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Newbie from NE Pennsylvania

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by JKDheart, Apr 19, 2009.

  1. JKDheart

    JKDheart Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2009
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    NE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    First post from a 3 week owner of a 2009 Package 4. I don't know why I waited so long to get smart and buy this car. Have a 140 mile daily commute and averaging 52.9 MPG over 2200 miles at the pump. I have been lurking and learning about my Prius and how to optimize my gas milage. Thanks to all for the tips and I will be back often.
     
  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    JKDheart,

    Welcome to PriusChat.

    Well, you've made two good decisions lately; buying the car and coming
    here to get smart on its quirks and max your FE. But honestly, it looks
    like you're off to a good start a 52.9. Wipe that foolish grin off your face!

    Spring and autumn are the "days of wine and roses" for FE; temps
    between 45 and 85 mean little or no airco use, and relatively quick
    warm up times. Dead of sumer and winter you'll see maybe as much
    as a 10% drop. Poke around here with the search function to find ways
    to minimize the hits.

    I pass by Wilkes-Barre and Scranton on my way to Maine each year at
    least once. I prefer the inland route over I-95. Going I-95 I pay more
    for tolls than gas. Also, in general, inland is a more relaxed trip;
    better scenery, less craziness on the road... until Hartford anyway.

    But then, I get maybe 5% lower FE going northwards due the hills from
    Harrisburg to the Hudson-- 53 vs. 58 MPG at 60-65 MPH, and it adds some
    60+ miles to the trip. I don't always get the FE back on the way south.
    Still, I'm a happy camper.

    To each, his own.
     
  3. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2004
    2,077
    295
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    Location:
    Ormond Beach,Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Welcome to Priuschat neighbor!
     
  4. JKDheart

    JKDheart Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2009
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    NE Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Rokeby & paprius4030. Thanks for the welcome. I too live in the Poconos. I am not far from Bushkill Falls and commute into NJ on Route 80 each morning. I can learn alot from your experiences with the Prius, as I see that you guys are real veterans of PRIUSchat and have driven this amazing vehicle for awhile. I enjoyed the few warm days that we just had and could see that the temperature does affect the MPG. Today was back to colder again and it definately affected my milage. I am not too concerned about the MPG's in the winter but the handling of the car on snow. Should I be thinking of different tires for the winter? How do most of you handle this? Is it worth buying new wheels and having a winter tire mounted and then storing them when not needed? Would I also have to buy air pressure sensors ( I think they are expensive) or can they be run without the sensor for the winter months? Thanks again for the welcome and everyone for the great information that gets posted.
     
  5. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2004
    2,077
    295
    0
    Location:
    Ormond Beach,Fl.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'll tell you how I handle the snow LOL. I leave the Prius in the garge and use my wife's Chevy Venture, better that gets hit then my Prius.:eyebrows: