So my wife and I are taking a trip from southern California to Seattle in June. I know that as you get further up in Calfornia, and especially in Oregon and Washington, it becomes mountainous terrain. Do you guys feel it would even by beneficial to take our C vs. our Camry? The Camry has been doing about 27mpg here in Vegas, and the C has gotten about 53mpg. But I'm thinking if we are going up and down mountains, the C's mileage would be only 20-30mpg just like the Camry. Your thoughts?
On a trip the Camry has got to be a more comfortable ride. For fuel economy the C has still got to beat the Camry even in the mountains.
The terrain is little worse than Vegas to LA and back. Take the C for MPG. Take the Camry if you feel the need for extra space and comfort.
If you're not sure if the C can still hit 50 mpg and above on highway with hills/mountainous terrtain, let me assure you, it can. Vegas to Kingman and back I was able to average 54 MPG round trip. That's with riding in the right slow lane and using some hypermiling techniques (some coasting while keeping it out of regen, regenning on down hill segments, staying out of the power area when possible while keeping speed or going uphill, finding a good 18 wheeler to stay behind in the slow lane doing 55 - 60mph, and some 35 mph city driving when passing thru boulder city to connect to the next highway). If you look at the energy monitor as you drive on the highway (safely), you'll notice you actually still use a mix of electric and gas, and that's how it's able to pull off higher MPG even at highway speeds. Take the C and use the savings to have more fun when you get to your destination
I agree with the above, take the C if looking for MPG and the camry for comfort. I think more highway and more red lights, the C will win hands down vrs the rest of the mountains. I take my kids to school (two trips and two trips back) with a 2mi and a 10 mi (as get to work) Most of it is up hills and stop lights, only about a 1 mile open stretch. I still get 50+ in the C. If driving the Camry at 27mpg, remember that will seriously drop with the mountains too, so you might come out of it at 20mpg over the trip..... one thing to consider. MPG over comfort....and this is if the C has less comfort to you.
This might be a good opportunity to see what the c can do! Next trip, you can always go back to the Camry!
Unless you're overly concerned about comfort, I would definitely take the c. Even with mountains- and perhaps especially with mountains- the c is going to get much, much better mpg than the Camry. Here's the deal with the c and mountains- gliding down the back end of a mountain allows you to shut off fuel from the engine completely and get "free miles" out of the car where you're spending no fuel at all. Because straight ICE cars burn fuel just on idling, and also waste energy maintaining engine speed, this is a HUGE advantage. I've found that not only does gliding down the back end of a mountain allow for as good of mpg as no mountain at all, it sometimes increases your mpg, depending on how long you can hold your glide. Do you know how to glide? That will be very important. You can use the Eco Score power bar- press the throttle in just enough that you get no yellow power in the power bar, and no blue regen in the regen indicator. It's a little tricky to find the balance, but when you get no reading on both of those, you're gliding. If, when gliding, you start going too fast down the mountain, let off the throttle completely and let the coasting regen slow you down. If that's still not slowing you down enough, gently regen more with the brakes. Further, don't be afraid to take it easy on the speed up mountains. Use the farthest right lane you can and let your speed get down to 45 or 40 if necessary to keep your power bar out of the red. Get behind a big truck and use it for traffic protection if you can find one. As long as people can go around you, it's okay. In other words, take the c! Use the trip time to get more familiar with its capabilities and the techniques you can use to maximize your mpg. Allow for extra time, though, and see how it feels to slow down a little on the freeway. 50-55 mph will be best if you're not heading into the wind (though going north, you may be).
If you set the cruise to 70 in CA, and 65 in OR, you will do better than this person http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-c-fuel-economy/108918-georgia-michigan-commute-i-75-80mph.html
So, it's not a buy the 20,000$ or the 35,000$ prius Splurge, wow, unlimited(a trip) miles @ 50mpg+.. sell the Camry and get a plug-in, then you have a question. Ah, missed the concern about size of tool, if yer uncomfortable with an efficient, world class vehicle, a larger contrivance will allay all fears, it's a phallic thing.
Speed limit is 70 on I-5, 65 everywhere else in CA. And you don't get run over- I go 55, or even a little less, all the time. People just go around. It's an adjustment to start realizing that people can go around (except in the absolute worst traffic conditions), but an important one if you want the best mpg out of your c.
It is the other way, Nevada slows down their portion of I-15 to match CA Speed limits in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Speed limits in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Even at 75 MPH, you should have an expectation of 45+ mpg. The Camry will burn twice as much gas. There is no other way around the argument. But it is okay to take the Camry from the standpoint of comfort and space, if you are willing to spend the extra $150 on gas.
The c uses the same engine as the Gen 1 & 2 Prius, it should be fine. It is a well tested engine. (It may sound like a baritone sewing machine, but it will be fine) Too little power is not a reason to fear Siskiyou Summit. http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT/docs/SiskiyouPass.pdf?ga=t It will be a chance to try out the B gear in the Prius!
Can you explain why you think that the mileage in the C will drop by 50%, but the mileage in the Camry will not? We see this a lot here. People talk about those instances where a Prius gets less mileage, and for some reason assume that the same thing doesn't happen to regular cars. I am curious what drives this belief. Going up a mountain increases the potential energy of the car. No way to accomplish this without burning (at least) that much energy in gasoline. Note, this disregards the mathematical issue, that 5 MPG less percentage-wise on the Prius, is 2 MPG less in a car with crummy gas mileage, and even then the increase in gasoline used is less for the Prius. Prius: 50 MPG normally, 25 MPG in horrible conditions (25 MPG less), uses 0.25 more gallons per hundred miles (= 16 cents / mile) Camry: 27 MPG normally, 14 MPG in horrible conditions (13 MPG less), uses 0.30 more gallons per hundred miles. (= 30 cents / mile)
