Don't you hate it when..... (mpg frustration thread)

32KColor hit it right on the nose

 

I hate it when Prius owners whine about their MPG average dropping from 50+ to the dismal reality of mid to lower 40's....

There is absolutely nothing I can do, to make my Honda Fit at its best, get the worst gas mileage you are complaining about....

I'm happy if I'm driving a lot of freeway and getting 32 mpg. If somebody stops my feeble pure ICE attempt at a pulse and glide? My mileage drops from 30 to 26 mpg or less...

So my advice? Enjoy your frustration. You've obviously been spoiled by success.

 

Like jabbering on the cell phone, texting, or speeding (even "to keep up with the flow")???

Cruising along at the speed limit, doing nothing but driving, being aware of traffic in the all around, glancing at the HSD from time to time, is far far safer than the above.

As for tailgaters, I see several species:
- those who just have to tailgate SOMEBODY, so the trick is to get them to latch onto someone else ahead of you
- distracted drivers who get trapped behind because they were too busy with their phone/texting/reading to pay attention to the road ahead, often happy to drop back a bit and just tag along behind until they have a break in whatever more Important Thing they are doing
- people for whom simply changing lanes challenges their limited driving skills (scary!!)
- slicer/dicer speeders who tailgate just momentarily until they can dart into an opening in another lane

I make it a point not to look at people in cars passing by. Why bother? All it can do is irritate them, I'm better off focusing on the road and traffic. May give the impression I'm lost in my own world, which is fine with me.

I DO flip on my haz flashers when I see a semi coming up behind, when they are WAY back and have slots open to move over into. That helps keep traffic flowing smoothly. Occasionally a semi will be busy on his cell and not notice my flashers. If he starts tailgating me, I give him the flashers and just maintain speed.

 

Whining is a Constitutional right!! BTW, you're whining too......

 

Oh come on now. Lighten up.

I'm just pointing out, that a Prius at it's worst, is better than most- at their best.

What you pour on your Cheerios is up to you.

But really? From an outsider perspective, it's a little hard to commiserate with "I'm only getting 44 mpg! Woe is Me!".

But it's a GREAT thing that Toyota and Prius have set the bar so high.

Moving forward? I'd hope that the complaints continue. Infact, I hope someday we aren't even talking about MPG, but hopefully Miles Per Charge...

I'm just really trying to cheer you guys up...

CAFE standards might increasing the overall average, but Prius Owners are still ahead of the pack.

LOL! it's all relative. Am I content with my mileage? Well most of the time I try not to think about it...because (By Most) The Fit is considered economical.

But Prius Chat has poisoned me. Because yes, I complain from time to time about "only" getting 27-32 mpg. To which? Most of my Dodge Truck driving friends, tell me to quit whining.

 

Not that we don't want you here, but this obviously begs the question: If you don't have a Prius or don't plan on getting one soon, why do you come to these forums?

 

... you are driving with your significant other and they make you put on the AC.

... there are not any larger vehicles to draft (safely) on the highway.

... larger vehicles are moving way too fast to draft.

... you don't use the HOV, because the cars are going way too fast to get good MPGs.

... it got cooler than usual last night, so your car takes longer for the ICE to warm up and get into EV.

... your significant other complains that you are driving too slow and you tell them don't you see that red light up ahead.

 

Remember, you don't want it to get too hot in the cabin. Cabin air is used to cool the traction battery.

 

I've been here for years.
I've answered this question before.

Probably the primary reason I like Prius Chat, is that among automotive forums, it is one of the most organized, well run, and active online forums and communities around.

Which is a testament to Prius Chat, Prius, and Prius Owners.

Beyond that? I've hung around here long enough to have quite a bit of Prius knowledge, even without ownership. Many of the topics that get raised, are topics that you don't necessarily HAVE to own a Prius to have an opinion on.

It may be Prius Chat...but if you haven't noticed the topics around here are diverse. What other online automotive forum fosters active discussions on everything from "Should I wash Fruits and Vegetables From The Garden?" to "What is Pulse and Glide?".

