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that great misconception

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by 9G-man, May 5, 2008.

  1. 9G-man

    9G-man Senior Member

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    I ran into a fellow at work the other day that drives a Prius. In fact, he's been driving it a few years, as it was handed to him by his Father. Appearantly his whole family and wife, they all drive Prius'.
    Jack-pot!

    Well, I wanted to make some interesting conversation with him. You know, see if he is familiar with PriusChat, does he know how to "glide", what's his average MPG.

    So I asked, "do you do anything special, to try maximize your gas mileage?"

    The answer I got induced a momentary heave convultion, or the reaction like spewing your coffee unexpectedly.

    "I use B-mode alot." "And I get about 41 MPG."

    I lost the desire to talk Prius for a while, feeling it would be a struggle to communicate .
     
    #1 9G-man, May 5, 2008
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Why I do believe that would be B for BOZO!!!!
     
    #2 KK6PD, May 5, 2008
  3. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    9G, I hope you keep talking to him, and he talks to his family. Think of all the gas they're wasting that they don't need to. People may be smart enough to buy a Prius, but everyone can learn more.
     
    #3 Bill Merchant, May 6, 2008
  4. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I think you should email the Bmode user a link to Hobbit's explanation. You could do it anonymously if you think he will be insulted. I would include the link, but the PC server isn't working correctly yet. If you include a link, it won't post.
     
    #4 dogfriend, May 6, 2008
  5. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    No, just go right directly to the point with him. No B-mode
    unless you're in serious hills, regardless of what the clueless
    dealer might have told him. B is a huge lose for most normal
    driving, and this fella needs to understand why. Have him feed
    back to whoever told him to do that with the right information,
    too, since there's way too much misconception about B out there.
    .
    _H*
     
    #5 hobbit, May 6, 2008
  6. 9G-man

    9G-man Senior Member

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    I spent several hours with the fellow that day, as part of work, and later told him that B-mode was much like 'low gear' on an ordinary car, and It was probably hurting his gas mileage. I told him to give PriusChat a look, he'd find alot of good info here.
     
    #6 9G-man, May 6, 2008
  7. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    On a test drive, the salesguy told me "B" was for Battery. ; )
     
    #7 dogfriend, May 7, 2008
  8. Spectra

    Spectra Amphi-Prius

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    ... and the maintenance honcho, hoping to close the deal with me, told me there's no catalytic converter. :eek:
     
    #8 Spectra, May 7, 2008
  9. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Yes, when I tried to get my alignment problem fixed at the dealer I determined that the Service Writer was:

    a) incompetent
    b) dishonest
    c) patronizing
    d) a complete waste of time

    They might have good techs, but I'll never know because they don't allow the customers to talk to the techs and I'll never take my car back to them for service.
     
    #9 dogfriend, May 7, 2008
  10. Ichiro

    Ichiro Member

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    So how much loss in fuel efficiency are we talking about?
    5%? 10%? a couple mpg?
     
    #10 Ichiro, May 7, 2008
  11. Sheepdog

    Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie!

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    In B mode? A lot! Easily 15-20% or more depending! B Mode is for safety not economy!
     
    #11 Sheepdog, May 7, 2008
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