The Prius is just remarkable

ErikU · 06-08-2006, 01:21 AM

I've just driven home on a route that I take all the time and just got better mpg than I have in the past. Granted I've only had the car for about 3 weeks but I had an argument with my girl and really didn't give a $##! about mpg. I was actually going over the speed limit with the driver's window down (no ac) and going @ 60-70 on a route I usually go the speed limit (no more than 60) with the ac on (I've only had the car during the texas heat). I actually averaged about 55 mpg on the way home. I think I'm going to quit worring about the mpg and just drive the car. Since I've gotten it, I've been trying to achieve the maximum mpg by doing everything I've seen posted here and have gotten good results......but not giving a flip and actually speeding and just letting the car do its thing, I've done better.

This is at night where the heat isn't as bad so I know this might not be true during the day but the whole thing with the window down is leading me to believe that up to 70 mph it really doesn't matter. Just my $0.02. I just wanted to post my result of not caring and getting better results.

p.s. this is about a 20 mile drive.

Maytrix · 06-08-2006, 02:58 AM

Sometimes you can just try too hard, which it sounds like maybe you've ben doing. I can often find on fairly level terrain that I can maintin 60mph and achieve close to 60mpg.

jrct9454 · 06-08-2006, 09:50 AM

Right from day one, I have refused to play the game of fussing over fuel use with this car. I drive it just like every other car we've ever owned [this is number 54 since June of 1962], and always am at the 90th percentile or better when it comes to speed.

For me, the attraction of the car is that it is, in effect, a Camry-sized interior, with a hatch, in a Corolla-sized package. All other things being equal, anything over 30 mpg in this kind of package would have been OK with me, if you leave out the hybrid technology and just focus on the car. So, driven hard and fast, we get a consistent 40 mpg....and I'm pleased as punch.

I watch with some bemusement the folks who obsess over the difference between 47.5 and 50 mpg, or spend hours fussing with driving techniques trying to hit some arbitrary number. Nothing wrong with this....but it's not why I bought the car, and I don't care to play the game.

ErikU · 06-08-2006, 10:00 AM

I agree. I'm really not obsessing over mpg but was just trying to adjust my driving to get the most out of it and see what the car can do. Just trying to see what the car really likes and when it does its thing the best. Although, I really hope to do better than 50 (which was what I averaged on the last tank). I am just pleasantly surprised as I thought last night it would not be horrible but lower than what I have been achieving....not better. Still just giddy with the prius.

kente777 · 06-08-2006, 10:06 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jrct9454 @ Jun 8 2006, 08:50 AM) [snapback]267842[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Right from day one, I have refused to play the game of fussing over fuel use with this car. I drive it just like every other car we've ever owned [this is number 54 since June of 1962], and always am at the 90th percentile or better when it comes to speed.

For me, the attraction of the car is that it is, in effect, a Camry-sized interior, with a hatch, in a Corolla-sized package. All other things being equal, anything over 30 mpg in this kind of package would have been OK with me, if you leave out the hybrid technology and just focus on the car. So, driven hard and fast, we get a consistent 40 mpg....and I'm pleased as punch.

I watch with some bemusement the folks who obsess over the difference between 47.5 and 50 mpg, or spend hours fussing with driving techniques trying to hit some arbitrary number. Nothing wrong with this....but it's not why I bought the car, and I don't care to play the game.
[/b]

I can appreciate (and respect) what you've said. However, I am one of those who does everything I can do maximize mileage. I have never been under 55 mpg except once when I took a trip and got 50. My current MPG is 65.2 with almost 500 miles on this tank.

The big thing for me is not the money I'm saving on gas, but the fact that my driving style has changed dramatically. If I drove the Prius the way I did every other car I've ever owned, I would be weaving in and out of traffic, slamming on my brakes just before a red light, tailgating, and getting impatient with every other driver.

The Prius has changed my driving habits. I now enjoy driving instead of trying to beat the clock. I take it as a personal challenge to better my mileage. My goal is to try and average 70 mpg for one tank. But the great result of trying to milk every ounce of gas mileage out of the car is that I am a better and safer driver. To me, the Prius has been a sort of savior.

Ken

GreenGene · 06-08-2006, 10:18 AM

We just filled up the tank for the 10th time, so I went back and looked at the overall gas mileage since we bought the Prius. It was 46.5 calculated, and 46.1 according to the computer.

We have tried different techniques to boost the gas mileage, and will continue to do so, but it seems to me that the more we drive the Prius, the less important it is to wring every last mile out of each gallon of gas. When I think that the Honda CR-V we traded in for the Prius averaged 20.8 mpg over the two years that we owned it, any gas mileage we get in the Prius is going to beat that by a wide margin, and that makes me feel very good about the Prius.

