Has owning a Prius changed your driving style?and why?

I brake more gently,trying to save the brakes. In most cars it is brakes either way, but a Prius uses regen if you let it.

Yes, a Prius or a superior energy conserving car.

 

9/11 changed my driving style and number of miles.

Prius makes good fuel economy available to those drivers less committed to conserving and makes great fuel economy easier to achieve, mainly through built in engine off when not needed.

Next main family car will be Prius or PHEV Prius. Next second car could be a BEV or, since it gets few miles, a cheap manual tranny hatch.

 

I don't think that it's changed my style yet (I already braked gently), but it still might in the future. The feel isn't really that much different. (In fact Toyota went to some lengths to replicate the feel of a conventional car.)

Hopefully my next car will be an electric.

 

it has definitely changed my driving style. trying to make the MPG go as high as possible has made me drive a lot slower than I usually do. however, when i drive my other car, i'm back to my old driving style.

my next car will be a hybrid for sure. however, i will always have a 'fun' car on the side as i don't think i can bare driving the prius ALL the time.

 

lower and slower.

 

I drive slower for FE and enjoy the ride and things around me, but when I get behind the wheel of my Miata look out! Weird!: H

 

Pri-Prius My main goal driving was to get where I was going. Post-Prius my main goal is to use as little gas as possible which means I'ill get there when I get there

When I'm alone I drive like a preacher but I'm never an obstacle either. With passengers I'm considerate of their comfort so I drive more "normally".

 

I have hardly changed my driving at all. I use cruise control more. When zones that are marked for reducing speed, I slow down a little sooner.

And, on interstates, I follow big trucks that go five miles over the speed limit.

 

Haha That's the best! Following behind a big truck cuts out soooo much wind resistance and definitely raising mpg by at least 5

I only follow behind trucks that have decent mud guards though. Don't want to dent or knick our paint now do we?

 

The car is not super fast and cannot spin the wheels so my stop light to stop light and racing fun is over. Now I drive like a responsible community member. I'm actually much more relaxed now so it is a good change.

Old driving style
[ame="http://www.streetfire.net/video/the-rage-iii_167870.htm"][/ame][ame="http://www.streetfire.net/video/the-rage-iii_167870.htm"]The RAGE III[/ame]

New driving style

 

My driving style has been evolving for decades, starting in 1984 when I ditched the used V8 my parents gave me for college in the 70s, and bought a new 'efficient' 4 cylinder car.

More changes came after 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and $4 gas. The style changes attributable to the Prius are all things it does easily that the previous cars could not do, or did only with excessive wear and tear.

My next car will be a hybrid Subaru. It will replace a non-hybrid Subaru, while this Prius stays in the household.

 

I honestly don't think the Prius feels any different than regular midsized cars, in fact it feels even lighter. The acceleration is the only thing we're missing out on.

Hypermiling comes in seasons for me, I usually only do it a couple weeks every few months. Otherwise, I just drive regularly and can still get 52.0 mpg (actual calculated).

My next car will be the last year of the 4th Gen Prius. I plan on skipping the current gen (too similar to Gen II) and keeping my Gen II for 10+ years. Keeping my fingers crossed...

 

I was hypermiling my Honda Civic & Caravan way b4 Prius was born. Not much but about 10% savings.

Once I got the Prius I drive exclusively in PWR mode, kick-asses 80% of the time, and still getting 55-59 mpg with hypermiling technigues. I found out that it's ok to step on it in PWR mode real hard, but I'd better look way ahead for traffic stoppage and coast/neutral glide to stop; I use cruise control even if it's a short distance to the next light; I roll down slopes in neutral for as long as possible if no other cars were around.

I've driven the Prius faster than I drove any other cars before, way faster and having fun, and don't feel guilty at all! I used the same hypermiling techniques as b4 so no, not much changed, except driving faster, accelerating faster in PWR mode.

Yes, my Prius driving style is VERY UNLIKE most of yours.

 

Every other car I get in I look for the button and have to regroup thoughts.
Coast to stop lights and light on the gas to take off.....in my V8.


next car electric only. Prius was just a step to less gas.
anticipate lights and hills more. Drive behind trucks in the slow lane.
Same comments made in this thread.........
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ou-changed-driving-habits-b-c-your-prius.html

 

Since I bought this car, I am now paying for my own gas. So going 90 on highways really hurts the wallet.

I really don't pulse and glide much, because their are too many hills around here.


I always was a big fan of anticipating stopping/braking before, but now I don't get anxious at the stop light. I stay cool(ac cool also) right now, and don't care how long I sit, because of the tiny affect it actually has.

So, yes, I feel I drive safer and I am more relaxed. Not only at lights but the whole trip, oh well if I get lost, the cost is also small.

Likewise, I think driving is much more pleasurable in general because of the small cost.

 

The biggest change for me is hypermiling! I've always driven for maximum fuel effeciency, but never knew about Hypermiling until coming here! I do miss the feeling of acceleration off the line, the hesitation before the ICE kicks in makes me feel like I'm that last one to move when the light changes!

Will I get another Hybrid? Probably because the technology and fuel effeciency will only improve with time...

 

Before the Prius, I was what my wife liked to refer to as the typical Type A agressive driver.

Now, with all of the realtime MPG information staring me in the face I have become much more aware of what affects MPG. So, this has totally changed my driving style where I drive much more sensibly. I drive like I do not have brakes and try to time lights a lot better. I also leave more distance between the car in front so as not having to brake as much and lose momentum. I do not try to hypermile but still average 48 mpg and get above 50 mpg in spring and fall moderate weather.

This has nothing to do with the performance of the Prius. I still use the PWR mode now and then and the car has all of the acceleration that I typically need right now.

 

That doesn't sound right. There should be no hesitation in forward movement. I'm nearly always the first one a way from a light and I drive a slower GenII. Maybe you need to give it a bit more throttle.