summer and winter mileage since they vary so much (sometimes i question this tactic since most of the people i talk to think the lower winter mileage is a hybrid only problem...

) and NO ONE seems to know that their winter mileage sucks MUCH worse than they think.

btw, filled up yesterday... mileage 53 mpg...BUT my LT summer mileage being 57, but last summer it was 60...so that must mean, im getting better at driving my Prius.

EricGo · 03-26-2006, 10:37 AM

I preface by saying that I put effort into gettning good results, and mention 65 - 70 on good days, 60 overall. Then I say that an average person who just drives like they always have usually ends up in the 45 - 50 mpg range.

DocVijay · 03-26-2006, 12:23 PM

I always gave a range when someone asks. I tell them my lowest was 40 mpg, my highest was 53 mpg, and now I'm averaging in the mid 40's. I also tell them that this is at speeds of around 80 mph and generally aggressive footwork.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 03-26-2006, 06:15 PM

I tell people openly that my lifetime average is 48MPG. If they question why it's "low" I ask what their lifetime mileage is.

For those who are rational, I show them my chart showing the direct corrolation between temperature and MPG.

hdrygas · 03-26-2006, 07:35 PM

Well I give my life time and if the current tank is higher I add that! :P

darelldd · 03-26-2006, 11:11 PM

Still totally missed me, of course. I explain that even if my Prius got 500mpg, it is still worse gas mileage than our main vehicle.

View Poll Results: Do you explain your mpg when people ask?
No, I let my Current mpg stand.	21	18.75%
No, I let my Lifetime mpg stand.	19	16.96%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is low due to break in period.	4	3.57%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is low due to break in period.	2	1.79%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is low due to winter or climate.	8	7.14%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is low due to winter or climate.	1	0.89%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is low due to my driving habits.	3	2.68%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is low due to my driving habits.	3	2.68%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is low due to...	4	3.57%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is low due to...	0	0%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is actually pretty good.	11	9.82%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is actually pretty good.	5	4.46%
No, I just give the EPA.	0	0%
Yes, I try to soften the blow of my high current mpg.	0	0%
Yes, I try to soften the blow of my high lifetime mpg.	1	0.89%
Yes, I explain my current mpg is high due to...	0	0%
Yes, I explain my lifetime mpg is high due to...	2	1.79%
It really depends on the situation, there's no best answer above.	16	14.29%
After making me read all that, you still totally missed me.	12	10.71%
Voters: 112. You may not vote on this poll

03-26-2006, 02:32 AM	#1
jeneric Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 442 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Whenever people ask me my mileage, I hesitate, trying to figure out what they really want to know and trying to extrapolate what the car is really getting at that moment. What about you? I also want to know whether you give current or lifetime mpg, so tried to give both options for each response. If you give both, and more than one response, how about you go with what comes out of your mouth first? P.S. Generally my wife kills my mileage with her short trips, but I wondered if it was more than that. I was ecstatic when I was at my best average so far (49.9) and let her take it, and she actually had it up to 50.1 when she got back. It was a longer trip, but not that much longer and I was impressed. Of course, that knocks all my brilliance in driving down a few pegs. __________________ My Spreadsheet

03-26-2006, 02:38 AM	#2
V8Cobrakid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: s.f. bay area Posts: 2,948 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #9 Thanks: 10 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts Friends: 5	i drive faster than other cars. my lowest mpg is 40. even this number seems to amaze all the suv drivers around.

03-26-2006, 04:50 AM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 18,057 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 102 Thanked 503 Times in 272 Posts Friends: 41	I usually just say "I get about 53 MPG over the life of the car. My current tank is at about XX MPG. In the summer for my regular commute I get around 60 MPG for my regular route." But it depends upon the audience. If it's another Prius owner I just give the 53 number, if it's someone who knows very little about Prius or has heard bad things and wants to know what I get I give the whole schpiel.

03-26-2006, 07:03 AM	#4
benighted Chief thread hijacker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westport, WA Posts: 530 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just tell them I get 48 average in winter driving and 55 in summer driving

03-26-2006, 10:30 AM	#5
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,837 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 40 Thanked 189 Times in 162 Posts Friends: 12	sorry, missed me. i give average summer and winter mileage since they vary so much (sometimes i question this tactic since most of the people i talk to think the lower winter mileage is a hybrid only problem... ) and NO ONE seems to know that their winter mileage sucks MUCH worse than they think. btw, filled up yesterday... mileage 53 mpg...BUT my LT summer mileage being 57, but last summer it was 60...so that must mean, im getting better at driving my Prius.

03-26-2006, 10:37 AM	#6
EricGo Three cats, one Prius, and assorted humans Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Albuquerque, NM (SouthWest US) Posts: 1,810 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I preface by saying that I put effort into gettning good results, and mention 65 - 70 on good days, 60 overall. Then I say that an average person who just drives like they always have usually ends up in the 45 - 50 mpg range.

03-26-2006, 12:23 PM	#7
DocVijay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,455 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	I always gave a range when someone asks. I tell them my lowest was 40 mpg, my highest was 53 mpg, and now I'm averaging in the mid 40's. I also tell them that this is at speeds of around 80 mph and generally aggressive footwork.

03-26-2006, 06:15 PM	#8
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 11,219 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 58 Thanked 314 Times in 197 Posts Friends: 27	I tell people openly that my lifetime average is 48MPG. If they question why it's "low" I ask what their lifetime mileage is. For those who are rational, I show them my chart showing the direct corrolation between temperature and MPG.

03-26-2006, 07:35 PM	#9
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Well I give my life time and if the current tank is higher I add that! :P

03-26-2006, 11:11 PM	#10
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 5,415 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 19 Thanked 65 Times in 48 Posts Friends: 13	Still totally missed me, of course. I explain that even if my Prius got 500mpg, it is still worse gas mileage than our main vehicle.