fuel economy

Wow, I wasn't expecting that. Given the last few interchanges we've shared, I thought we had got past that initial "contact". I sure am glad you don't hold grudges. Well, I'm glad to see you're firmly in touch with your feminine side. Oh, and by the way, even though I may not embrace everything that it on this forum, I have yet to call anyone a liar. Gee, I haven't seen anybody else called a liar, either. I guess I must be special! If you call 'em like you see 'em, you might get your eyes checked! Not everything is as it seems. I have in fact seen C&D's articles, CR's articles, AND I saw Greenhybrid.com's database within the first few weeks of getting my Prius. When I saw a database with 137 cars listed and only about 6 of them getting the type of mileage I was getting, that was my tipoff that something might be wrong(and dear Doctor, I DID say MIGHT), and that precipitated my first trip back to the dealer. Oh and one other thing, just about everybody that posts on this site (that I have seen so far)is getting better mileage than me. There are very few Priuses in my town, and the one owner I have been able to talk to is getting 50mpg city.

You said: " I don't make personal attacks and never attacked you. You're attacking Toyota and all I'm saying is that this is purely your commute and driving technique to blame " Let's see, I believe I would translate that to mean: You never make personal attacks, BUT it's all my fault! Sounds like a personal attack to me! Just how in the world do you know, beyond any doubt that the problems I'm having are all between my ears and that there is no way in the world that there could be the slightest chance that there is an issue with this vehicle. I know that doctors in general have a tendency towards delusions of godhood, but I suggest you keep it in the medical field. I have never considered that the problem had to be purely mechanical, and I suspected other variables (such as me) could be contributing to my driving experience. If I had, I would not have been researching this subject at all!

Oh, and about my commute - you're right, biking or walking would probably be better for me. Lord knows, I could use the exercise and get the weight off. However, unlike you, I have to make house calls in my business and I need my car the rest of the workday. Otherwise I would accept your prescription.

My angst with Toyota was precipitated with the attitude of dealer service. When I approached them about the problem, they said "Oh yeah, you should be getting a lot better than 37mpg city." Any then when their initial diagnostic doesn't come up with anything they said: "well, 37mpg city is normal for this area of the country. You can't be getting 50mpg on the highway. That's impossible! You must have your numbers mixed up." Basically when the answer wasn't cut and dry, I got the corporation brush off, after practically calling me a liar. (see.... ya got company!) Then I called the Prius specialist at Toyota customer care. I had to leave a voicemail for a call back, which I have yet to have that call returned. So let's see... I paid full retail for a car, wait 10 months for delivery, It's isn't any place close to what was represented to me when I purchased it (ie: about a 40% variation in advertised city mileage - I could have lived with a 20% disparity - your thoughts on that do have some validity) All that, coupled with Toyota's reponse or lack of it so far..... Come on, put yourself in my shoes for a few minutes. If you didn't know all that you know and you had the same experience, are you telling me that thought that you might have got a bad one wouldn't go through your mind at all? THAT is why I said something about the lemon law. I didn't say I was going to do it; I didn't say that everything I was seeing and experience was based on pure unflawed facts. I said that I was considering it if all else failed. By the way, that's why those laws are in place, to protect the consumer. But by the same token, the "victim" does have to prove his case. So, at least for now, your Toyota stock portfolio is safe from me.

I signed on to this forum looking for help, not get ridiculed, which you have aptly done. I have appreciated the untainted responses that I have received from you and all the others who have been helpful. I'll admit, (unlike you) I don't know everything, least of all about the Prius. I'll take all the advice and help I can get and try it. The things that make sense and work, I'll implement. The things that don't seem to work, I'll shelf and if they don't ever hold water, I'll discard eventually. But I don't need your kind of abuse now or ever. If you can be civil, feel free to respond to my posts. I CAN accept constructive criticism, even some good natured ribbing. But IF that's too hard for you and your ego can't handle THIS post, then you know the half that I took back in the second post reponse a few days ago?...... You can have it all back. In that case, you're way too thin skinned for me and just make both of our lives simpler and ignore my posts from now on. There are plenty of good people on this forum that I can converse with. This may be entertaining for some, but I've got better things to do with my time. My apologies again to everyone else that had to endure this. I just had enough! I really am a nice guy!

