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First Commute in!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by coonbutt, Apr 2, 2007.

  1. coonbutt

    coonbutt New Member

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    :)

    Well, I just bought my new Prius on Saturday and got to take my first commute into work this morning. Average mpg for the 31 mile trip was 59.5! This was some stop and go, and about 20 miles pegged at 61 mph. On several downgrades I was able to keep the readout at 99.9 mpg for a long way around 55 mph. The engine was spinning, just no fuel being fed I guess.

    Cruise control is a new luxury that I will love getting used to. Same thing with the handling, which is light years above my 4wd tacoma sitting in the garage.

    Fuel costs saved to date: $1.78 :)
    Sticking it just a little to OPEC: Priceless.

    A libertarian/conservative driving a Prius? What is the world coming to? :D
     
    #1 coonbutt, Apr 2, 2007
  2. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    That's GREAT MPG on your commute to work! How was it on the way home?
     
    #2 Bill Merchant, Apr 2, 2007
  3. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    Gotta update that profile....
     
    #3 Bill Lumbergh, Apr 2, 2007
  4. imahuph

    imahuph New Member

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    i too got a prius saturday after lurking in the forums for awhile decided to buy one. averaging 41 mpg on my first commute, many tricks to learn, like learning to drive again :lol:
     
    #4 imahuph, Apr 3, 2007
  5. coonbutt

    coonbutt New Member

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    Well, I got exactly 59.5 mpg on the way in again today. Today I went about 1 mph less (60 vs. 61) for the highway part of the trip, which is as low as I plan on going (speed limit is 65 mph). For a while it looked like I was going to break 60 mpg, but then I had one low bar that threw it off. I had to run the vent and defrost a little more than yesterday (more humid).

    My trip home yesterday was 54.9 mpg - had to run the A/C yesterday afternoon. I tried to keep it pretty warm, but not too uncomfortable.

    The first couple bars aren't that great, but my commute time is usually around 45 minutes, so most of the time (and miles) are under fully warmed up conditions...

    I am really starting to love running on electric only, especially with the a/c off and the battery full. :D

    Total fuel costs saved to date $5.37. :)



    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(imahuph @ Apr 3 2007, 05:03 AM) [snapback]416929[/snapback]</div>
    You are right about learning to drive again! I was pretty good at hypermiling with my tacoma, but it took a lot of effort to get an extra 2 mpg's. The most I ever got with it was 26 mpg, but that only happened once. Last summer I was turning it off at stop lights and taping cardboard underneath to increase the aerodynamics! Tough to improve much on a brick-shaped vehicle with all-terrain tires though... :D
     
    #5 coonbutt, Apr 3, 2007
  6. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

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    #6 Sarge, Apr 3, 2007
  7. Highly ImPriused

    Highly ImPriused Impressive Member

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    Very nice Prickly! Had the first commute in my new Prius today. Got about 46 MPG on a 25 mile trip, including a stop at the in-laws to drop off the kids about 4 miles into it. Not bad seeing as it currently has a grand total of 74 miles on the odomoter. I'm looking forward to getting up in the 50s on a regular basis once its broken in.
     
    #7 Highly ImPriused, Apr 3, 2007
  8. R32

    R32 New Member

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    /\ So great you have a pic of Riley Martin. O-Qua Tangin Wann!! lol
     
    #8 R32, Apr 3, 2007
  9. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(imahuph @ Apr 3 2007, 03:03 AM) [snapback]416929[/snapback]</div>
    Congratulations and welcome to PriusChat, imahuph. Yeah, a lot of what you know about driving –the sound of the engine, the kick of the shift– have to be relearned in a Prius, which is one reason it is such fun to drive.
     
