Happy new owner in San Francisco

San Francisco would definitely make a negative impact on mileage and your R/T is short but you should wait to see what your next fill-ups give you.

I'm in San Jose, and with 380 combined miles on my new 2006, the first fill-up was 52.7 mpg. The average mpg on my consumption display was 50.7 mpg. So it may be that I didn't top off the tank far enough, but I think I achieved somewhere between those two numbers.

I kept my speeds on the freeway below 65 mph, anticipated stop lights, pulse and glided, etc. to get 50+ on my first tank, so it can be done!

 

CONGRATS and welcome to the board.

 

I too spend a lot of time in SF...and the hills have a decided impact on MPG but the posititve side andwhat I use to maximize is that going down...increases MPG...
I am now getting around 45 avg. However when I do long trips I have gotten in the 50's...the upside is that what ever my MPG I am spending only a third of what I used to spend on petrol.
d

 

Just a tiny clarification, it isn't TOYOTA who "lists city miles higher than highway miles on the window sticker." It's the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. The sticker is mandated by the feds. Car makers don't have a choice to put one number over another, nor do they have any influence over the numbers themselves -- it's all standardized and mandated by the government.

 

First, welcome to PriusChat, and congrats on your car. I have two pkg. 3s.

Very good post. It's a shame that with SF/Bay Area being the leading Prius-buying place in the U.S., there isn't yet a communications network attracting more than a handful of owners. Another PC member and I put together a Prius meetup last Oct. 30 at Crissy Field on a decent day, but only half a dozen attended.

As you may have heard, the EPA will reconfigure the way it tests for MPG (probably in 1-2 years), and the "city" testing will change drastically. With the SF topography and your short commute, you have two strikes against you. Have you taken a ride south or east of half an hour or more yet? Take a ride down to Half Moon Bay when you have time and you'll enjoy 45-50 MPG, guaranteed.

Even your 36 MPG will be improved as you learn to change old habits. I know it can be hard to try to stay under 40 MPH in the mad SF traffic flow, especially on non-hilly streets, but that's where you'll make your biggest gains.

Good luck, and check back in with us and let us know how you're doing.

 

Congrats on your new partner!

So explain me: How did you change the default unlock to all doors????

I think the explanation of higher mileage in the city is this: when sitting at a traffic light, consumption is zero. If you are driving in the typical large city, you do a fair amount of that. On the highway, there is no zero consumption.

I have an '06 coming in the next few days. We bought an '05 new a couple months ago, and it is my wife's car. I had no intention of trading in my own car (a '98 BMW M3 with Dinan package), but after driving Ellen's car and enjoying the high-tech so much, finally decided to order my own!

Spindoc

 

This doesn't really make sense. Sure, when you're stopped at a light there's zero consumption, but you're also not traveling anywhere, so there are zero miles. Now, this is certainly better than other cars where the engine is always running in the city, but it doesn't explain the difference between the Prius on the highway and the Prius in the city. My understanding is that, when you're in the city, you're more able to make use of the electric motor, the regenerative braking reclaims some energy, and (perhaps most importantly) you experience less drag because you're traveling at a slower speed.

 

All cars should get better mpg in city than on highway. This is because the air drag is far less at the slower speeds.

The reason they don't is due to the poor engine efficiency at low loading. This is the problem the Prius solves nicely.

The only reason a Prius should get low mpg in city driving is if the stops and starts is more than the EPA test allows for, or from steep hills that require more than regen braking. Or when using the AC heavily the cost in mpg is relatively great.

 

Indeed they are.

 

as a person who lives in the bay area, and has friends in S.F., i would change your tires since the car is still new. they should give you credit toward new ones. I went with the goodyear Comfort threads. They cost more but have a much better warranty.. they are also quieter, won't slip on those hills ( think of first rains) and are better resistant to wear and tear since it's a better tire.

Otherwise.. have fun with the new car. Feel free to join the S.F. Bay Area group.

 

Hi Motorway,

I have an '06 Pkg 3 with about 500 miles on it now, and I'm on my third tank of gas. I also live on a steep hill in SF (Diamond Hts area, approx. 600 ft elev.). I got about 32 mpg on the first tank, and 35 on the second tank. I mostly drive in town. When I have gone down 280 to Palo Alto and environs, the display indicates about 43 mpg average (driving 65-75 mph).

I also park next to someone who has an '04 model. He says he gets around 32 mpg.

Regarding your not getting acknowledged by a fellow motorist...there are many Prii in SF, and it may not be enough of a connection to receive an acknowledgement. In addition, it's so difficult just getting around -- avoiding loonies, crawlers, oblivious pedestrians on cell phones, and double-parked trucks -- that at least for me I'm hardly in a state of mind to be waving at anyone.

Congrats on your purchase,
Don

 

HI Guys!

Congrats on the new cars Motorway, DJL!

I'm curious to know what kind of fuel economy you guys had with other vehicles in SF, as I imagine that they're also WAY off of the EPA figures.

Also, Motorway - the EPA numbers for city and highway actually come from a test where they put the car on a giant treadmill called a dynamometer - you can see the test-rig here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml - they don't just make the numbers up as I think you suggest.

I haven't been to SF in a while, but I used to spend a couple weeks there every year, and drive up and down from San Clara to Pier 39 where my buddy lives. I'd love to drive my Prius around there, especially down Lombard Street! You S.F. guys should get together and arrange a photo shoot of 15 Prii going down Lombard for the 2007 calendar
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...imagesr&start=1

Seriously though - Motorway, do you get up to the green bars alot? Perhaps a slightly more gentle take off from the green light could help you maximize those green bars? I know that there's 5 ways to get anywhere in San Francisco - are different routes showing you different kinds of fuel economies? Also, one thing I'm seeing here in D.C. with my first 600 miles is that the first 10 minutes are always really low as the engine warms up - even with the temperature at 56 degrees - isn't that about your temperature in SF? If you drive for 30 minutes in the city, are you still at 36mpg for the last 15 minutes? Isn't it usually 10 - 15 degrees warmer down the road in San Jose?

I imagine it'd be a DREAM driving around Marin County - electric mode around those hairpin turns through eucalyptus and redwood groves!

Sorry for the long post and all the questions - you guys live in a city that I daydream about - I'd love to move there!

Anyway, keep us posted, and good luck!
Dave