Guilty Prius Pleasures

Staying off the boring Interstates and enjoying the ride on secondary roads that yield 52-55 mpg on a daily basis.

 

I have the feeling that driving 65-70 km/h (indicated) where the car will try to run electric at times is less fuel-efficient than driving 75 km/h where the car will always run on ICE.
Bear in mind, european Prii have about 10% misindication in the speedometer, so 65 km/h will be about 37 mph and 75 km/h about 42 mph.
But I have no measurements to support that claim, it's only from reading the 5-minute average fuelconsumption in the HSI display.

 

Oy, did you have to discount (or add?) 10% AND change units? Me brain is full.

 

You're right, 75 on the EU speedometer is the point of absolute minimum on a V3 because to go at 70 the engine load is lowered diminuishing the efficency a bit.

 

Yeah, me too. Nobody likes getting beat by a Prius....

 

75/1.1/1.609344= about 42.4, sure 'nuff.

Lying by a required 10% sounds like bureaucratic nannyism run amuck.

 

I like 3, an empty rearview mirror. My close relative to that is when I have only one vehicle behind me and they are slowly gaining on me. It's such a nice guilty pleasure when they finally pass me. It's a decision, should I speed up a little to not irritate them? If given the opportunity, I'll slow up by a couple of mph's to help them around me.

 

Yeah, it is. 10% is not required, but speedometers are required to never indicate less than the actual speed. To make sure they never, never, never ever do, lots of manufacturers build in such a crazy misread. It is not exactly 10% but a bit less (which makes it even worse because then you can't calculate your exact speed easily) but in the past there were manufacturers that had even worse misreads. Ford an Fiat spring to mind.
The odometer is accurate, so fitting other size tires will get you nowhere.

 

I've noticed that around 58-60mph my speedometer and my Garmin show the same speed within probably 0.5mph.

 

I try to avoid following large vehicles/trucks, anything that might throw rocks or any debris up into my windshield.

I've been hit many times, and have the chips to show for it. I have also suffered one too many cracked windshields now.

It's not worth saving a few pennies to risk damage to my vehicle's paint or windshield.

 

Dead. The ultimate prize from tailgating whether justified with the term drafting or not. Not worth the risk although probably 9/10 drivers follow too closely. It's amazing how much more you can see and enjoy the drive when following 5-6 seconds behind rather than 0.5-0.6 seconds.

 

Follow large trucks, but from a safe distance, no problems with hood dings. And if people invade that space you leave, "cut you off", no big deal.

 

We LOVE our DRCC! Just set it, with the distance desired, and pretty much forget it. We always set it with maximum following distance (three bars). Wife says she will NEVER own another car without it!

We have discovered a trick that works for us more often than not. If a vehicle is tailgating us, even if we are going speed limit, we turn on emergency flashers. I am pleasantly surprised how most drivers will back off!

 

Great post. I agree to all of the above. I'm only two months into Prius ownership from a "hot rodded" BMW, and I already think like the above. Haha

 

When are you changing your handle to ZVW30Prius?

Then, the transformation will be complete.

 

I still have my BMW. I'm a car enthusiast, I gotta have a fun car. I might get a Z4M next. I like having my daily driver be a hybrid.

 

My guilty pleasures driving Enzo are the comfort (compared to my truck) and the value. I actually make money driving it for work.

No city or urban driving for me except for a few stop lights in town but I get 60mpg on the run up to Bend Oregon, 52ish everywheres else. And traffic jams? .......I remember those from long ago!

This is the only traffic jam I have to deal with these days, I sorta enjoy them........

 

I envy you. Trying to go from North Vancouver over the Lions Gate Bridge, sound 6 pm last evening: electronic billboard up the road said 10 minute delay. Yeah right.

It's an exercise: compressing never ending stream of cars into ever dwindling lanes. Yuck.

All you can do is try to stay clear of 'em.

 

Nope, not my style.

I will perhaps be moving back to Southern California to take care of my patients for a few years, not looking fwd2 the traffic and all the other negatives. But it will be for a good reason and I will enjoy the surfing. The truck and most all of my guns will stay back in storage in Oregon.

As a professional mechanic I will only own 4cyl Toyotas. The list of people wanting to buy this old 03 is long and distinguished

 

Yeah, it is specific for European cars. Mph dashboards in the US are accurate. I do wonder what km/h dashboard from Canada do.