Drives me nuts....

I don't know about 5 minute drives to work or what not, but my advice is if someone really doesn't drive a heck of a lot year after year, let's say, maybe 6,000 miles per year (500 miles per month), perhaps the Prius isn't the best thing to get. ....

After 10 years, they would only have accumulated 60,000 miles. Here in CA and the other states, that's 90,000 miles less than that $$ hybrid battery is warranted for. Now, the hybrid battery may last 11, 12 or more years, who knows. But, Toyota's replacement price is well over $3,000. (I don't care to hear people chime in about salvage car replacement batteries: I sure wouldn't get one for mine)

People are free to buy whatever they want of course. I'm not an expert driver, but I've driven enough cars to know there are definitely some compromises in the liftback Prius driving experience. But, think of how good it ought to be when it is in its 8th or 9th generation like all the Accords and such out there.

If I drove only 6,000 miles a year and had $25,000 in hand to spend, I'd buy something else that can handle the open road better.

 

You're not wrong, but you shouldn't let it bother you.
Life is waaaaaaaaay to short to let other people bug you.

I drive a company-provided Prius, and have for closing in on three years.
It's kind of like an arranged marriage that worked out OK in the end...but it was NOT love at first sight!!
I love the fact that I have some hard won currency in the hybrid community, but if it's not somebody's ELSE'S car?
That's not my lookout.
They drive their drive.
I drive mine.

'nuff said.

 

You all should use Power mode more often. You will not feel like there is as much compromise in speed in doing so. I'm not saying it will beat a Corvette or something, but I've been able to totally surprise some people in 'sports' cars and even accelerated faster than they were willing to.

And, I still get like 45 MPG versus their 15 MPG or whatever.

I don't leave it on all the time, but it's fun to use sometimes.

 

It is refreshing to read a PASSIONATE post by the OP. I haven't seen that in awhile.

 

I drove approximately 1400 miles in my car since spring of 2012. I bought the car 'cause I like it The good MPG's are just a bonus when I do get to drive it

Mike

 

Parrotlover, absolutely agree and well said! Like others have said, the typical 'you drive 75+ mph....' statement is mostly in response to 'why don't I get 50 mpg' type of question. No matter what you drive, you get the mileage you deserve based on what you drive and how you drive. It amazes me how some people can complain about their mileage when they have bonehead driving skills. In most newer cars and trucks, if there is an issue with the vehicle that prevents getting optimal mileage, it's usually the owners fault too due to lack of maintenance or abuse - IMO.

 

Maybe I ought to test drive a Five sometime (just for fun, no I'm not buying any more Prius', perhaps no more Toyotas, ever). There's something mushy and a bit foul about the handling of the regular liftback. I guess that makes for a cushier freeway ride though.

 

I have the plus wheels, lowering springs and rear sway bar. Handles like a BMW 3 series or Lexus IS now.

Prius is definitely mushy handling stock.

 

Exactly. The complete Plus Performance option handles fine for a factory stock non-sports car

Mike

 

I don't have the Plus sway bar but I would have to disagree. I guess I would agree "like" as in close but still not there. Much of it has to do with weight distribution. Though BMW's understeer, it's not as much as the Prius.

 

On my latest fill up, I got 38.2 mpg calculated and I was really bummed... but I live up in the hills and only did mostly short trips up and down the hill on that tank. On the current tank I have gone about 375 miles so far and show 47.1 mpg (probably about 45 mpg calculated) and I feel a lot better!! My overall average for 10 fill ups is 42 mpg. This is the worst I have seen of anyone on Priuschat but 42 is a lot better than the 24 I get on my Avalon!!

 

As a group, rural mail carriers do very poorly in MPG: Start, stop, deliver mail, start, stop, deliver mail, start... 35 MPG is 'bad' in a Prius but so much better than 9 MPG in the Jeep.

 

That's a pretty tall claim. Like BMW 3 ... one of the best handling sports sedans on the planet in its price range?

 

I agree with the OP....
HOWEVER...
I think you have to keep in context why the answer that seems to bug her is usually given.

Usually it's given in a thread in which someone hasn't purchased a Prius yet, but is considering it. And/Or it's within a thread where someone is complaining that they aren't getting 50 mpg, and wondering why their MPG's are "low".

So pointing out that if you drive a lot of short drives and/or have a tendency to speed, might have an significant impact on the ideal or optimum MPG of the Prius, can have it's place.

I agree that I wouldn't attach the caveat that "You shouldn't buy a Prius".

Infact, my daily to work commute is short. Probably less than 10 miles tops. My years of hanging around Prius Chat had me prepared as far as what to expect MPG wise. And the OP is right, while Monday-Friday my MPG "suffers" by Prius Hybrid Optimal Standards, on the weekend with a road trip and a errands, usually my average increases.

But had I been an "Non-Prius Chat" experienced purchaser? I might of freaked out about my "poor" MPG during the work week.

So anyway, I think it's fine to tell a newbie, or a new owner, that short trips, or driving at high speeds will affect the total MPG capabilities of The Prius.

BUT I agree, we should probably let the purchaser or owner come to the decision as to whether that "reality" makes owning a Prius something they want to do, or do NOT want to do.

Some of this is the Toyota dealerships fault. Most salesmen won't tell you this reality about The Prius. Unfortunately I have had reason lately to return to my Toyota Dealership, and I noticed the banners they had hanging all around proudly proclaiming the 50 + mpg capability of The Prius.

Most salesmen won't offer the reality that "your MPG may vary", depending on driving behavior. And as we have all discovered and/or already know, HSD is a wonderful system, but it will be affected by short trips and/or speed demon driving like any vehicle.

But I ultimately agree...you can have a driving pattern that embraces short trips AND even perhaps be a aggressive driver as far as speed....and The Prius CAN still be a great choice. It's all relative. It is all relative because I came from a Honda Fit, for a regular ICE vehicle considered economical. I took the same short trips to work. The Fit probably got me to work at about 18 mpg, while The Prius get's me to work at about 25-30 mpg. I'm still getting a great hybrid benefit...I'm happy. But...I did know to expect that The Prius probably wouldn't give me 50 mpg daily on that short commute.

 

Mpg killer: short trips and hills! Still good though.

 

But I recall a prior post that said something like, and I paraphrase, "Why would you buy a Prius when you aren't trying to always maximize gas milage"? I think the OP's post responds accordingly.

And somewhat related, there was a post about celebrities who own a Prius in which some stated that they only to it for show, etc. My response was that if the celebrity drove 10 miles in a Prius rather than some gas guzzler, that it 10 miles of less use of gas. That's a good thing. Plus, if a celebrity's use of a Prius inspires others to buy a Prius, that's another good thing. In my opinion, we are all helping out a little bit at a time.

 

Hypermiling can involve trying not to use the brakes whenever possible, including going around corners without brakes. In some cases, IMO, that can be dangerous and lead to an accident. I'll listen to driving safety experts long before green zealots.

 

I try not to listen to zealots of any kind (even those who I agree with).

Mike