Dead Silence

[KMO]

It seems that US drivers seem to get higher mileage. Don't know why - better climate? different driving patterns? the coolant storage? smaller wheels?

My lifetime average is 50.4 mpg (Imperial); ranging from a worst tank of 40 mpg in winter to a best of 58 mpg. Mind you, I tend do do short trips. I think an average of 56 mpg is impressive.

[galaxee]

heh. one of the very few times i was able to shut my former boss up was the time i told him that i got 50ish mpg on my most recent tank of gas. i got a pat on the back from all my coworkers, not for the great mpg.

the boss before that one (i don't get fired often, i was doing research rotations) drove an escalade and a land cruiser because he was convinced that it was safer for his kids. this was the lab i was in when i first got the prius, so i was all excited about it. one friday at happy hour i happened to mention my new car and how it got (at the time) 47 mpg. and he asked me to repeat myself about 3 times.

i don't get such a rise out of the current boss because her daughter drives a HCH, but all my coworkers are fascinated with the prius. they hate when i mention how long it's been since i filled up the tank though.

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bee13 @ Jun 30 2006, 07:15 AM) [snapback]279074[/snapback]</div>

I'd like to hear about your Prius "Precious Moments." Please share them.
[/b]

I usually confuse the hell out of people when I truthfully tell them that my Prius gets infinitely WORSE gas mileage than our main vehicle.

[DaveinOlyWA]

well this was back in May. was sitting in breakroom, one lady was talking about her credit card bill, one that was only used to buy gas. saying that she had averaged $250 a month and had just exceeded $1000 in gas year to date.

i couldnt help but mention that i had only spent $900 in gas since July 2004 when i had purchased my Prius. they didnt believe me and demanded proof as to how i could make that statement. well, i had my laptop with me so showed them my spreadsheet detailing every drop of gas put into the car.

also told them other stats... average fillup cost $21.70 (at the time, much higher now) duration between fills 13.2 days average cost of gas per month under $50... lifetime cents per mile less than a nickel.

actually had one at the table accuse me of generating a false spreadsheet to perpetuate my "lie"

well, havent had that good a laugh in a long time. this was also the person who claimed to get 35 mpg in summer and winter.

[kjb516]

Oh yeah, I just remembered another Prius "Precious Moment". Recently when gasoline first hit the $3.00 mark, I was in the store of my most frequented gas station buying coffee, waiting behind a line of disgruntled customers waiting to pay for their gas.

When I got to the front of the line, the cashier rang up my coffee and asked if I was also purchasing gasoline to which I smiled and replied “Not today… you just got to love the joy of 50 miles to the gallon”. The woman behind the counter stared at my blankly and asked “HOW many miles to the gallon?”. “Fifty miles to the gallon”, I replied as she continued to stare in disbelief . “WHAT in the world do you drive?” she asks, to which I reply, “A Toyota Prius…”. Finally she rings up my order and I pay as I complete my sentence, “actually, I’ve been getting 55 miles to the gallon recently”.

I’m believe that I most likely made her day in that I was the ONLY customer in her store that day not griping about the recent gas price hikes. I can’t say the same for the customers in line behind me.

[novacustard]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bee13 @ Jun 30 2006, 05:18 PM) [snapback]279137[/snapback]</div>

I average between 47 and 48 US mi/gal in the winter (I use an engine block heater three hours prior to leaving for work in the morning) and 55 to 56 US mi/gal in the summer. My commute is mostly flat and largely interstate and spans 27 miles, one-way.

My wife and I recently made a trip from Utah to eastern Wyoming, then down into northern Colorado, then back to Utah - 1200+ miles - and averaged 57.5 US mi/gal for the trip.


I'm just going to have to try harder then - thats pretty much what the Prius is rated at doing 'extra urban' in the uk, 65mpg (imperial).

We couldn't be happier.
You're quick on your feet, kjb!
[/b]

KMO Posted Yesterday, 05:36 PM
It seems that US drivers seem to get higher mileage. Don't know why - better climate? different driving patterns? the coolant storage? smaller wheels?

My lifetime average is 50.4 mpg (Imperial); ranging from a worst tank of 40 mpg in winter to a best of 58 mpg. Mind you, I tend do do short trips. I think an average of 56 mpg is impressive.


I do variable trips, but mostly involving lots of motorways - I'd only had her a few days and drove to Aberdeen and back (averaged 59mpg (imp)) on that trip.
I hear a lot of talk from non-prius owners about how its designed to get better mileage in town than on motorways (freeways) - the official mpg figures show town driving as much lower than out of town, and this is my experience. The battery helps to improve in town mpg figures, but what you really want is a good long steady motorway to really get the figures up.

Richard.

[bee13]

I picked up my 3-year old granddaughter at the daycare a couple of months ago. Her daycare provider, legs surrounded by a legion of children, opened the front door and greeted me. Within moments, a small blond-haired boy pointed out to my car parked along the curb and said, "That's a cool car!" My granddaughter pushed her way to the side of the boy and proudly said, "That's our Prius!"

She warms my heart.

[burritos]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 30 2006, 01:22 PM) [snapback]279227[/snapback]</div>

I usually confuse the hell out of people when I truthfully tell them that my Prius gets infinitely WORSE gas mileage than our main vehicle.
[/b]

Why DO you have a hybrid? Why don't you just get a second EV?(Not from GM but from whomever still makes them).

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Richard Thomas @ Jul 1 2006, 04:44 AM) [snapback]279621[/snapback]</div>

KMO Posted Yesterday, 05:36 PM
It seems that US drivers seem to get higher mileage. Don't know why - better climate? different driving patterns? the coolant storage? smaller wheels?

My lifetime average is 50.4 mpg (Imperial); ranging from a worst tank of 40 mpg in winter to a best of 58 mpg. Mind you, I tend do do short trips. I think an average of 56 mpg is impressive.
I do variable trips, but mostly involving lots of motorways - I'd only had her a few days and drove to Aberdeen and back (averaged 59mpg (imp)) on that trip.
I hear a lot of talk from non-prius owners about how its designed to get better mileage in town than on motorways (freeways) - the official mpg figures show town driving as much lower than out of town, and this is my experience. The battery helps to improve in town mpg figures, but what you really want is a good long steady motorway to really get the figures up.

Richard.
[/b]

I think suburban (extra urban) is one of the better situations. Urban settings of stop-and-go will lower the mileage since eventually, the battery will run down either from the A/C or from sitting in traffic for too long. Out in the suburbs, you'll have a chance to take advantage of rolling hills and moderate but constant speeds.

Don't forget, you folks in UK are running on 195/55R16 tyres. We have the smaller 185/65R15 tyres so that extra inch may affect fuel mileage (Those running on 17"s here get around the same mileage as you do - 5.0L/100km or 47mpg US. That's one of the main reasons I can think of besides traffic, climate and topography.

[darelldd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jul 1 2006, 11:27 AM) [snapback]279747[/snapback]</div>

Why DO you have a hybrid? Why don't you just get a second EV?(Not from GM but from whomever still makes them).
[/b]

I have a hybrid for two reasons: To make the few long trips a year that the EV isn't practical for... and because there ARE NO PRODUCTION EVS AVAILABLE TO BUY today. And this is the entire reason that I'm as annoying about this subject as I am. Were you under the impression that full-feature battery electric vehicles were still on the market?

The Rav4EV in 2002 (and barely into 2003) was the last production EV that a consumer could buy or lease. And it was only available for eight months total. It all ended 3.5 years ago.