    #9 Bill Merchant, Apr 3, 2007
  10. coonbutt

    coonbutt New Member

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    Ok, now this is getting ridiculous. :D I just got 61.1 mpg on the commute home today. This thing is going to be addictive. I am starting to really pay attention to what is going on with the car - times when I should let it take a charge, times when it might be good to use some of the battery, subtle improvements from normal "drafting" in traffic... :lol:
     
    #10 coonbutt, Apr 3, 2007
  11. LarryATL

    LarryATL New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prickly commute @ Apr 2 2007, 09:41 AM) [snapback]416367[/snapback]</div>

    Hi Pricky (and all). I too picked up my first Prius this weekend as well. Not quite getting the mileage you're seeing but in the mid 40s and I'm sure it will improve. Th coolest thing is that I've driven 80 miles and the gas tank fuel guage still shows as competely Full !

    BTW loved your libertarian/conservative comment. I too am one of those - was afraid I might be the only one on this Forum. :)
     
    #11 LarryATL, Apr 3, 2007
  12. bigdaddy

    bigdaddy Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ATLPriusGuy @ Apr 3 2007, 09:27 PM) [snapback]417356[/snapback]</div>
    Howdy ATL! Wave if you see me...
     
    #12 bigdaddy, Apr 3, 2007
  13. coonbutt

    coonbutt New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ATLPriusGuy @ Apr 3 2007, 08:27 PM) [snapback]417356[/snapback]</div>
    ATL - Congrats on your new Prius! What color did you get? What package?

    Yep, my mileage is really good, but I think it will decrease pretty quickly. It is starting to get hot here in south Texas - time for some fuel sucking A/C! :) At least I know I will always beat 25 mpg I was getting in my 4-cyl tacoma on the commute...

    The technology of this car for the price still amazes me!
     
    #13 coonbutt, Apr 3, 2007
  14. Highly ImPriused

    Highly ImPriused Impressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(R32 @ Apr 3 2007, 06:27 PM) [snapback]417280[/snapback]</div>
    I was wondering if anyone would notice. Que Onza Laggie Wan! In case you hadn't guessed, my first "mod" was installing my Sirius Sportster last night. I'm thinking about upgrading to an integrated system after the XM merger, if it goes through.

    Back on topic, I got about 52 MPG on the way home today (compared to 46 on the way in). Which is strange because I live at somewhat higher elevation than where I work. I would have thought I'd get higher MPG on the way in. I guess making that extra stop to drop off the kids in the AM (wife picks them up) and it being cooler in the morning had a bigger effect.
     
    #14 Highly ImPriused, Apr 3, 2007
  15. micheal

    micheal I feel pretty, oh so pretty.

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prickly commute @ Apr 3 2007, 09:22 PM) [snapback]417324[/snapback]</div>
    Way to go! It can be very addictive. How does it feel to already by blasting past the EPA estimates by 25%?
     
    #15 micheal, Apr 3, 2007
  16. coonbutt

    coonbutt New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(micheal @ Apr 3 2007, 10:23 PM) [snapback]417398[/snapback]</div>
    The car is great! I "only" got 56.3 mpg for the commute in today. :) The last two days I had gotten 59.5. The weather is about the same temperature wise, but it did rain last night. Maybe more resistance from more humid air? It's amazing what even minute changes do to your mileage numbers when driving a Prius.
     
    #16 coonbutt, Apr 4, 2007
  17. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    Congrats to all you new folks with your impressive rookie MPG figures. Keep studying and practicing hypermiling techniques, and you'll be amazed at what you can do.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ATLPriusGuy @ Apr 3 2007, 09:27 PM) [snapback]417356[/snapback]</div>
    Don't worry, you folks have company here, me among them. I suspect many lay low in political discussions because we're in the minority. As for me, I'm here to read and talk about my car, period. I refuse to engage in political debates here. Given that all parties have their minds made up, it's almost always an exercise in futility. Even without deliberate flame-baiting (which some on both sides of the aisle are guilty of), it often erupts into a flame war. I have neither the time nor the temperament for that.
     
    #17 JimboK, Apr 4, 2007
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