New Prius II owner from So Cal

I've recently bought my first Toyota Prius and have gotten past the break-in period.

I've been visiting this site quite a bit to learn the ins and outs of my vehicle. I wish that I had visited this site more before my purchase.

Right now I am almost to 1000 miles and these are the results of the first two tanks (my first tank was topped off by the dealer).

Tank 1

• 418 miles, 8.48 gal, 49.3 mpg actual (52.1 by MFD), 33 mph avg.

Tank 2

• 456 miles, 8.74, 52.2 mpg actual (54.8 MFD), 35 mph avg.

The figures above depend on the accuracy of the odometer, which I have not tested yet. Note sure why I only get 8 and a half gallons per tank when the car tells me I have about 50 miles left to empty.

I've mostly taken it easy on the car during break-in. I briefly drove it around 85 mph on two occasions for approximately 2 miles each, but for the most part it was cruising on the freeway from 60 - 75 mph, averaging 65 mph. City driving speed limits are 40-45 mph. The most surprising thing is how low the MFD says my overall MPH actually is.

The sales person from the dealership told me to mostly keep it in ECO mode, so I kept it there. I really got use to the ECO mode response to throttle. The first time I used PWR mode was around 500 miles into the vehicle, going up a hill, and I was really surpised how zippy it is. I don't think I had pushed the ICE to the RPMs encountered during that PWR mode session during the entire time I had the car in ECO mode. Now I switch between ECO or Normal mode.

The other thing is when you are learning the nuances of driving this car is to not pay as much attention the the HSI during regen braking, or else you may be too focused on regen and not on actually stopping, so that by the end you have to really push the brake to finish your stop. Basically you can't brake using regen alone and come to a safe stop unless you start super early.

Since I'm in So. Cal., the Jan. temps here are about 45-60 F during mornings and 65-85 during the afternoon, depending on location and weather. Because the weather is so nice, I haven't ever had the heat on, except by accident when climate control was set to auto. If I feel a bit hot, I sometimes have the A/C on to a comfortable setting, usually 68-74 F, and when I do, I try to have the car set to ECO mode.

In the city where I am, it is really hilly and that hurts my MPGs a lot in the city. Also I don't really ever have the road to myself and I haven't had the opportunity to P&G that much, though I have noticed it gives a great boost to MPGs. However, one time I drafted a semi at approximately 55 mph while trying my best to do a bit of P&G and that gave good results. Again I can't really P&G that much because there's mostly someone on my tail. Given the freeways here, I don't think I can employ P&G that much.

I haven't modified anything on the vehicle. It is still on the same tire pressure as when the vehicle was given to me.

 

Thanks. I am excited and always looking for reasons to drive the car someplace.

The car has been great so far, other than bottoming out the front end of the car on the first day of owning it, and again today while driving out of the gas station. Just a couple scratches on the black plastic plate underneath the engine compartment, but new owners should be wary of dips.

 

What is your personal experience to the handling and ride comfort of your vehicle when you have your tires to those pressures.

Is braking distance affected at all? Would things like cross winds have more of an effect?

One curious thing I notice on one particular off ramp is my car starts to get pushed around via the tires, by the road. It's akin to driving in a groove and having the tires follow the groove independent of steering. It's also very similar to getting pushed by cross winds, and having to correct. But there are no grooves in the road and this doesn't happen in my other cars on this same off ramp. I'm not sure if that is due to the narrow tires, but I've driven many cars and I've never experienced it.


Thanks.

 

Thanks for the info. I did raise the pressure to 40/38. I've confirmed the pressure with two different gauges (the one on my tire chuck, and small pen style gauge that is amazingly quite accurate)

So far so good -- it is definitely much bumpier and you feel the road a lot more.

You have some insane MPG's. Is your Prius modified in any way or is that solely due to your driving technique?