Bad MPG Theory

nparker13 · 08-11-2009, 08:53 PM

Alright, so I just got my Prius V, and I've been noticing lately while I've been trying to stick within the ECO area of my HSI, people behind me are getting p***** off and speeding around me, thus wasting more gas and polluting more than if we were both going relatively fast.

I love the savings I get at the pump, but I feel like I'm only adding to the problem of road rage.

What do you do from a stop...

MikeDS · 08-11-2009, 09:03 PM

I'm new to this too, and have been accelerating quite slowly, which annoys others and me. P&G guys usually say to accelerate in the right most part of the HSI display just before it goes into power...this is supposed to get you to speed faster while still being fairly efficient...once I break it in I imagine I'll just hit the gas and get on with my life, haha

Mike

LulzChicken · 08-11-2009, 09:22 PM

I understand what your saying. I operate in ECO mode almost all of the time unless I want to show my peers what the Prius can do in PWR mode. I almost always have the HSI on my display. I push the pedal till it is in the very far yellow - right before PWR bar starts and keep it there till I get to my desired speed. Sometime I'll get a little bit into the PWR bar to accelerate a bit quicker of people are on my butt. All in all, keep it in ECO. People who want to be speed daemons can do so. I just laugh when people ride my butt and then floor it around me and jump in front of me. Is it really necessary..?

Bruno_S · 08-11-2009, 09:42 PM

You should drive at 55 mph on the I-5 (SoCal) like I do. Drives people insane since the usual mph is 70-80 even in the slow lane. I am probably saving people gas because I reduce traffic speed.

cossie1600 · 08-11-2009, 09:59 PM

You also cause accidents by slowing the flow of traffic, thanks! If you have an opportunity to fly over a freeway, you will see most traffic jams are usually caused by a few jerks who doesn't go with the flow of traffic and blocks everyone.

ECO mode only saves gas if you purposely try. If you are trying to keep up with traffic, it is absolutely pointless since you will be accelerating more to keep up. It is just a marketing gimmick, it doesn't change the timing map of the vehicle.

LulzChicken · 08-11-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

ECO mode only saves gas if you purposely try. If you are trying to keep up with traffic, it is absolutely pointless since you will be accelerating more to keep up. It is just a marketing gimmick, it doesn't change the timing map of the vehicle.

I do understand what you are trying to get across here but, doesn't ECO mode throttle down the AC and several other features of the car in effort to save a little more on gas/energy usage? I'm contemplating staying in ECO or normal mode. I've been so used to driving in ECO I can see myself pushing harder on the pedal in normal mode until I re-learn the pedal sensitivity better for normal mode. Anyways, Eco or normal mode is for me. I'll stick with ECO for now though.

nparker13 · 08-11-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

You also cause accidents by slowing the flow of traffic, thanks! If you have an opportunity to fly over a freeway, you will see most traffic jams are usually caused by a few jerks who doesn't go with the flow of traffic and blocks everyone.

Probably true, but I always drive in the right lane if I'm driving slow.

Quote:

ECO mode only saves gas if you purposely try. If you are trying to keep up with traffic, it is absolutely pointless since you will be accelerating more to keep up. It is just a marketing gimmick, it doesn't change the timing map of the vehicle.

I believe it does tone down the AC in addition to utilize the traction motor more than default/power.

angelrob · 08-11-2009, 10:21 PM

I do both. If no one is behind me, I take my sweet Eco time. If someone is waiting for me, I let it go into red to get up to speed. In my vast 4 days of experience (

) I have used only ECO mode and have not had trouble on the few times when I have needed to go fast.

Robbin

JimboPalmer · 08-11-2009, 10:45 PM

I drive an '09 Prius so I don't even have an Eco, but I have a theory: Get to cruising speed as soon as polite. No car gets it's best gas mileage when accelerating, so do not prolong the time spent accelerating. Do prolong the time spent getting good mileage by spending maximum time cruising.

jay_man2 · 08-11-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimboPalmer

I drive an '09 Prius so I don't even have an Eco, but I have a theory: Get to cruising speed as soon as polite. No car gets it's best gas mileage when accelerating, so do not prolong the time spent accelerating. Do prolong the time spent getting good mileage by spending maximum time cruising.

