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Trip Report

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by markabele, May 30, 2012.

  1. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    My wife and I (no kids yet) just got back from our first long trip in our 2012 Prius. It was a journey of more than 2000 miles that covered just about a week. We live in Lincoln, Nebraska and drove to Cincinnati, then Chattanooga, then Atlanta, then back to Chattanooga, then to St. Louis, then home. Along the way we saw family and hit three different theme parks (rode 24 different roller coasters over the three days in the parks).

    We averaged about 55.1 mpg during the trek which included mostly interstates with speed limits of 65 and 70 mph. Cruise control was in use much of the time with us usually locking in at about 1-4 mph under the speed limit, depending on traffic volume.

    It was a very hot week with temps being in the 90’s most places we went. This obviously left us running the air conditioner the vast majority of the time. Coming out back to the car from the theme park in the middle of the day made us wish we had the solar panel roof to keep the car cool. We also spent about an hour stuck/crawling in Atlanta traffic. After having the Prius I can’t imagine being stuck in traffic in any “normal” ICE vehicle for very long.

    I found myself using power mode much more than I had anticipated for a couple reasons. On roads that I’m unfamiliar with it is nice to have the car respond a little quicker to my touch when I am in need of a fast lane change or other traffic maneuver. We were also so wiped out from the heat that we wanted to get the car cooler quicker and therefore sometimes hit the power button right away.

    I have some small complaints about cruise control. Going up and down hills at highway speeds makes me wish there was a wider range the cruise control would allow the car to go to. I would even be ok with 3 or 4 mph in each direction. It should be wider for ECO and more rigid (like it is now) in power mode.

    A quick word about drafting. We saw first hand early during the trip why it can be very dangerous to draft trucks. A quarter mile ahead of us on the interstate we saw a truck have a blowout and spray large chunks of tire everywhere. If we would have been following that truck closely it definitely would have been very easy to get a cracked windshield or do damage to something on the underbody because of running it over. It also can be extremely tiring and monotonous.

    During one of our last stops we walked back out of the store and I noticed a shopping cart up against our car. I had a bad feeling right away. Sure enough there is a small dent. It is not really noticeable with the eye but you can feel it. Oh well, it was bound to happen at some point.

    Overall we had a great time. The Prius is a wonderful road trip vehicle. Thanks for reading!


    Cliff’s Notes:

    - 2000 miles over a week vacation

    - averaged 55.1 mpg staying a few below speed limit

    - was hot all week, solar roof would have been nice

    - used power mode more than I thought I would

    - a few complaints about cruise control

    - saw first hand why not to draft
     
    #1 markabele, May 30, 2012
    pghjerry likes this.
  2. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    It's amazing what the Prius can do with a gallon of fuel....

    We took a 55 mi trip last Saturday in mixed highway/city traffic- AC on the whole time- 56mpg upon reaching destination!
    Even my wife was impressed...:)
     
    #2 ny_rob, May 31, 2012
    ChipL likes this.
  3. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Ya...it's incredible.

    fwiw the 55.1 was hand calculated
     
    #3 markabele, May 31, 2012
  4. jsfabb

    jsfabb Active Member

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    You did long division??? :)

    Impressed wife, easy life!!!
     
    #4 jsfabb, May 31, 2012
    ChipL likes this.
  5. ChipL

    ChipL Active Member

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    Loving what the Prius is capable of in the mpg department...

    We did a road trip on Sunday to Charlottesville VA and to Potomac Mills in Dale City VA on Monday for a 58.2mpg calculated on my fill-up! :D AC most of the time with just "regular" traffic at highway speeds (trying to be about 2 to 5mph over the posted) w/o cruise control.
     
    #5 ChipL, May 31, 2012
  6. ChipL

    ChipL Active Member

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    Great drive and great trip! :)




    Very impressed with your mpg's. In particular with using cruise control.

    Joking here, glad you made in one piece doing 1-4mph under the posted. Keep in mind speedometers can be off by any where from 1 to 3mph.




    Love the Prius in crawling traffic. My personal best trip was like 78mpg in stop and go traffic in the Northern Virginia area.
     
    #6 ChipL, May 31, 2012
    markabele likes this.
  7. thirsty1258

    thirsty1258 Junior Member

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    I cannot get anymore than 50 MPG on freeway . Tried no AC but did not see a difference.

    Galaxy Nexus ? 2
     
    #7 thirsty1258, May 31, 2012
  8. ChipL

    ChipL Active Member

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    Lots depends on how you drive. Heavy on the foot, keeping up with the Joneses, cruise control use, and terrain will add to the toll on the mpg's. How is your other mpg's going for you so far?

    Looking at and joining Fuelly and seeing what other members are getting will help maybe.
     
    #8 ChipL, May 31, 2012
  9. jsfabb

    jsfabb Active Member

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    I have been trying to hone my skills on the open highway. What really works is:

    1. Pulse up to a certain speed above where you want to average.
    - I like to pulse at the top of a hill and somewhat down the hill
    - this gives you more glide
    - it's like pushing down on a swing
    2. Glide down to a speed a little below where you want to average.
    - this is the absolute optimum in getting great mileage
    3. I maintain my speed right around the "O" in ECO for as long as I can maintain a decent speed
    - I will use this to go up hills if speed is good going into them
    - sometimes after I pulse it will level off to here rather than a straight glide according to traffic conditions
    - it's amazing on a flat level road how long you can maintain a speed
    - watch your iMPG gauge for sweet spot for optimum MPGs

    The key is reading the terrain and the traffic and using these techniques at opportune times. I have increase my 34 mile drive mpg into work from 58 mpg to 62 mpg (Cons. Display). Every little bit helps. Yesterday going home from work, I was able to to get 68.6 mpg while averaging 52 mph. MPH would have been higher if i didn't hit a light that took three changes before I could get through it. Two things in my favor:

    1. Was able to follow a box truck for 27 miles to my exit
    2. Wind was somewhat in my direction

    Keep practicing on the highway and see what works for you!
     
    #9 jsfabb, Jun 1, 2012
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