Done driving my C too slow

The c has a smaller ICE engine so it is not as economical on the highway as a Liftback, but it is supposed to be better in the city.

 

After looking here Has anyone's Lithium Ion Prius caught fire? | PriusChat

I am trying to avoid cruising too close to the coast

 

+1

 

Bisco surpassed "DOW 20,000" many moons ago!

 

@HSuIPT ....I did the same thing.....for the same reason.
Welcome back to the fold!

Thanks!
I drive a Prius too....

 

When I do 55 in a 40 mph zone, it's all good.

 

Yes. So many nuts are "packing heat!" I should move to the wide open plains of Nebraska.

 

If I want to go slower, I'll use roads designed for slower speeds - in many places, the old US and state routes that predated the interstates still exist, and have lower design speeds.

The other option is to find a semi going your desired speed and follow it (at a safe distance), people are less likely to mess with a semi than a Prius, and it can also help your fuel consumption by blocking wind.

 

I followed a semi home last night in the snowstorm for just that reason. People were driving crazy out there!

 

I'm hesitant to get behind big vehicles. Too many rocks are flung up in the air by those big semi's, and other trucks.

The best solution I found, for me personally, is just don't be concerned about the stinkin gas mileage! Just drive normally, and anything over 40 MPG is excellent! I don't ever want to become "obsessed" about the gas mileage. I don't even keep track of it anymore.

Stay safe. And stay sane!

 

Yesterday was my first day in a while where my displayed mpg for the day was below 50. Cold & stormy weather will do that, though.

 

In that case, yes, I would definitely get behind a slower vehicle in a snowstorm. We don't see any snow where I live, but I watch the news coverage, and I can't believe how fast some of those people are driving on ice and snow! What the hell is wrong with people!?

 

The other thing to watch for with semis, for what it's worth, is if a tire fails, and the debris can cause quite a bit of damage.

Of course, the one I hit earlier this week was just lying in the lane, I wasn't even following a semi when I hit it:

 

Just stay well back when following (trucks or whatever). Someone wants to occupy that space, no problem.

Maybe something like this'd work? It's a thin spot though, maybe not enough material:

A bumper with moxie | PriusChat

 

I already called the insurance company to make a claim, it goes in next week. One of the grille shutters is broken, and I'm pretty sure I'm taking a fuel economy hit.

 

I drove over one of those shipping pallets one time; it was laying diamond-orientation, directly in front of me in the lane. No chance to swerve: I was in traffic and everybody was going over it, taking their knocks. It was just shallow enough that the tires and shocks and supension were able to absorb it.

 

I too wish here was a "safe option." I do not, however, believe that additional laws would do any good. Every outing, I see people breaking the existing laws .... speeding, crossing the solid double line, talking on the cell, parking in handicapped parking, DUI, leaving the engine running while they run in the grocery (it is bitter cold here), and on and on. Disrespect for the law will not be cured by additional laws.

Which brings me to another point. Elsewhere the discussion was self-driving cars. The advocates touted how much safer it will be when we all drive uniformly, cars communicating with one another, and etc. I cannot imagine a circumstance where people (the ones mentioned in the first paragraph) will be content to sit quietly, and follow the car in front ... at a safe and reasonable speed.

 

Not to mention that the US government's current plan to rush our V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication leaves no time to design in any communication security. Security must be designed in, not "bolted on" as an optional extra later.
See NHTSA's V2V rollout plan gets support, questions - SAE International

 

I'm a bit CDO about trying to save gas and because of that I find the Prius C to be very frustrating to drive. It's not the car's fault, it is a gas-engined car after all. The battery is just there to harvest momentum when braking and to help to boost the efficiency of the gas engine by time-shifting some of the power generated during efficient conditions for use during inefficient conditions. But I find the temptation to try to keep it in EV mode to be pretty strong.

In fact I describe the Prius C as a "gateway drug" to fully electric vehicles. I'm planning on trading mine in for a Chevy Bolt later in the year when they become more available up here in Canada. Then I'll be able to stomp on the pedal as much as I want to keep up with traffic without having to worry about wasting a drop of gas. I can hardly wait...