That's a large part of pulse and glide, from what I can tell, and how I try to approach it. Haven't gotten less than 50.1 out of a tank yet.

View Poll Results: What do you do from a stop...
Keep in ECO, forget about the people behind you	24	37.50%
Get up to speed, sacrificing MPGs	32	50.00%
I dont have a Prius yet, I just like voting for things.	8	12.50%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll

08-11-2009, 08:53 PM	#1
nparker13 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CT Posts: 102 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 125 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 0	Bad MPG Theory Alright, so I just got my Prius V, and I've been noticing lately while I've been trying to stick within the ECO area of my HSI, people behind me are getting p***** off and speeding around me, thus wasting more gas and polluting more than if we were both going relatively fast. I love the savings I get at the pump, but I feel like I'm only adding to the problem of road rage. What do you do from a stop...

08-11-2009, 09:03 PM	#2
MikeDS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 199 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 9 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Bad MPG Theory I'm new to this too, and have been accelerating quite slowly, which annoys others and me. P&G guys usually say to accelerate in the right most part of the HSI display just before it goes into power...this is supposed to get you to speed faster while still being fairly efficient...once I break it in I imagine I'll just hit the gas and get on with my life, haha Mike

08-11-2009, 09:22 PM	#3
LulzChicken Prius Freak Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 107 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 81 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts Friends: 5	Re: Bad MPG Theory I understand what your saying. I operate in ECO mode almost all of the time unless I want to show my peers what the Prius can do in PWR mode. I almost always have the HSI on my display. I push the pedal till it is in the very far yellow - right before PWR bar starts and keep it there till I get to my desired speed. Sometime I'll get a little bit into the PWR bar to accelerate a bit quicker of people are on my butt. All in all, keep it in ECO. People who want to be speed daemons can do so. I just laugh when people ride my butt and then floor it around me and jump in front of me. Is it really necessary..?

08-11-2009, 09:42 PM	#4
Bruno_S Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 95 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 0 Thanked 42 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Bad MPG Theory You should drive at 55 mph on the I-5 (SoCal) like I do. Drives people insane since the usual mph is 70-80 even in the slow lane. I am probably saving people gas because I reduce traffic speed.

08-11-2009, 09:59 PM	#5
cossie1600 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CT Posts: 181 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Bad MPG Theory You also cause accidents by slowing the flow of traffic, thanks! If you have an opportunity to fly over a freeway, you will see most traffic jams are usually caused by a few jerks who doesn't go with the flow of traffic and blocks everyone. ECO mode only saves gas if you purposely try. If you are trying to keep up with traffic, it is absolutely pointless since you will be accelerating more to keep up. It is just a marketing gimmick, it doesn't change the timing map of the vehicle.

08-11-2009, 10:21 PM	#8
angelrob Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 94 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: II Package: No Package Thanks: 12 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Bad MPG Theory I do both. If no one is behind me, I take my sweet Eco time. If someone is waiting for me, I let it go into red to get up to speed. In my vast 4 days of experience () I have used only ECO mode and have not had trouble on the few times when I have needed to go fast. Robbin

08-11-2009, 10:45 PM	#9
JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greenwood MS USA Posts: 378 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 17 Thanked 66 Times in 53 Posts Friends: 3	Re: Bad MPG Theory I drive an '09 Prius so I don't even have an Eco, but I have a theory: Get to cruising speed as soon as polite. No car gets it's best gas mileage when accelerating, so do not prolong the time spent accelerating. Do prolong the time spent getting good mileage by spending maximum time cruising. Last edited by JimboPalmer; 08-11-2009 at 10:47 PM.

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