First Commute in!

[coonbutt]

Well, I just bought my new Prius on Saturday and got to take my first commute into work this morning. Average mpg for the 31 mile trip was 59.5! This was some stop and go, and about 20 miles pegged at 61 mph. On several downgrades I was able to keep the readout at 99.9 mpg for a long way around 55 mph. The engine was spinning, just no fuel being fed I guess.

Cruise control is a new luxury that I will love getting used to. Same thing with the handling, which is light years above my 4wd tacoma sitting in the garage.

Fuel costs saved to date: $1.78
Sticking it just a little to OPEC: Priceless.

A libertarian/conservative driving a Prius? What is the world coming to?

[Bill Merchant]

That's GREAT MPG on your commute to work! How was it on the way home?

[Bill Lumbergh]

Gotta update that profile....

[imahuph]

i too got a prius saturday after lurking in the forums for awhile decided to buy one. averaging 41 mpg on my first commute, many tricks to learn, like learning to drive again

[coonbutt]

Well, I got exactly 59.5 mpg on the way in again today. Today I went about 1 mph less (60 vs. 61) for the highway part of the trip, which is as low as I plan on going (speed limit is 65 mph). For a while it looked like I was going to break 60 mpg, but then I had one low bar that threw it off. I had to run the vent and defrost a little more than yesterday (more humid).

My trip home yesterday was 54.9 mpg - had to run the A/C yesterday afternoon. I tried to keep it pretty warm, but not too uncomfortable.

The first couple bars aren't that great, but my commute time is usually around 45 minutes, so most of the time (and miles) are under fully warmed up conditions...

I am really starting to love running on electric only, especially with the a/c off and the battery full.

Total fuel costs saved to date $5.37.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(imahuph @ Apr 3 2007, 05:03 AM) [snapback]416929[/snapback]</div>

i too got a prius saturday after lurking in the forums for awhile decided to buy one. averaging 41 mpg on my first commute, many tricks to learn, like learning to drive again
[/b]

You are right about learning to drive again! I was pretty good at hypermiling with my tacoma, but it took a lot of effort to get an extra 2 mpg's. The most I ever got with it was 26 mpg, but that only happened once. Last summer I was turning it off at stop lights and taping cardboard underneath to increase the aerodynamics! Tough to improve much on a brick-shaped vehicle with all-terrain tires though...

[Sarge]

[quote=prickly commute @ Apr 3 2007, 08:26 AM) [snapback]416961[/snapback]</div>

Well, I got exactly 59.5 mpg on the way in again today.
<...>
For a while it looked like I was going to break 60 mpg, but then I had one low bar that threw it off.
<...>
Total fuel costs saved to date $5.37.
[/b]

Congrats... those are great numbers to be putting up for someone who just got the car! Sounds like you have an ideal commute & climate for the car. Comparing it to a *Tacoma*, you should save piles of gas money per year!

I drive a lot and have already saved over $1500 in gas in the past 11 months. Furthermore, that is comparing the Prius to my previous 4-cylinder car that was fuel-thrifty in it's own right (Acura Integra] 30MPG) and even dealing with a Canadian winter over that period. I look forward to pulling my average up again in the coming months.

I love this car.

[Highly ImPriused]

Very nice Prickly! Had the first commute in my new Prius today. Got about 46 MPG on a 25 mile trip, including a stop at the in-laws to drop off the kids about 4 miles into it. Not bad seeing as it currently has a grand total of 74 miles on the odomoter. I'm looking forward to getting up in the 50s on a regular basis once its broken in.

[R32]

/\ So great you have a pic of Riley Martin. O-Qua Tangin Wann!! lol

[Bill Merchant]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(imahuph @ Apr 3 2007, 03:03 AM) [snapback]416929[/snapback]</div>

i too got a prius saturday after lurking in the forums for awhile decided to buy one. averaging 41 mpg on my first commute, many tricks to learn, like learning to drive again [/b]

Congratulations and welcome to PriusChat, imahuph. Yeah, a lot of what you know about driving –the sound of the engine, the kick of the shift– have to be relearned in a Prius, which is one reason it is such fun to drive.

[coonbutt]

Ok, now this is getting ridiculous. I just got 61.1 mpg on the commute home today. This thing is going to be addictive. I am starting to really pay attention to what is going on with the car - times when I should let it take a charge, times when it might be good to use some of the battery, subtle improvements from normal "drafting" in traffic...