1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

better MPG with seats up?

Discussion in 'Prius c Fuel Economy' started by GeoZoo, Dec 15, 2014.

  1. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2015
    405
    202
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    None of my business, but why do you usually drive with the seats down? If this is to haul a few hundred pounds of your work gear, that might explain the difference .. I am just being facetious :giggle:

    It has now occurred to me that passenger-less cars are always loaded more on one side, and in the case of a small car a 220 lb driver contributes 7-8% of the total vehicle weight. Is this known to affect the mpg and the tread wear in any measurable way?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    how do you measure it against a driverless car?
     
    Tony D likes this.
  3. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Google cars are used
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there you go.
     
  5. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2015
    405
    202
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not driverless, but with the same load in the driver's and front passenger's seat (e.g. a petite driver, accompanied by five friendly Norske Skogkatter)
     
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I have previosuly posted GM's approximation equation for MPG impact of weight.
    Suffice it so say if my wife gets 50 MPG alone, it could be closer to 48 with me and my wife.

    Brings up a question, we ought to normalize Fuelly MPG for passenger wieghts, but nobody want to go there I guess.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it would be an interesting study. i would think most vehicles put the majority of mileage on with one driver. and we know must green car drivers are lightweights.:cool:
     
  8. OldNo7

    OldNo7 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2015
    72
    26
    0
    Location:
    CT
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    This thread was a riot to read. I have nothing to add but the sound of me LOL as i read post after post!

    Sorry to the OP, he was serious. I am inclined to believe his observation of mpg vs seat position has to do with some correlation vs cause and effect. Kind of like I've noticed I tend to get more drunk sitting on a bar stool than any other chair style.
     
    Tony D, ftl, orenji and 2 others like this.
  9. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    468
    132
    0
    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i noticed that when i drive with the bonnet (hood) up that my mpg goes right down. also, the twice ive done it, I've crashed as I couldn't see where I was going!

    My question is, should I drive with the bonnet open due tot he effect it has on my mpg?
     
  10. Dimitrij

    Dimitrij Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2015
    405
    202
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't know about the mpg, but someone called Tony would sure look rather cute in a bonnet :)
     
  11. 00-00

    00-00 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    115
    68
    0
    Location:
    s/e idaho
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Try reverse maybe???
     
    OldNo7 likes this.
  12. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Remove the bonnet, problem solved!
     
  13. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    468
    132
    0
    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Cheers lads. I will try reversing everywhere first as removing the hood/bonnet might be a bit drastic. Maybe I should remove the boot/trunk door to improve visibility? The lengths we go to improve our mpgs!
     
  14. 00-00

    00-00 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    115
    68
    0
    Location:
    s/e idaho
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    And if you turned your seat to face rearward, then it would be like you're going forward!!!
     
  15. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2013
    468
    132
    0
    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Cheers lads. I will try reversing everywhere first as removing the hood/bonnet might be a bit drastic. Maybe I should remove the boot/trunk door to improve visibility? The lengths we go to improve our mpgs!
     
  16. NDcowPoke

    NDcowPoke Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    41
    23
    3
    Location:
    Where the the West begins
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Indeed he is... prius convertible.jpg
     
  17. NDcowPoke

    NDcowPoke Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    41
    23
    3
    Location:
    Where the the West begins
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Indeed he is
     
  18. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...put the seats down and now you got a pick-up truck