Half a tank and doing 70.2 mpg

I got the feeling I was pushing the limit today. thankfully these guys are younger and a lot nicer than the typical cranky old guy at some tire shops.

 

I suspect that all of Justin's time spent at the car stereo shop and "wheeling and dealing" skills come into play here. I don't have the skill set, thus I don't do it (I feel like a rank amateur when I try, thus I don't). Some people have it, some don't.

 

Fore,

I wasn't trying to pick on you. It was that you typed out that you believed it was impossible for a regular Prius to get 60 - 70 mpg. It is merely, "nearly" impossible to do it. BTW, in case you didn't make the connection, I did link you to my Fuelly page. I do look at the graphs on Fuelly and I do give them value. Had you said that an "average" driver couldn't obtain 60 mpg, I'd agree with you, I'm certainly wayyyyyy to the right of the bell curve when it comes to MPG's.

Oh, and I live in CA (10% ethanol) and I do have an elevation change of ~ 400 ft driving to and from work. However, once down the hill, it is mostly flat. My mileage is assisted by limiting my top speed to 60 mph or less on the highway, driving without brakes, driving with load, not tailgating (easy to do when driving below 60 mph), and taking advantage of slow and go traffic by pulsing and gliding.

 

Exactly.

 

Fully agree with you. I am very doubtful of people who said can achieve 70mpg ...
It is too stressful, maybe you are a farmer living in the countryside,and you are the only one rollercoasting on the road, then I am sure you can even achieve 100mpg in one day, but not consecutively driving everyday.

Also, this car was advertized as achieving 51mpg.

I am glad to say that after owning this car for 3 years, 27,000 miles, and always driving in eco mode, and
I am driving in silicon valley/bay area, local streets, as well highway, my mpg is 51.2mpg consistently.

 

Doubt all you want but it is possible even for those living in the Bay Area. You just need to know how to do it then have the stamina to use the techniques. Hell simply slowing down to 60mph is enough to net high 50s and low 60s on a tank. Just because you don't have the patience or the commute doesn't mean it is not possible.

 

I freely admit that I've not attained 70 mpg. But my best tank was 67.4 mpg (and I've had a total of 4 tanks this summer of 67 mpg) and that was with driving in the Bay Area (commuting from Pleasanton to Foster City). Not exactly a farmer living in the countryside type of commute (although the jam up from 238 to 92 is like a herd of cattle.....)

edit - adding some digital photo evidence of Prius Bay Area commuting capabilities.
Also note: this photo is not one of my four 67 mpg tank. This one was a hand calculated 66.4 mpg. I couldn't upload a picture of my best tank (for some reason).

September 30, 2011

 

My best tank...

 

Nice! And bonus points for a very full battery!