1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Do you find yourself?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Jiipa, Mar 8, 2008.

  1. Jiipa

    Jiipa MGySgt USMC (Ret)

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2008
    314
    2
    0
    Location:
    Oahu, Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    We have two cars, a 94 Camry in addition to our 08 Spectra Blue Prii. When I have to go on a short trip, less than a mile or two, I find myself deciding to take the Camry even though it has six cylinders and burns more gas only because I know these short trips will bring down the average mpg's displayed on the MFD.

    Does anyone else do this? Or is this a newbie thing that I will get over?
     
  2. John CCP

    John CCP New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2006
    59
    2
    0
    Location:
    Old Orchard Beach, Maine
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    We also have two cars: a 2004 Lexus GS430 (23 mpg) and a 2006 Prius (48 mpg). We almost always take the Prius, because of the good gas mileage. At about 40mph, if you don't hot-rod your Prius, it gets excellent mileage.
    At 70 mph, I only get about 45 or so.
     
  3. diamondlarry

    diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer

    Joined:
    May 20, 2007
    559
    12
    0
    Location:
    Elkhart, IN
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I have thought about this on occasion but end up taking the Prius. It definitely shows the need for ALL cars to have FE instrumentation.
     
  4. SureValla

    SureValla Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2007
    590
    21
    15
    Location:
    Shelton, CT
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    III
    well on short trips the prius only gets like 25 mpg right? so equal to that of the camry so it doesnt matter what car you take... maybe im wrong?
     
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    It's not a newbie thing, it's an example of the sort of illogical thinking to which we humans are prone. Drive the Prius.

    Tom
     
  6. diamondlarry

    diamondlarry EPA MPG #'s killer

    Joined:
    May 20, 2007
    559
    12
    0
    Location:
    Elkhart, IN
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Even if the Prius and the Camry got identical mpg on a particular trip, the Prius will do it more cleanly.
     
  7. Sarge

    Sarge Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2005
    1,298
    757
    1
    Location:
    Milton, Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE Premium
    I would disagree with this statement, since you would be assuming the Camry gets rated mileage even when running cold, which is very likely not the case. The Prius just makes it easier to be aware due to the instant fuel economy instrumentation, a feature not found in most cars.
     
  8. SureValla

    SureValla Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2007
    590
    21
    15
    Location:
    Shelton, CT
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yes I am, the only reason that the prius gets bad milage while cold is because the car cant go into EV mode and thus operates like any other gasoline car
     
  9. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    2,369
    978
    70
    Location:
    Sunnyvale, California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Bet the Camry gets 10 mpg for the first few miles.
     
  10. patrickindallas

    patrickindallas Shire rat

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2007
    676
    36
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Drive the Prius.

    The Earth will thank you.

    And cut down on the short trips too.:welcome:
     
  11. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

    Joined:
    May 1, 2006
    2,817
    187
    49
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I had to chuckle at the thread title. I admit, I occasionally have trouble finding myself. :p

    Seriously, I would use my ScanGauge (which I still keep on hand even after adding CAN-View to the Prius) to help compare the fuel economy the the two vehicles. I'd be pretty sure the Prius does better, but I'd like to verify it. Doesn't help the OP if he/she doesn't have a SG, though it would be a handy device to have for many reasons besides this.

    Now, on the subject of which is cleaner: Would the Prius really be cleaner on such a short trip if the ICE never has the opportunity to shut off? Is there something about the Prius' emissions system that makes it inherently cleaner than that of a vehicle with a similar ICE? I'm sure this has been addressed, but I don't recall the answer.

    Finally, I agree with Patrick: Reduce the short trips when possible. No question they're MPG killers in any car. Figure ways to combine them when you can.
     
  12. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,603
    8,034
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    A mile trip? Not raining / freezing cold? Night?
    I love to jump on my P-38 recumbent, as smug as it sounds, and as dorky as I look.


    happy daylight savings time (except you folks in AZ etc)
     
  13. The Root

    The Root Desert Dweller

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    42
    0
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Wow. Recumbent or not, 26 mph takes some serious quads.
     
  14. ny biker

    ny biker Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2007
    463
    11
    0
    Location:
    Northern Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2022 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    Yes the ICE will shut off even for short trips, at least when you're stopped at lights and such. It happens for me every day early in my commute, unless it's really cold out.

    But yeah, if I'm only going a mile or two I will either walk or combine the trip with other errands.