New Prius Owner

Welcome to the "cult" and to prius chat - you'll find a world of information here. Enjoy your car. B)

 

Congrats and welcome. Ours is still months out but cannot wait. Post pics!

 

I just ordered mine on Sunday ('07, Barcelona Red #6). I'm still weeks away but can't wait.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius Jim of Oregon @ Oct 12 2006, 04:26 PM) [snapback]332039[/snapback]</div>

Welcome! We've had our 2006 for a month now. Without a doubt, it's the best auto purchase we've ever made.

 

Welcome and congrats on the new Prius! You'll love it. I'm a Prius noob having had mine all of 2 months, but it's a great car.

 

Hi Jim, welcome! If you ever get to Portland on the third Saturday of the month, check out The Portland Area Prius Meetup Group and stop by and say hi! Keep in touch.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mia @ Oct 12 2006, 08:04 PM) [snapback]332095[/snapback]</div>

Here, this should tide you over, it is my baby. [/img]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius Jim of Oregon @ Oct 12 2006, 08:26 PM) [snapback]332039[/snapback]</div>

I got my white 06 Prius Sept.28 (close to the deadline for the full tax credit smile.gif java script:emoticon('', 'smid_3') and am enjoying the car.
I had been reading this site as a guest for a month or two before the purchase and profiting from its collective wisdom. This is the first chat group I have ever joined, and I did so because the folks who write seem like such nice people!
Based on some member comments on the OEM tires, I immediately replaced the Integrity tires with Michelin Harmonys (after doing some research at
Tirerack and Consumer Reports). I was fortunate enough to find a local tire dealer who allowed me $240 on the Michelins for the "old" Integritys. (Tirerack is selling them at $63 apiece).Much better trade in allowance than I expected. Going in to winter, it gives me peace of mind that I won't be slipping and sliding all over the place.
After 200 miles with my new car, I'm averaging 42mpg. I do mostly short distance driving. I have noticed one thing that puzzles me: The Prius is supposed to get better mileage for city driving than highway driving, right? My experience so far, admittedly based on not many miles, is the opposite: the two or three times I've done highway driving for 20 minutes or so, the average mpg has definitely gone up, only to go down again when I return to stop and go local driving. Anybody have an explanation?
I am one of those people who read the owner's manual from cover to cover, and I have done so with the Prius manual. Definitely worth doing, since this car is so different from standard non-hybrid vehicles. But I've easily gotten used to driving it, and being 5 foot 5 inches tall, 150 pounds, I find the seat comfortable and my ability to see out front, sides and back is ok.
So far I like the car very much.
Priusunum

 

I ordered mine last week and can't wait! Congratulations! I ordered an 07 Touring magnetic gray with all the trimmings!!

 

Welcome Prius Jim!!!

Lots of good info on here about how to get the most out of your car.......... read and post ofter and let us know how your mileage goes on your next few tanks... it should improve as you car breaks in and as you learn the "tricks" of driving the Prius.

Welcome again!!!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prius Jim of Oregon @ Oct 12 2006, 07:26 PM) [snapback]332039[/snapback]</div>

Well, Prius Jim of Oregon...this is my first time on PriusChat...and actually my first time on any "chat". In perusing some of the "threads" (while I await the delivery of my '07 Classic Silver Metallic, loaded with Package #6, plus -careful not to show excitement with all caps here- carpeted mats throughout that was supposed to be here Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday, and still not here), I have learned a great deal about what to expect when it gets here. I did find out yesterday that it is still in port...Apparently there are not enough being delivered to North Carolina to get the car hauler this way.

I also noticed that there is no North Carolina Prius Club. If someone out there started one in their state, I would love some tips.

Anyway, I think I will be proud to be a member of this "cult." I love the humor and intelligence. Even the kookie comments have a thread of at least one of the two. Anyway, once I get my hands on "Jazzy Girl", I will try to see if I can out-do some of those great photos that John has posted. I think I feel a competition coming. Who wins or loses really won't matter, what will matter is that we have a place to share our experiences, learn from one another, have some fun and maybe get out of this car, all that we prayed we would before we bought it in the first place. So how was my first time? Will you all accept me as one of your own?

Seriously though, I am looking forward to chatting with everyone in the future.

 

Welcome and congratulations!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusunum @ Oct 13 2006, 03:08 PM) [snapback]332410[/snapback]</div>

If your car is already warmed up and then mpg decreases in city driving, I have no explanation. Short distance driving is what hurts our mileage. We get great mileage in town once the Prius has had 5 or 10 minutes of driving time to warm up. We average in the low 50's mpg in the warm months and mid 40's mpg in the cold months - 48.5 mpg year round. All the averages would definintely be higher if we didn't make a lot of short trips - which unfortunately we do because the stores in our area are about a two minute drive away from us. We've had our Prius for 18 months now and we're closing in on 14,000 miles of problem free driving and we're still smiling every time we drive past the gas station. B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lefty @ Oct 21 2006, 12:10 PM) [snapback]336092[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the explanation. I guess the answer to my question is that I start out from my garage (=cold car) and drive five minutes to the gym or to the store, so the engine really doesn't warm up. Earlier this week, I took a twenty minute drive on a good road with no traffic lights...and watched the mpg creep up and up,ending at 46.5 mpg. I guess that's because the car did warm up!
I'm not really complaining about getting 42 average mpg for short in town driving. That's more than twice what I was getting for the same short trips with my previous car (a Subaru wagon, which was a pretty good car too.)