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I'm a Prius addict - going to rent Prius again - we'll see how fuel economy goes

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by cycledrum, May 13, 2011.

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  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    All this talk about only 45 MPG in Prius - whut?

    I'll be taking photos of FE gage along the way.

    >> rental doing 56 city / 58 highway MPG. Favorable conditions, 65 F, but still, that's amazing :)
     
    #1 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  2. mikewithaprius

    mikewithaprius New Member

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    Are you road trippin' it?
     
    #2 mikewithaprius, May 13, 2011
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Hell yeah ...

    So, I gas up the Prius just down the street from Fremont Toyota rental (another person cancelled 10 min. before I called for Prius, so snuck in :)

    Gassed up, reset tripmeters, tires were low, 32 psi. Set them to 39 front/37 rear. Missing passenger front hubcap.

    I drive 7.7 mi to grocery store ( ~ 6.5 mi on freeway), economy gauge reading ...

    48.3 MPG

    stay tuned.
     
    #3 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  4. airgas1998

    airgas1998 New Member

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    east bayer are ya...i was born in hayward. dad still lives in fremont
     
    #4 airgas1998, May 13, 2011
  5. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    Nice!
     
    #5 Michgal007, May 13, 2011
  6. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I see you have a 2011 Accord. Just curious--why didn't you buy a Prius?
     
    #6 stream, May 13, 2011
  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    So, I go 4 more miles in the city and it's up to 50 MPG..

    050705 195.jpg
     
    #7 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I nitpicked the 2010 apart. Not wise to nitpick on trivial things - the kinda ugly wheels, little bit Corolla-like interior in III. Could have shopped for V used around $26k, didn't.

    Had been eyeballing Accord for about a year - all sucked into the 'sporty' interior - low seating, the very good reviews, how CR, C&D, etc... like Accord so much.
    -------------------------------------------------------------

    The seat is like a lounge chair in 3rd gen. Prius III ride is cushy and docile.
     
    #8 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  9. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    First pic while cruising highway cruise set at 64 mph, 65 F outside, on freeway for about 18 miles.. 55 MPG

    050705 197.jpg

    Just pulled off highway after 40 miles, 68 F outside, driving around 65 MPH give or take a few. 57.8 MPG

    050705 198.jpg

    Back over the bridge, powered off car, so lost bar graphs , but ... 58.1 MPG so far.

    050705 200.jpg

    No hypermiling, no pulse and glide, just driving easy.

    The car is so docile, comfortable and well behaved. You guys have it really good.
     
    #9 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  10. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    What Prius model did you rent??
     
    #10 Thai, May 13, 2011
  11. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    That is what you get for listening to those reviews!! :D
     
    #11 Thai, May 13, 2011
  12. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    It's a III w/nav. Missing a hubcap like some I see around town. I like the cushy ride of it. For a taut ride, I'll just get on a sportbike:) 13k miles on car, no squeaks or rattles.

    050705 201.jpg
     
    #12 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Heard that. Those journalists make a big deal out of the littlest things and they try to convince everyone that daily driver cars are supposed to be 'fun to drive' .... rubbish!

    Time to reset gage and go shopping ... we'll see how bad it does in city (yeah right, like 53)
     
    #13 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  14. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    You're not the first to do that...me too. However, over the years of owning way too many vehicles, i have learned what is most important for me...and focus on reviewers that are more in tune to my needs. For example, i like C&D along with MT, but i read them only for performance figures and check out the new rides. For good or bad, for me, Consumer Reports reviews are more "real world" for the average Joe, e.g. me. For example, they concentrate more on comfortable ride, reliability, and road noise. Consumer Digest is also decent.

    Fun to drive is great when you first buy the car or when there is a curvy road ahead. However, for my daily commute, a good stereo, smooth ride, and airy cabin are far more important.

    And BTW, with my new Ecopia tires, road noise has gone down SIGNIFICANTLY!! The main noise in my cabin is now WIND NOISE! :p
     
    #14 Thai, May 13, 2011
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  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Ok, so I gassed up after the mostly highway driving and the small 77.3 miles trip came out to 66.3 MPG at the pump (not too accurate, but justifies the 58 on the gage). Reset meter and drive 20 miles around city, for 56 MPG with A/C set to 74 F and I climbed two very steep 1/2 mile hills. Amazing!

    Guarantee you a Chevy Cruize eco would be doing 28 MPG or less under same city driving conditions.

    Is the Prius good or what?

    050705 202.jpg
     
    #15 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  16. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Howdy. I'm in next town over from each :)
     
    #16 cycledrum, May 13, 2011
  17. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    To answer your question a little more - at the time, I thought fuel economy wasn't a priority and I thought I could beat the EPA in the coupe. Wrong. I can't beat EPA average in the coupe. Good thing I don't drive that much, but, the principle of using less gas is important to me.

    Bottom line is that the Prius III is more comfortable, efficient and practical than an Accord Coupe. So, now I get to hang out for a couple or few years with this Coupe, then see if it makes sense to switch to a used Prius.
     
    #17 cycledrum, May 14, 2011
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  18. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    What's the lifetime consumption? Mine with 7800 miles+ is a piddly ~45 mpg.
     
    #18 vinnie97, May 14, 2011
  19. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    Sounds like you need to buy the Prius Five/5! :)
     
    #19 Thai, May 14, 2011
  20. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    I didn't check the lifetime consumption.

    At the gas station, it went down like this - 172.8 miles driving, about 2/3 highway, 1/3 city, 2.91 gallons to refill -

    59.4 MPG


    In cred ible !!

    And like said before, I am no hypermiler, I just refrain from hard acceleration and braking.
     
    #20 cycledrum, May 14, 2011
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