The sticky thread "Honda Insight Marathon" awaits the posting of your latest opinion. Would that one be 100 times more 'pointless?' Bob Wilson
I am guessing that the purpose of these drives was to promote enviro friendly cars and the benefits of owning them. If not, then yes, waste of time. If yes, and they generated good publicity and maybe got a few more people to buy into these, then no, they were not a waste of time etc. I am not criticising, I am a newbie and have owned my Prius for exactly a week - I am simply saying that ending where you started to get a pretty display is pointless.
Bob, if it matters, I thank you for doing these tests and sharing the results with us. I firmly do not believe they are pointless. They are tests, after all, that increase our general knowledge and point out (word used deliberately) an anomaly in the MFD that drivers use for information. I don't expect to attempt to emulate your tests; I will just drive my Prius (if I pick it up as expected next week) and enjoy the fruits of the labor of Toyota and and those such as yourself who increase the education of so many of us.
Where it remains as something quite impractical and unachievable for most folks of ordinary means. Based upon the number of news article that cite them, quite ignored. For some people, it will be pointless and I'm OK with that. Not everyone is cursed with curiosity. But on a practical scale, it also means being able to show your car display to co-workers and family. Who knows, perhaps you might get to show it on the set of "Top Gear" someday. <GRINS> It is a script, a way to replicate these displays. If you don't want to do it, there is no requirement. However, if by some accident of history you might find there is a point to demonstrating the vehicle capabilities, here it is. Just the thing to win a wager, say a pint of beer. Bob Wilson
No, I don't think it is pointless. If, by burning a few gallons, it shows other people that driving more efficiently can save a significant amount of fuel, then it's not pointless. If people won't listen to or believe those of us who actually can get better mileage by driving more efficiently, then they have to be shown in person by these demonstrations. There are also the driving clinics where we try to give people a personal hands-on demonstration. I guess I feel that if one person burns ten gallons and it helps 10 other people to burn a couple less gallons per week then there is a net savings. But I suppose there will always be a few people that really don't give a rip that their car is getting 40-45mpg but it's actually capable of 70-80+. Go figure.
