Goodbye All

I'm really not sure what you were expecting by posting a goodbye, but I am curious what you are replacing it with, as I am going through that same analysis now.

 

info instead of assumptions

Instead of assumptions, I wanted to hear from the OP, what their reasoning was and whether it even made any sense.

After all, we don't drive our cars on dynos (rollers) in controlled lab conditions w/specific temperature ranges on a very specific driving schedule w/only certain acceleration rates. We measure fuel usage one way but the EPA measures via emissions collected in a bag rather than actual fuel use.

The only portions the EPA runs w/cold engines are 31.2 minutes long. We don't know how long the OP's drives were. How comparable were the OP's conditions vs. EPA lab tests?

As for not seeing how anyone could get less than 40 mpg, again, this is why I asked several times for information.

For all we know, they weren't calculating their mileage right (I've seen it numerous times here on other car forums), driving in B w/power mode, letting the ICE run needlessly on power up, their tires were low, their drives were 5 minutes long in 30 F whether, they tried to stay in electric the whole time (not good for efficiency in the end), their oil was overfilled and of the wrong viscosity, their alignment was off, 12 volt batt was marginal, they were a leadfoot, they left the heater on when the ICE was cold causing it to run to provide cabin heat, etc.

(My 04 350Z is EPA rated 17/24 after adjustment to new method. I'm seeing 13.x-16 mpg typically now because my short drives (no highway in my daily commute) and cold weather are killing its mileage. I used to have a longer commute that included highway and would see 20-22 mpg, 23 was rare.)

 

If mpg is not your problem but excitement is, I strongly suggest the Mercedes C63 AMG. It looks plain with 4 doors and no one will notice it. But it has the greatest bang for the buck and you can play with the bad boys. As for the environment you won't score any points.

 

If I purchased it ONLY for killer MPG's I would have at least attempted to incorporate some suggestions an at the bare minimum removed some of the LEAD out of my foot. I am used to buzzing around with big ole V-8's and since I have a 125mile commute I got my Prius because of MPG's. Many hybrid out there but none are advertised at 45-51. I only get 45-48 buzzing up and down the freeway, but I do get the 47+ when the traffic slows down alot. This tells me going a little slower would be better to accomplish the 51.

 

Pop/country or Hip hop/soul ?

 

Black Edition FTW. First then :rockon: but later on :mod:.

So you're going from a Prius to big, heavy, low-performance AND inefficient? I've driven a few and they're even slower (only with 4200lbs is that believable) than my Prius (and like their SUV brethren they have handling that can almost match modern aircraft carriers).

 

Or they could have a car that gets the same gas mileage with the same immensities for a cheaper cost?

I'm sure I'll be loving my 95 Neon ACR that is paid off that gets 40MPG this summer.

 

No, but as another Gen I ACR owner, I can state it is one of the best handling cars ever built (including Lotuses). Most fun I had commuting was with the ACR, even if the radical few degrees of negative camber all around tends to be hard on DOT-legal racing tires! Racing brakes, Konis from the factory - hard to beat as a true sports sedan. Completely different kind of car from the Prius, and decent mileage.

 

not as emotional as the indyking send off, but i wish you all the best! hate to lose another brother in the environmental movement. guess there are just too many people who won't put up with a little inconvenience to save the earth for our children.