1825 mile trip report

Since u were the passenger in your car, did the driver scrape the car & is she a prius owner or have experience in hypermiling? because 47.4 isn't bad considering 75-80 mph in power mode & mostly highway. And yes, u did save alot of gas & $ over the Audi.

 

Never have set the power mode here. Yes, with bigger hills the engine will whine, but so do most other 4 cylinder engines. Including my old Baja on major hills.

Steering wise, it has been like 10 years that I have enjoyed the feel of the road as I did with my old New Beetle. But I don't drive that way any more... happy to just getting to my destination enjoying the gas I save. Also used to 20 to 23mpg's with my old Baja...

 

cmon, why don't u splurge a little. Press the button.

 

Never needed to so far Happy with my 2012 P2 and the way it drives

 

Wow, your a rock! Curiosity would get the better of me . I used it every now & then when I wanted the easier burst of speed but I know what u mean as I haven't been using it much these days now that I think about it as normal is more than enough power. It's just good to know it's there though.

 

I turned on power mode getting on the 5 this weekend to which the wife responded "This has got some pep in it"

I didn't even have the pedal down. Turn on power mode, get both engines working and it'll get up and go.

 

Haha, that's what I thought. That's why I couldn't let anyone drive my car other than my wife in which I'm somewhat paranoid of.

I haven't been on power mode in awhile. I find that whatever mode I'm in I get comfortable so if I started getting on power again, I might not be able to get away from it. They(mode) all have their little nuances for getting good mpg. But that's great that your getting some awesome mileage, keep it up.

 

kinda feels like u got a turbo button at your whim

 

The stuff I have read so far is that the power mode does not add more power, it just adds to the response of the pedal... I am more than happy in how I press the pedal when I need it....

 

Yes that is all the Power mode does. Much the same as ECO retards the pedal, but ECO also plays with the AC if you have it on.

ECO = very soft pedal
Power = Very responsive pedal

In any mode, if you floor it, you should have the same results.

 

Not bad MPG with power mode and all that high speed. Gotta watch for those tire treads that are left all over the Interstates. I saw a big chunk of it flipped up in the air, that then came down on a car. They got some serious hood damage from it. Could have turned out much worse! Did you crack your spoiler on the driveway or the tire tread hit?

Just completed a 3,000 + mile trip (Maine to Florida) and calculated 52.8 MPG on the trip south (down hill?) keeping the speed close to 65 MPH. Used a tank running around the Sunshine state... mostly back roads and some short trips and calculated 52.3 MPG with A/C in 90 plus degree heat. Trip back to Maine was a mad dash north (up hill?) at 70 to 80+ MPH keeping up with I95 traffic until we were snagged in horrible traffic from DC to Massachusetts and only managed 49.7 MPG. We were loaded with enough stuff for a month away from home with seat backs down. Probably close to max load figure.

While in Florida, we had 50% tint done all around and turned out very effective at keeping the heat of sun off passengers and interior as a whole. Also added a 5 inch 30% strip at the top of windshield. No damage, other than "Love Bug" hits. I waxed it before leaving, so the critters didn't eat into the paint. Did wash the car a couple of times while down there.

Seats were comfortable for the trip (bottom cushion maybe a tad firm), cabin quiet enough and sound system gets an A. I drove and wife navigated. Steering's much better than our old '05. Didn't have the time to source 16 inch alloy wheels while there. Other than the "looks" of the tiny inset OEM wheels and tires, had no problems with the ride. Pressures were also maintained 40 PSI front and 38 PSI rear. Avids performed very well during torrential downpours that we encountered through a good part of Georgia on the way back. A very different outcome compared to our short experience with the '05 Prius OEM Integritys. They were scary in any amount of rain and were replaced at 3 to 4 thousand miles.

The "solar powered fan". I didn't think this would be a worth while gimmick. Love it now. Daytime temperatures in Florida got to the lower 90s much of our stay. It was extremely nice not to have to get into a stiflingly hot car each time we needed to travel or after we had parked in the sun. I didn't use the 3 minute A/C feature. Didn't need to.

I have yet to press the PWR button. Haven't felt the need for that kind of "performance". MPG is back to 52-54 in wife's daily commuter use . I still get 54-56 MPG when I drive it and the ODO is indicating nearly 6000 miles. Prius has to be the most efficient car for long trips we can buy here. I like this car.

 

I too am coming out of a 10 year relationship with my 2003 Baja with my next wife being a Prius 3.
Always good to upgrade but I would take the Baja's smooth transmission in a heart beat.

 

Just to mention .... power mode doesn't give you any MORE power ... simply makes the gas pedal more "sensitiv" I actually get better mileage using it (in city driving let me add that ....) so the only difference is in your mind ... in ECO mode for example you have to push the gas a lot further down for the same engine output but at the end the system has the SAME power. (the modes also alter other functions like A/C but again you can adjust those yourself)

So the good Japanese engineers employed some pshyc element in the car ... neat hah ???

 

Yes, I know I know. It's this easier sensation that gives u the feel that it is going faster, as u in effect have stated. Which in this case the famous saying makes perfect sense, "I think, therefore I am".

 

Wow, I am sure Descartes did not mean it to demonstrate car car driving habit ... but sure famous saying of the enlightenment ... and also hope you did non mean i prius...

Yes the car "feel" more responsive but it is not more powerfull .... I really like it in city driving the more sensitive gas pedal is usefull. and as I said I have better milage ..... I tried both for a week or so on the commute ....