I think that when we first bought the Prius, we were more obsessed with getting the best mileage we possibly could, and now - because we KNOW we're going to get good gas mileage - it's more of a game ... like picking a gas station not for the price but the location, so after I fill up I have a chance to glide home and have the MFD show a ridiculously high mpg.

I agree with kentee777 - the Prius has changed the way I drive, not just the Prius but our Sienna as well. My wife would probably say the change is subtle (

), but I leave more space between me and the car in front of me, I look ahead for traffic lights and avoid abrupt stops, no more jack-rabbit starts, and so on. It's a great car, and as a unexpected bonus, I'm a better and happier driver.

daniel · 06-08-2006, 10:34 AM

A single 20-mile trip is insufficient to draw any conclusions. Wind could make a difference, and the battery temperature makes a big difference. Even the starting vs ending SOC can make a difference on a trip that short.

However, I agree totally with the idea of just driving the car (but in a safe and defensive manner: the streets are a jungle). The difference in gas or money saved between 50 and 51 mpg is very small.

I drive slower on the freeway than I used to (formerly 5 mph over the limit; now 55 to 60 if the limit is over 60) but it's to reduce my carbon contribution to the planet, not to save gas as such, and for safety. The characteristics of the car have lessened my stress level to the point where I am comfortable driving at this safer speed. 55 mph is significantly safer than 70 mph.

jmpenn · 06-08-2006, 01:23 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jrct9454 @ Jun 8 2006, 09:50 AM) [snapback]267842[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Right from day one, I have refused to play the game of fussing over fuel use with this car. I drive it just like every other car we've ever owned [this is number 54 since June of 1962], and always am at the 90th percentile or better when it comes to speed.

For me, the attraction of the car is that it is, in effect, a Camry-sized interior, with a hatch, in a Corolla-sized package. All other things being equal, anything over 30 mpg in this kind of package would have been OK with me, if you leave out the hybrid technology and just focus on the car. So, driven hard and fast, we get a consistent 40 mpg....and I'm pleased as punch.

I watch with some bemusement the folks who obsess over the difference between 47.5 and 50 mpg, or spend hours fussing with driving techniques trying to hit some arbitrary number. Nothing wrong with this....but it's not why I bought the car, and I don't care to play the game.
[/b]

54 cars in 44 years?!?

What the heck do you do to them?

subarutoo · 06-08-2006, 03:23 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jrct9454 @ Jun 8 2006, 06:50 AM) [snapback]267842[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Right from day one, I have refused to play the game of fussing over fuel use with this car. I drive it just like every other car we've ever owned [this is number 54 since June of 1962], and always am at the 90th percentile or better when it comes to speed.

For me, the attraction of the car is that it is, in effect, a Camry-sized interior, with a hatch, in a Corolla-sized package. All other things being equal, anything over 30 mpg in this kind of package would have been OK with me, if you leave out the hybrid technology and just focus on the car. So, driven hard and fast, we get a consistent 40 mpg....and I'm pleased as punch.

I watch with some bemusement the folks who obsess over the difference between 47.5 and 50 mpg, or spend hours fussing with driving techniques trying to hit some arbitrary number. Nothing wrong with this....but it's not why I bought the car, and I don't care to play the game.
[/b]

Well said. The Prius is a decent all-around car in itself, MPG is a plus.

Mystery Squid · 06-08-2006, 03:30 PM

Yes, the Prius IS a remarkable car...

I know you don't know me, but I'm sort of what you might consider a "car guy", in my short 16 year driving history, I've had like 20 something cars... Anyway, over the last few months, I've had the chance to acquire some seriously nice vehicles, but just couldn't let go of the Prius. The nicest of which was an '03 Escalade Pick-Up if that tellls you anything...

...anyway, it's such an incredibly useful car. What other car can you take a nap in the middle of summer, with the windows rolled up with the AC gently blowing with the engine not constantly running? ...what other car can you drive that actually HELPS your MPG while being in slow moving traffic?

I could go on and on...

I only wish it was bigger though...

06-08-2006, 01:21 AM	#1
ErikU Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: DFW area Posts: 97 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've just driven home on a route that I take all the time and just got better mpg than I have in the past. Granted I've only had the car for about 3 weeks but I had an argument with my girl and really didn't give a $##! about mpg. I was actually going over the speed limit with the driver's window down (no ac) and going @ 60-70 on a route I usually go the speed limit (no more than 60) with the ac on (I've only had the car during the texas heat). I actually averaged about 55 mpg on the way home. I think I'm going to quit worring about the mpg and just drive the car. Since I've gotten it, I've been trying to achieve the maximum mpg by doing everything I've seen posted here and have gotten good results......but not giving a flip and actually speeding and just letting the car do its thing, I've done better. This is at night where the heat isn't as bad so I know this might not be true during the day but the whole thing with the window down is leading me to believe that up to 70 mph it really doesn't matter. Just my $0.02. I just wanted to post my result of not caring and getting better results. p.s. this is about a 20 mile drive. __________________ Erik 2006 Silver #2 VIP security system