I feel confident that on many topics, I can offer an opinion and P.O.V. with just as much qualification as a Prius Owner. Of course there are subjective topics directly tied to ownership, that I can't really comment on..and I try to avoid, or be judicious in any commentary I might make in those threads.

If you want to use my current status as a Non-Owner to discount or totally ignore my opinion. Of course you are free to do so.

I would also argue, that there is value in having a Non-Prius P.O.V. .

Sometimes as pointed out in another thread, for all it's loyalty and dynamic activity, this forum can become a little "cultish".

It may be delusional visions of self important grandeur, but I think you NEED someone once in a while to say "Hey! 44 MPG is still damn good!".

Isn't there strength in diversity? I think even within Prius Chat, you become stronger if more voices are heard. I think some people not necessarily vested in ownership, actually make Prius Chat stronger, not weaker.

I still plan to someday own a hybrid. 2 years ago, when I bought my Honda Fit, I had some complicated reasons I ended up making that immediate decision over The Prius.

To be totally honest, I think I bought The Fit, in some ways subconciously hoping that I would find something I very much disliked about it. Then I could choose The Prius...knowing I that The Fit did not work for me....

Unfortunately? That didn't happen. Outside of just "average" 4 cylinder, small hatchback gas mileage...I really like my Fit. More than perhaps I even thought I would.

I also HATE dealerships and the whole new car buying process....which makes me delay even more.

So anyway. I know my "Non-Ownership" is an issue with some posters.

I don't hide it.

And if anyone wants to use it as a platform for discounting my opinions or ignoring me completely? That's entirely their personal choice.

However, I see Prius Chat as more than just PRIUS chat....it's a great site to keep up on Toyota products in general, automotive news in general, interior and exterior care-(often advice useable across automotive genre's), engine care, tire advice...and that doesn't include "Freds House of Pancakes".

I've enjoyed vicariously, riding the wave of release of everything from the Gen 3 Prius, to Prius c and Prius V and now even Plug In Prius.

I dare say, I am one of the biggest "fans" of Prius, that doesn't own a Prius.

Now aren't you sorry you asked?

 

I appreciate the explanation. And I definitely agree that some subjects can benefit by having an outside POV. That said, you have to understand (and it seems like you do) why some people don't take your comments as serious. I also think people really respect when you say stuff that is just that, an outsiders opinion, but probably don't like it as much when your comments act as if you own one and have tons of experience with one. As in most things in life, head knowledge only goes so far. Personal experience with something is much more valuable. But thank you for the honest explanation.

 

I was chatting with a woman about a month ago at the local VFW; she's thinking of trading in her current car for something / anything a bit more fuel efficient. Can't recall the exact model / year, but I believe it's an '03 Taurus or Malibu or something like that and she said she's averaging about 24 mpg.

Her reaction when I said the worst mpg Mithril has ever attained for an entire tank was 37.1: "You've gotta' be sh****ng me!"

 

I'm talking outside temps in the low to mid 70s. Typically, I wouldn't use AC for temps in that range.

 

hopefully you aren't rolling the windows down

 

Nope! I heard if your windows are down at anything above 40 mph, you might as well have the AC on.

 

Yep, and probably close to a wash down to about 25 or 30.

 

Their problem, not yours.

 

Heck yes. Even longer than a short trip, because the interior retains a lot more heat in the materials than the air. You just have to touch the dash to know this is so.

 

I haven't gotten data, but I like to put the windows down just an inch or two at speeds >40mph. Too much buffeting if they are fully open. And it intuitively seems that a small opening might not disturb airflow too much.

When three inches of opening isn't enough, I kick on the AC. But I've found that setting the AC just a few degrees below the outside temp gives me the comfort of dehumidification without affecting mpg much if at all. I can manage well into the 90's this way.

Also, in the summer when you pack stuff for a trip it's particularly important not to block the battery air intake on the right side of the rear seat.