29.8 mpg? That's it?

Jim05 · 10-24-2009, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaPriusGuy

LOL... Driving the 101 and 134... and the truck was pretty small - a stickshift Ranger... but it still might be a bit different than a Prius...

I still have to adjust when I go between the Prius and my son's Pontiac G5, and moreso with our Pilot. You'll get used to it and bring the MPG up. My youngest son, just as a passenger, likes to make a game of helping me keep the bar in the right place. It's a whole new dimension of back seat driving.

eddiehaskell · 10-24-2009, 05:50 AM

It seems like you'd have to always be in the little red power range to get mileage that low.

chrisj428 · 10-24-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaPriusGuy

Drove 27 miles to work, 27 miles home, and realized that all I could manage was 29.8 mpg...

I was getting really crappy gas mileage on my first tank until I realized it had averaged in all the "on" time during the first three miles from the PDI, etc. As soon as I reset the cumulative MPG, I ended up with 48.x MPG.

snead_c · 10-24-2009, 10:29 AM

Above are some good ideas...also check the air in your tires (set below max on sidewall and as high as your seat can stand) and be sure while testing the mpg to use ECO mode. With a full tank and reset milage indicator perhaps upper 30s with a lot of AC on...sitting still for long periods with air on will certainly hurt mpg of a Prius as well as any car. Put some "normal" miles on this weekend and if you're still less than 35 ...go straight back to dealer Monday for help. My 09 had a tank of mid 30s on a hot summer day with heavy traffic and air on; driving a 2010 you should get or beat that number and find upper 40s to low 50s. Don't be discouraged you did make a wise decision.

PriusRos · 10-24-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike K

You must have had some seriously long, long waiting times during traffic jams with the air totally cranked up or there is something wrong with the car. Possibly your parking brake was partially on or you have a habit of riding the brakes maybe?? There should no real tricks required to get around 50 mpg if your Prius is running right. Getting beyond 50 mpg requires some conscious driving skills. I would take it in to the dealer if doesn't do better than say 45 mpg after the first tank.

I don't agree with the statement, "There should no real tricks required to get around 50 mpg if your Prius is running right." I've seen a number of variations on this and it is quite discouraging for those who are not achieving this result.

My highest calculated tank after about 3500 miles has been 49.8. If I'm in a lot of stop-and-go traffic, on short trips, hills, etc. it can be hard to get over mid-40s. After a reset, the trip meter can go up and down between around 30mpg and 62mpg (not counting the inital few minutes where it can be well under 30). I am no newbie, and I work really hard to maximize my mileage but it isn't that easy to achieve 50 on a consistent basis -- it depends not only on individual driving style and technique, but length of trip, speed, hills, stops at lights/stop signs, weather, etc.

dogfriend · 10-24-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

it's gonna take more than a day to nail down this Prius thing

I wouldn't get too concerned until you have driven a few tankfuls / a few thousand miles. My worst tank of all time was the very first one (40.1mpg) and the mileage will improve as the car breaks in.

bwilson4web · 10-24-2009, 02:33 PM

Compare Baseline to Known Reference

Find a circular route (aka., flat-land, freeway is ideal) at least 10 miles that you can drive on cruise control at a steady speed (55-65 mph).
Drive the route once on cruise control at a fixed speed to warm-up Prius. Adjust the cruise control to a speed that can be maintained safely. Turn off air conditioner and heater and make sure it is in "D".
Reset one of the trip meters approaching the exit at the beginning of second loop.
Try to drive the second loop on just cruise control.
Record trip meter at the end of second loop:
- distance
- MPG
- average speed

Compare your mileage to the chart above.

Bob Wilson

LaPriusGuy · 10-24-2009, 02:48 PM

Wow, there are so many good ideas you guys have suggested... At least driving won't be boring any more... I'll be watching and trying to figure things out constantly for the next while... I like the idea of figuring out a baseline... at least then I'll know what's my fault, and what's the car's fault (if ever!)

Gilbert · 10-24-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaPriusGuy

After months of reading PriusChat and getting as much info I could get, I finally decided on a Prius V with Advanced Technology... Picked it up last night, and today drove it to work for the first time and back...

Drove 27 miles to work, 27 miles home, and realized that all I could manage was 29.8 mpg...

