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WhooHoo!! 50mpg on my first tank!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Rabid1, Nov 22, 2005.

  1. Rabid1

    Rabid1 New Member

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    Did a round-trip from Bend, OR to Salem, OR today, and got 50mpg on my brand new Prius. The conditions weren't even ideal. The route is very mountainous. Half the trip was in freezing weather during the night. There was quite a bit of heavy traffic in Salem.

    This car ROCKS!!!!
     
    #1 Rabid1, Nov 22, 2005
  2. LaughingMan

    LaughingMan Active Member

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    Welcome.

    Great that you've been able to get such great mileage already on your first tank!

    I think what you'll find with the Prius is that more than anything else, the longer your trip, the higher your mileage. A longer trip ensures that the engine is all warmed up, and allows for plenty of chances for the car to smooth out times of poor mileage such as climbing a mountain for example.
     
    #2 LaughingMan, Nov 22, 2005
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Wow, that's pretty damn good! Keep it up!
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Nov 22, 2005
  4. Rabid1

    Rabid1 New Member

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    Of course! Mine's a Tideland, and my research shows Tidelands get better MPG's ;)
     
    #4 Rabid1, Nov 22, 2005
  5. LaughingMan

    LaughingMan Active Member

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    Heh... the bizarre color is somehow more aerodynamic huh?
     
    #5 LaughingMan, Nov 22, 2005
  6. Rabid1

    Rabid1 New Member

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    Same stuff they paint stealth aircraft with...
     
    #6 Rabid1, Nov 22, 2005
  7. Jack 06

    Jack 06 New Member

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    Congrats!

    Just out of curiosity...obviously, you didn't choose a route that would maximize MPG...but did you "baby it", e.g., not drive over 60, or let it coast a lot, say, down to 40, or otherwise try to stretch MPG?
     
    #7 Jack 06, Nov 22, 2005
  8. Rabid1

    Rabid1 New Member

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    I confess to a little bit of coaxing ( I think the Prius makes us do that). I probably averaged 55-60 mph. I coasted whenever practical, still keeping with the flow of traffic.

    One thing I'm good at is anticipating what lies ahead, and reacting accordingly. I probably use my brakes less than most drivers, because I start slowing as soon as I see something up ahead that warrants it (and I try to look far ahead). I believe the average driver is guilty of waiting til the last second before applying the brakes, causing a huge waste of kinetic energy.
     
    #8 Rabid1, Nov 22, 2005
  9. LaughingMan

    LaughingMan Active Member

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    Good for you!

    Soon you will learn the best way to drive this car at around 40 MPH for best mileage! Learn to pulse & glide.
     
    #9 LaughingMan, Nov 22, 2005
  10. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Awesome Rabid!..... I'm still licking my chops!!!!!
     
    #10 windstrings, Nov 22, 2005
  11. MNPrius

    MNPrius New Member

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    Congrats! That's great :p
     
    #11 MNPrius, Nov 22, 2005
  12. BoBraxton

    BoBraxton New Member

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    I concur with Rabid1 on anticipating well in advance what lies ahead and in using brakes a lot less than many other drivers. By letting the Prius teach me how to drive it, on a trip down and back between D.C. and NC in July, I got 59mpg + on the way down but increased to 63.7 mpg on the return trip, more than four hours in length. The biggest increase in mpg happened during the final nine miles in local traffic about 10:00pm
     
    #12 BoBraxton, Nov 22, 2005
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