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I can't be the only one... right?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Sporin, Aug 24, 2011.

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  1. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    In the winter I use the heat, and in the summer I use the AC. :D

    High 40's mpg (summer) and 40mpg (1st winter) is plenty for me given the conditions and area I drive in.

    It's not even slightly worth it for me to freeze or sweat just gain a few mpg.

    I can't be the only one... right?
     
    #1 Sporin, Aug 24, 2011
    WE0H likes this.
  2. goober_nut

    goober_nut Member

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    Nope, you're not the only one. :)
     
    #2 goober_nut, Aug 24, 2011
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Hardly!!!

    When I first got my (company) car, I did all the goofy stuff. PnG'd my butt off, overinflated, eschewed HVAC, changed my routing to avoid interstates, etc.
    My result over my first two G3 months were about 58MPG at the pump on average.

    OK....fast forward eight months.
    NOW...I drive my G3 like just any regular car, with no regard for being green. It's not that I don't love my planet, but my company pays me to fix phones....not hypermile. Besides...I don't buy the fuel for this car.
    Now my mileage at the pump (summer) is about 50.

    Still not bad. So no. You're not the only one.
    TIFWIW....
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Aug 24, 2011
  4. sipnfuel

    sipnfuel New Member

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    Is the heat or humidity really tremendous in Vermont? I wouldn't know first hand ...

    If during mild conditions (~70 ambient) you are not averaging 50 mpg, perhaps it is your driving style, your terrain, or some other factor.
     
    #4 sipnfuel, Aug 24, 2011
  5. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Nope again, my story is very similar to ETC(SS). At first I did all of the mileage techniques read about on PC. Was able to get some high 50's on my daily commute. It was interesting to learn how to do all of this neat stuff with this car.

    Now I just drive the car and keep myself and the cabin nice and comfortable and still average 48 mpg. Mid 40's summer and winter and low 50's in spring and fall.
     
    #5 jdcollins5, Aug 24, 2011
  6. seether166

    seether166 New Member

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    I feel the same way. And, after a time, I'm sure I'll be less interested in this and will just drive the car...like a car :)
     
    #6 seether166, Aug 24, 2011
  7. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    I leave mine in auto AC year-round and adjust the temperature for comfort. Mileage in the summer runs around 50+ and in the winter around 44.
     
    #7 firepa63, Aug 24, 2011
  8. FPGFHFMA

    FPGFHFMA New Member

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    Nope your not. It's so humid in SC that I would not think of not running the AC. Going onto my fourth week with my 2011 Gen 3 and just by keeping the BARS in ECO area (both) I've pushed it from 48 to 51 and I came from a SCION XB that got 25 around town so I'm happy. I wanted double my mileage on my 8 mile commute and weekend errands and I have accomplished that.
     
    #8 FPGFHFMA, Aug 24, 2011
  9. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

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    70 degrees ambient...maybe at 4am here.
     
    #9 billnchristy, Aug 24, 2011
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Let The Right One In...

    Sure you're not the only one. But it's not popular to admit to it. I think a lot of Prius owners and drivers simply utilize their vehicles like any normal vehicle and allow the technology and engineering to create the benefit, with less agressive application of hypermiling techniques.

    Your just the rare one that will admit it.

    Because you are suppose to say, that in the summer, unless you are actually emitting smoke like a Vampire looking for darkness, you never touch the AC. Also you should have your low rolling resistance tires inflated to a PSI, that would allow for a sharp angle re-entry into low earth orbit.
     
    #10 The Electric Me, Aug 24, 2011
    WE0H likes this.
  11. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Gets very humid actually, and temps in the 80's all summer... plus I'm a big sweaty guy. ;) I use the AC quite a bit. The 40mpg average in the winter is a result of the cold weather. This spring and summer every tank is around 50mpg.

    Vermont terrain is a problem for this car, in the sense that I'm on the highway a lot, uphill, both ways, every day. I can't get out of my town without getting in the red on my HSI, and there is almost no true "city" driving. The fact that I still get the mpg I do is a testament to how brilliant this car is.

    That's me. Modest hyper-milling techniques, I call it "driving pedal-smart." It's a brilliant car with brilliant efficiency while allowing me the luxury of not having to "try" too hard to make it happen.

    But I didn't drop 26 grand on a new car to sweat in the heat or shiver in the cold. :)
     
    #11 Sporin, Aug 24, 2011
  12. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    oh, and my tires are at 38 psi all around and that's more than harsh enough for the crappy roads up here. ;)
     
    #12 Sporin, Aug 24, 2011
  13. Paul Booth

    Paul Booth New Member

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    I bought my 2011 Prius a month ago. I have 4600 miles on it. I have constantly averaged over 50mpg with A/C on. My last fill up I average over 60mpg leaving the A/C off.
     
    #13 Paul Booth, Aug 24, 2011
  14. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Is there any quantitative data on the effect that using the Heat and AC has on mpg? All I've ever seen is anecdotal. (no offense meant Paul, not singling you out, genuinely wondering).

    Obviously there is a loss, I'm not saying there isn't, I'm just curious if anyone has done genuine calculations to see how much of a loss there is.

    Unless you drive the exact same route at exactly the same speeds, temp, humidity, time of day, traffic patterns, etc. with AC on and the AC off then it's not really hard data.
     
    #14 Sporin, Aug 24, 2011
  15. Teakwood

    Teakwood Member

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    Me too.:thumb:
     
    #15 Teakwood, Aug 24, 2011
  16. lovemypriustoo

    lovemypriustoo Junior Member

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    It's not even slightly worth it for me to freeze or sweat just gain a few mpg.

    I can't be the only one... right?[/QUOTE]

    My Prius is 6 months old today! I try to pulse and glide whenever I can but it is really hard in rush hour traffic both ways. Also, I take a different route in the afternoon than I do in the morning so my "terrain" is always on an upgrade (not a lot of downgrade coasting). The a/c is always on at 67 in the summer and at 70 in the winter. I am averaging 48.5 mpg so far for the past 6 months -- I am really a happy camper!
     
    #16 lovemypriustoo, Aug 25, 2011
  17. goober_nut

    goober_nut Member

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    Wow, you like it cold don't you? I feel like leaving it at 75 for too long feels like winter in IL when the wind hits your face.
     
    #17 goober_nut, Aug 25, 2011
  18. Gurple42

    Gurple42 New Member

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    I've found that the longer I own my Prius the more I drive it like a regular car, and power mode for city driving and normal mode for highway driving suits me best. As far as AC use, I never have the windows down on the freeway so I set the temp at 74 and drive.:D
     
    #18 Gurple42, Aug 25, 2011
  19. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    On a long Summer trip, AC is a safety feature. I don't want to be refrigerated, just comfortable. For short trips around town, I don't bother. I'm usually dressed for the weather, whatever the season, so extra cooling or heating isn't as necessary as it seems to be for most people. Especially my wife, who can't understand why I have the fresh air vents open in Winter. :rolleyes:
     
    #19 hyo silver, Aug 25, 2011
  20. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    ^It doesn't hit 105 or more in Vancouver very often, does it? Dallas has been sweltering...that said, I tend to avoid AC usage around town also. ;)
     
    #20 vinnie97, Aug 25, 2011
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