06-08-2006, 09:50 AM	#3
jrct9454 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 54 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Right from day one, I have refused to play the game of fussing over fuel use with this car. I drive it just like every other car we've ever owned [this is number 54 since June of 1962], and always am at the 90th percentile or better when it comes to speed. For me, the attraction of the car is that it is, in effect, a Camry-sized interior, with a hatch, in a Corolla-sized package. All other things being equal, anything over 30 mpg in this kind of package would have been OK with me, if you leave out the hybrid technology and just focus on the car. So, driven hard and fast, we get a consistent 40 mpg....and I'm pleased as punch. I watch with some bemusement the folks who obsess over the difference between 47.5 and 50 mpg, or spend hours fussing with driving techniques trying to hit some arbitrary number. Nothing wrong with this....but it's not why I bought the car, and I don't care to play the game. __________________ John R. '06 Prius - Package 1, Seaside, Michelin Tires Vancouver, WA

06-08-2006, 10:18 AM	#6
GreenGene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 174 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	We just filled up the tank for the 10th time, so I went back and looked at the overall gas mileage since we bought the Prius. It was 46.5 calculated, and 46.1 according to the computer. We have tried different techniques to boost the gas mileage, and will continue to do so, but it seems to me that the more we drive the Prius, the less important it is to wring every last mile out of each gallon of gas. When I think that the Honda CR-V we traded in for the Prius averaged 20.8 mpg over the two years that we owned it, any gas mileage we get in the Prius is going to beat that by a wide margin, and that makes me feel very good about the Prius. I think that when we first bought the Prius, we were more obsessed with getting the best mileage we possibly could, and now - because we KNOW we're going to get good gas mileage - it's more of a game ... like picking a gas station not for the price but the location, so after I fill up I have a chance to glide home and have the MFD show a ridiculously high mpg. I agree with kentee777 - the Prius has changed the way I drive, not just the Prius but our Sienna as well. My wife would probably say the change is subtle ( ), but I leave more space between me and the car in front of me, I look ahead for traffic lights and avoid abrupt stops, no more jack-rabbit starts, and so on. It's a great car, and as a unexpected bonus, I'm a better and happier driver. __________________ GreenGene

06-08-2006, 10:34 AM	#7
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,124 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	A single 20-mile trip is insufficient to draw any conclusions. Wind could make a difference, and the battery temperature makes a big difference. Even the starting vs ending SOC can make a difference on a trip that short. However, I agree totally with the idea of just driving the car (but in a safe and defensive manner: the streets are a jungle). The difference in gas or money saved between 50 and 51 mpg is very small. I drive slower on the freeway than I used to (formerly 5 mph over the limit; now 55 to 60 if the limit is over 60) but it's to reduce my carbon contribution to the planet, not to save gas as such, and for safety. The characteristics of the car have lessened my stress level to the point where I am comfortable driving at this safer speed. 55 mph is significantly safer than 70 mph. __________________ Daniel ---------------------- Primary car: Zap Xebra SD: 100% electric car. 1.9 cents per mile, using electrons generated from water power. (The Prius is my gas guzzler, used when I have to travel farther than 35 miles in a day.) "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

06-08-2006, 02:58 AM	#2
Maytrix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Marlborough, Mass Posts: 733 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sometimes you can just try too hard, which it sounds like maybe you've ben doing. I can often find on fairly level terrain that I can maintin 60mph and achieve close to 60mpg.

06-08-2006, 10:00 AM	#4
ErikU Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: DFW area Posts: 97 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I agree. I'm really not obsessing over mpg but was just trying to adjust my driving to get the most out of it and see what the car can do. Just trying to see what the car really likes and when it does its thing the best. Although, I really hope to do better than 50 (which was what I averaged on the last tank). I am just pleasantly surprised as I thought last night it would not be horrible but lower than what I have been achieving....not better. Still just giddy with the prius.

06-08-2006, 03:30 PM	#10
Mystery Squid Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, the Prius IS a remarkable car... I know you don't know me, but I'm sort of what you might consider a "car guy", in my short 16 year driving history, I've had like 20 something cars... Anyway, over the last few months, I've had the chance to acquire some seriously nice vehicles, but just couldn't let go of the Prius. The nicest of which was an '03 Escalade Pick-Up if that tellls you anything... ...anyway, it's such an incredibly useful car. What other car can you take a nap in the middle of summer, with the windows rolled up with the AC gently blowing with the engine not constantly running? ...what other car can you drive that actually HELPS your MPG while being in slow moving traffic? I could go on and on... I only wish it was bigger though...