Now, I know there was stop and go traffic, and it was hot here in LA, so I used the A/C, but 29.8?? I got rid of a truck that got not that much less MPG and spent $33,000 for 29.8? I must be doing something really wrong that I can't figure out... ughhh

OK, so when is there an L.A. Prius get-together so I can actually learn to drive this amazing car and get mileage that tops 30mpg?

you just gotta stop pressign accelerator like if you were driving any other car, press it so that after you reached your desired speed, you stay on that speed with out slowing down. on my 2008 going 70 miles, i can get 65+ mpg if going stable on a leveled road. sometimes i even have to break to slow down cause im faster than the other cars, and getting high mpg.

in time you will learn how to feel youre driving efficiently and get more mpg and make sure youre not running it always on power mode. Also dont let the battery lvl be low like, using the AC while stuck in traffic, cause it will cost you mpg trying to recharge it back. (my 08 gets very very weak if battery goes low)

good luck!

LaPriusGuy · 10-24-2009, 09:47 PM

49.1!!!

OK, so it didn't stay there for too long, but I managed to stay between 46 and 49.1 most of the time I was driving today... Turned the A/C up to 78, took it easy on the gas and tried to stay out of Power and in Eco whenever possible.

I might get the hang of it yet... My next goal is to hit 50 at least for a bit...

Oh, and went back to the dealership to get the back up beeps turned off, and while I was there, asked them to set my tires to 42/40 - which they did, and then the Sales Manager said, "Oh, it's another one of those PriusChat guys obviously... They know everything and are willing to try anything to improve their mileage"

10-24-2009, 05:50 AM	#12
eddiehaskell Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 173 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 29.8 mpg? That's it? It seems like you'd have to always be in the little red power range to get mileage that low.

10-24-2009, 10:29 AM	#14
snead_c Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hendersonville Posts: 258 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #5 Touring Thanks: 104 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 2	Re: 29.8 mpg? That's it? Above are some good ideas...also check the air in your tires (set below max on sidewall and as high as your seat can stand) and be sure while testing the mpg to use ECO mode. With a full tank and reset milage indicator perhaps upper 30s with a lot of AC on...sitting still for long periods with air on will certainly hurt mpg of a Prius as well as any car. Put some "normal" miles on this weekend and if you're still less than 35 ...go straight back to dealer Monday for help. My 09 had a tank of mid 30s on a hot summer day with heavy traffic and air on; driving a 2010 you should get or beat that number and find upper 40s to low 50s. Don't be discouraged you did make a wise decision.

10-24-2009, 02:33 PM	#17
bwilson4web 03 and 10 Prius Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL with 2003 Prius Posts: 3,887 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: III Package: #1 Thanks: 148 Thanked 371 Times in 206 Posts Friends: 20	Re: 29.8 mpg? That's it? Compare Baseline to Known Reference Find a circular route (aka., flat-land, freeway is ideal) at least 10 miles that you can drive on cruise control at a steady speed (55-65 mph). Drive the route once on cruise control at a fixed speed to warm-up Prius. Adjust the cruise control to a speed that can be maintained safely. Turn off air conditioner and heater and make sure it is in "D". Reset one of the trip meters approaching the exit at the beginning of second loop. Try to drive the second loop on just cruise control. Record trip meter at the end of second loop: distance MPG average speed Compare your mileage to the chart above. Bob Wilson __________________ - NHW11 - ZVW30 A hybrid specific web site. Last edited by bwilson4web; 10-24-2009 at 02:46 PM.

10-24-2009, 02:48 PM	#18
LaPriusGuy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 16 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 29.8 mpg? That's it? Wow, there are so many good ideas you guys have suggested... At least driving won't be boring any more... I'll be watching and trying to figure things out constantly for the next while... I like the idea of figuring out a baseline... at least then I'll know what's my fault, and what's the car's fault (if ever!)

10-24-2009, 09:47 PM	#20
LaPriusGuy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 16 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 29.8 mpg? That's it? 49.1!!! OK, so it didn't stay there for too long, but I managed to stay between 46 and 49.1 most of the time I was driving today... Turned the A/C up to 78, took it easy on the gas and tried to stay out of Power and in Eco whenever possible. I might get the hang of it yet... My next goal is to hit 50 at least for a bit... Oh, and went back to the dealership to get the back up beeps turned off, and while I was there, asked them to set my tires to 42/40 - which they did, and then the Sales Manager said, "Oh, it's another one of those PriusChat guys obviously... They know everything and are willing to try anything to improve their mileage"