My first tank

Congrats! I picked up mine last Friday and put gas in it the first time today. I got 40.78 mpg, but I figured that (1) I don't really know if the dealer filled it to full and (2) I've been running the A/C almost the whole time.

 

I have a little more than 200 miles on my car since I picked it up, running with AC on low most of the time, mostly freeway miles (65 -70 MPH). Had 8 miles on it when I picked it up Sunday night (it was full), so I have not had the opportunity to fill it yet. So far I am very happy, computer has never really dropped below a 50 MPG reading, currently at 51.8 MPG.

I was hoping for at least 40 because I didn't think I would really be trying hard to keep the mileage up, but it turns out that it is kind of fun!

 

I also picked mine up last Friday. I am at 54.8 MPG with 440 miles. I will admit to some granny driving though. No A/C (hey, it's fall in Alabama, it's really not necessary), and never over 60 mph. I drove 70 for one trip and saw my overall MPG drop by 4 miles. I quickly decided it was better to slow down and enjoy the scenery (also known as the MFD... 54 looks prettier than 49 or less).

I am down to 2 bars and wonder how far to push it. I'd like to see 500 on the first tank but have NO idea how much the dealer actually put in it.

The car showed full when I got it and ran 112 miles before dropping the first bar. Can someone whose haad theirs a while tell me how far the LAST bar will go? I'd hate to get stuck somewhere, but mathmatically with a 10 gallon tank, averaging 54+ MPG I should be safe going to 500 miles..... right??? I'll feel really stupid having the wifey bring me gas when I run out though

Andrew

 

Must still be warm in Arizona! So envious! It's about 50 degrees when I commute to work in the mornings now here!

 

keep,
I've gone about 30 miles on the last pip at 55+ MPG before I chickened out. How could it possibly be worth the hassles that result. Some posters have run dry by trying to extend that flashing bar.

My advice: Get to a gas station at the earliest convenience as soon as the last pip starts to flash.

 

Thanks Bee. My old car had a 'distance to empty' guage. You could really get a feel for how close to fumes you were. Even at 0 I believe you still had a half gallon.

So I take it the Prius isn't joking when it says your out. So does the last bar blink as soon as it gets there or after going to the last bar for a while? Silly quesiton (that I'm sure I'll have answered tomorrow when it happens to me

I am just wanting to see 500 for the first tank. It has been a fun game for me personally..... I have ALWAYS been a lead footed driver that could make a car get almost single digit MPG without trying, so this is a radical change for me. BUT I grew up in the video game generation (I'm 34) so to me it's a big game and the winner is whomever gets the highest score (AKA the highest MPG).

Andrew

 

Many folks refer to the fuel level indicator as a "Guess Gage." That says volumes.

 

as Dirty Harry would say 'You Feeling Lucky?'

 

The last pip is solidly illuminated and will stay that way for some distance before it starts its flashing routine.

 

My experience is that 500 mile tanks are the norm and easily obtained if the tank was full at the start and you attempted to drive efficiently in the least little bit. I got 675 miles on a tank that was filled to the neck. I was truly amazed at that figure but decided that filling to the first click, then one extra gallon was enough.

 

Fantastic info. Thank you Bee!!! I have a 80+ mile roundtrip commute everyday so I know my first fillup will be tomorrow.

I have really loved the car. Before I was so wrooied about trips to town, we wouldnt take them because when I figure it cost 10 dollars to go to wal-mart for a 3 dollar item..... it just wasnt worth it. Now, we just hop in the car. it's a game with the wife to see who can get the best MPG What a fun car huh? The MPG has been amazing to say the least.

All I have done is get to the speed I want to go and hit cruise cntl. When I try to do it I slide back into my lead-footed ways so to take that temptation away, CC it is....

Andrew

 

keep,
I agree, the drive to maximize MPGs is really addicting. I am experimenting with a bunch of techniques in the quest for 60 MPG and am presently sitting at 58.0 MPG with about 260 miles on the tank.

I'm finding that maxing fuel economy is a lot like maintaining a grade point average. You work your butt off and scrape your way to a 3.5 gpa when one sucky class and bad grade puts it into the toilet. You claw and scrape our way back up, but now it takes longer 'because you're averaging over more classes.

One long, steep hill or a bunch of short trips = C's and maybe even a D or two...

 

Andrew,
Once you feel comfortable in the car (accustomed to where everything is, etc.) you might want to try the "pulse and glide" technique. Do a search in the forum and you'll find plenty to explain what it is and how to do it.

P&G can REALLY boost your MPGs when traveling at speeds under 41MPH. Just make sure you p&g along stretches of road that aren't congested because this method tends to piss off other drivers who are in close proximity to your Prius.

 

Got my '05 Prius on Thursday and have 48.0 MPG from 200 miles of metropolitan driving. I'm having a lot of fun! I'm going to search for this pulse/glide as I wonder if it has to do with the "B" gear....usually there are too many cars around here (Mpls MN) to slow down without showing the brake lights.

 

Just fill it up when it gets low. Don't play games. No one is going to give you a metal for running out of gas.

 

Picked up mine last Thursday, I'm now at 250 miles (took a nice ride out to the country over the weekend)

48.7 mpg by the computer!

The gas gauge is close to half now, so that would be about right as well.

 

HI I picked my car last Saturday and with my first full tank I averaged 46.4mpg and filled up at 504 miles. I believe I coild have driven a bit longer. However when the fuel light started flashing I didnt want to take any chances but I think I still had 25-35 miles left to go.

 

Just went through my first full tank. 47.6 as per the computer, but actually only 45 in real life. Although not sure if it was totally "full" when the dealer filled it.