And oh yeah...........Hmmmmmmmmm!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco\";p=\"99966)</div>

Ok, I'll bite one more time. In my last post, if you please, I said: "I have appreciated the untainted responses that I have received from you and all the others who have been helpful. I'll admit, I don't know everything, least of all about the Prius. I'll take all the advice and help I can get and try it." (edited for emphasis)

Forgive me, your highness, for not bowing and scraping properly.

I reviewed your profile, found out what your general view on "things in general" are, and could have a lot of fun baiting you and entertaining the rest of the forum. But, that's not what we are here for. So, I'll follow some advice that's found in the Bible. "Agree quickly with thine adversary"

You're right Evan E. Fusco, MD. I'm wrong. Totally and completely. Whatever you have to say to me is utterly and totally true from now on. AND All you've said to me in the past. No kidding. I'm serious. God bless you and so do I. I'll say a blessing prayer for you tonight before I close my eyes for sleep. It'll be fun seeing you argue with that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"99995)</div>

Michael, You're right, I got sucked in during a moment of weakness and should've just ignored it. Byproduct of a rough week at work, but that's no excuse. I apologize and try to avoid a repeat.

Tideland, thanks for the input. Tire pressure is one of the first things I checked and did add a few pounds pressure. Didn't really make much difference. I had Toyota service change the oil and filter this week when I had it in (3500 miles - a little late but not bad). I did notice the oil level posts. If I read them right, I should probably drain it back to 3 qts???? What do you think about some of the oil additives, such as but not exclusively, Slick 50? I added a product like that to the 2003 Matrix that I had before the Prius and it really quieted down the engine, helped some with the mileage. It did have 40,000 miles on it though. I've had good results with additives like that in several cars in the past, but the Prius is a obviously a different breed.

I am experimenting with the "when to coast and when not to" driving strategy that's been discussed in this string and the "Confused by the talk about not using the electric motor" string. It'll be interesting to see the results. If I'm reading it right and what I've seen in my driving experiment so far, I've been my own worst enemy for mpg. I'll keep y'all posted on my results.

As far a Toyota customer care goes, I really can't make a definitive opinion yet. I left a message several days ago for a callback from the Prius specialist that I left a voicemail for. I'm a little irritated that I haven't received a call back yet, but for now, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was on vacation and I'll get a call back on Monday.

One other thing, if anyone is interested, MSN just posted an interesting article on Hybrids. The link is:
http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?c...ehiclesCategory

I haven't finished reading the article yet, but so far it looks pretty interesting.

 

No, I get it. I'm just looking for any additional edge that might help compensate for the lousy mileage during the warmup drive. You're right, I can't do much about the first 1.5 miles or 10 minutes driving when it's cold, but I know, from what you guys are telling me that there's room for improvement beyond that point. That's why I'm asking. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee\";p=\"100183)</div>

I know what you mean. It's like I told my wife. I'm probably going to have a hard time finding any non-hybrid owners who will feel sorry for me because I'm only getting 37mpg city.

 

I started using a tip I got from you guys (and gals) I started resetting the MFD mpg meter to compare and verify different mileages when I drive to different places. One of my usual trips that I make a couple of times a week is 13 miles in length. The first leg I got 42.2mpg (the car had been sitting a couple of hours, too) and the return leg was 45.2mpg. I made a conscious effort not to take drastic measures to enhance the mileage one way or the other. Thought it was pretty interesting results though and seemed to confirm what's been said here. I am anxious to see how "bad" my mileage is for my morning commute to work tomorrow.