Another Newbie Intro

Howdy folks... Proud new Prius owner (and PriusChat member) here... 2007 Package 2, Silver, picked it up last night. Replaces a 6-cylinder Honda Accord Coupe, so I'm really looking forward to a nice improvement in gas mileage! (Road trip DC to NYC tomorrow morning... hoping to see some nice MPG on that trip, at least, but I'll have 2 passengers along as well, weighing me down...

I'm still struggling to find my way around this website--it is massive, apparently, just in terms of Forum chats. And even though I just used an acronym above, there are so many freakin' acronyms (and Prius-specific vocabulary) in the posts and articles, I'm having a tough time trying to decipher them all as fast as I encounter them.

Anyone know of a specific thread here, that provides detailed instructions on ideal Prius driving techniques for maximizing gas mileage? (My Toyota dealer apparently holds a monthly Hybrid Clinic, which I will plan to attend as well in July...) I've seen mention of "pulse & glide", "feathering", and other promising phrases, but not a clear explanation of what any of those things actually mean, behind the wheel, to someone who has never done it nor read enough posts here yet, to find one where it is all explained!

Also, this is kinda silly, but I really miss my little built-in coin organizer (dimes, nickels, quarters, springloaded dispenser)... anyone found such an accessory that fits nicely into one of the various bins or empty cupholders?

Looking forward to driving further in my Prius, and diving further into PriusChat, in my spare time!
-Chris

 

Well, I'm very happy this weekend, with my first taste of higher MPG... I head home from NY later today, but so far the entire trip has had an average of 50.3 mpg, nearing 475 miles. Running A/C from time to time, 2 other men in the car for most of that, and then those 2 plus a woman for about the last 100 miles or so.
It was a blast to pass 400 miles on the first full tank of gas, with a good bit left still---enough to get me to Jersey, where gas is about $2.85, compared to NYC, $3.35. My Accord could just barely hit 400 miles on a tankful, if I was lucky, so this is terrific! And while playing with the Multi Function Display over the weekend, I even spotted a few 5-minute intervals supposedly at 100mpg. Musta been that stop-and-go traffic on the NY roads, mostly electric, and mostly stopped Never did get the 4 "car" images to stack up, for 50kW's regenerated... managed 3 at one point... It is like a competition with yourself!
And, my battery indicator got to within 1 bar of "full charge"---does it ever fill in every bar on that display? (And I assume it is normal, that when 2 or more bars are NOT lit, the remaining bars are blue---but when only 1 is unlit, they all switch to green?)
Finally, I had my first "Prius" moment; parked at the wedding hotel, my friends got out, and I went to lock the car with the doorhandle button... the car just beeped at me. I tried a few more times, tried the Lock button on the keyfob... before I realized that I'd never actually powered off the car off! Just put it in Park.
Sincerely thrilled with my first 72 hours,
-Chris

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nybiker @ Jun 22 2007, 03:27 PM) [snapback]466482[/snapback]</div>

The same dealer. Do you recall who your sales guy was? Were you happy with the sales process there?
Glad to hear you liked the Prius reception---do they send a notice out in the mail, about it? Haven't heard a date yet, other than it would likely be a weekday. Reminds me, they owe me a tank of gas, since mine had only 3 bars lit when I drove off... wonder if they'll take my word, when I finally get down near E again...
Gotta love that full-serve, 2.85 gas up there... and waiting in the pump lines is a non-issue, with the ICE not running!

 

Hi Jim... From my perspective, I can't say anything was really wrong with the Civic Hybrid---but I didn't own one; I'll wait to hear what NoMo says about that...!
Plenty will tell you that Honda's hybrid system is not as good/effective, not designed-from-the-ground-up, not as intelligent, etc., as Toyota's---I'm not nearly techy enough to say with any authority.
I'd had a gas Civic sedan 2 cars ago, and enjoyed it for 5 years. (Plus a Civic Hatchback for 10 years before that, and then the 6-cyl Accord for 5 years, after the sedan. Definitely had a loyal Honda streak in me, and fully expected to go with the Civic, in gas or the hybrid, initially...)
But, the Prius just won me over, in the test drive. It had the higher EPA MPG numbers (not that I've yet reached the 61 quote; in fact, my Prius mpg is currently on track with the 50/50 mpg the Civic sticker showed, back when I test drove it!) and I really liked that the Prius was SO spacious. The styling of the car appealled to me too; I think I was just ready for a bigger overall change, going to hybrid, than "just another tried-and-true, vanilla Civic in my car history." Of course, as Prii continue to multiply like rabbits, and other hybrids & EV's emerge, they may eventually come to be seen as "vanilla" over time, too!