Dead Silence

I've been asked about my mileage in the winter and I say it's "down" to 45 MPG.

That usually get's an open-mouthed gasp.

Cheers,

Curt.

 

there have been several times when someone would ask me about mine, and i'd reply, "it's only about 45 right now, but i've been hauling my kayak a lot this tank"... they always get this weird expression on their face, then turn to whoever else is there and say something along the lines of "listen to this guy making excuses for getting 45 MPG". highly entertaining, if you ask me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bee13 @ Jun 30 2006, 09:15 AM) [snapback]279074[/snapback]</div>

Quite a number of my co-workers have also parked their trucks and begun commuting by motorcycle to save on fuel expenses. I have as of yet to find one that matches my gas mileage and I've been known to give many of them a good natured needling for driving their "gas guzzlers".

Yet another co-worker (who commutes around 100 miles per day) traded in his Ford F-150 in for a Subaru Impreza. The first time a ran into him in the parking lot with his new ride, he proudly announced that he halved his fuel expense, to which I winked and said, "Would you like to halve it again?". Not to be outdone, he smiles and shoots back, "Wanna race?". My response, "SURE! I'll race you to the furthest gas station!"... He had no response...

 

Here's a question - Given that you guys are getting, say 55mpg in summer and 45mpg in winter, are these US gallons or Imperial gallons?
If they are US gallons, then that equates to 64mpg (imperial gallons), in which case I need to imporve my driving techniques! (My average at 2500m is 56mpg (imp gall), or only 47.6mpg (US gall).

Just wondering...

Richard.

 

US gallons for me. 45-ish in the winter. low 50s in the warmer months, but always partial zero emissions!

Cheers,

Curt.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kjb516 @ Jun 30 2006, 11:27 AM) [snapback]279097[/snapback]</div>

One of the guys in my office did the same. Except, for some strange reason, I didn't see him on his bike during our 2 days of steady rain earlier this week!

I'll have to remember to tease him about his two-wheeled gas guzzler. I like that. Thanks!

Jim

 

I have both a 50 mpg Prius and a 45 mpg motorcycle. My co-workers tease me on days when I ride the motorcycle...."Yeah, he just doesn't care about saving gas. Must be a Republican."

 

One of my best "prius moments" was discovering that if I popped into
Neutral at or below 41 mph just before a downhill, I could coast
substantially above 42 mph without the engine spinning. Opened up
a world of opportunities for "warp neutral" on the backroads.
Downside: often, little towns are nestled down in the valleys, where
the speed limit drops to 25, so this isn't always appropriate. But
out on the rolling hills with a 45 mph limit or so, it's great.
.
_H*

 

It seems that US drivers seem to get higher mileage. Don't know why - better climate? different driving patterns? the coolant storage? smaller wheels?

My lifetime average is 50.4 mpg (Imperial); ranging from a worst tank of 40 mpg in winter to a best of 58 mpg. Mind you, I tend do do short trips. I think an average of 56 mpg is impressive.

 

heh. one of the very few times i was able to shut my former boss up was the time i told him that i got 50ish mpg on my most recent tank of gas. i got a pat on the back from all my coworkers, not for the great mpg. :lol:

the boss before that one (i don't get fired often, i was doing research rotations) drove an escalade and a land cruiser because he was convinced that it was safer for his kids. this was the lab i was in when i first got the prius, so i was all excited about it. one friday at happy hour i happened to mention my new car and how it got (at the time) 47 mpg. and he asked me to repeat myself about 3 times.

i don't get such a rise out of the current boss because her daughter drives a HCH, but all my coworkers are fascinated with the prius. they hate when i mention how long it's been since i filled up the tank though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bee13 @ Jun 30 2006, 07:15 AM) [snapback]279074[/snapback]</div>

I usually confuse the hell out of people when I truthfully tell them that my Prius gets infinitely WORSE gas mileage than our main vehicle.

 

well this was back in May. was sitting in breakroom, one lady was talking about her credit card bill, one that was only used to buy gas. saying that she had averaged $250 a month and had just exceeded $1000 in gas year to date.

i couldnt help but mention that i had only spent $900 in gas since July 2004 when i had purchased my Prius. they didnt believe me and demanded proof as to how i could make that statement. well, i had my laptop with me so showed them my spreadsheet detailing every drop of gas put into the car.

also told them other stats... average fillup cost $21.70 (at the time, much higher now) duration between fills 13.2 days average cost of gas per month under $50... lifetime cents per mile less than a nickel.

actually had one at the table accuse me of generating a false spreadsheet to perpetuate my "lie"

well, havent had that good a laugh in a long time. this was also the person who claimed to get 35 mpg in summer and winter.

 

Oh yeah, I just remembered another Prius "Precious Moment". Recently when gasoline first hit the $3.00 mark, I was in the store of my most frequented gas station buying coffee, waiting behind a line of disgruntled customers waiting to pay for their gas.

When I got to the front of the line, the cashier rang up my coffee and asked if I was also purchasing gasoline to which I smiled and replied “Not today… you just got to love the joy of 50 miles to the gallonâ€. The woman behind the counter stared at my blankly and asked “HOW many miles to the gallon?â€. “Fifty miles to the gallonâ€, I replied as she continued to stare in disbelief . “WHAT in the world do you drive?†she asks, to which I reply, “A Toyota Prius…â€. Finally she rings up my order and I pay as I complete my sentence, “actually, I’ve been getting 55 miles to the gallon recentlyâ€.

I’m believe that I most likely made her day in that I was the ONLY customer in her store that day not griping about the recent gas price hikes. I can’t say the same for the customers in line behind me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bee13 @ Jun 30 2006, 05:18 PM) [snapback]279137[/snapback]</div>

KMO Posted Yesterday, 05:36 PM
It seems that US drivers seem to get higher mileage. Don't know why - better climate? different driving patterns? the coolant storage? smaller wheels?

My lifetime average is 50.4 mpg (Imperial); ranging from a worst tank of 40 mpg in winter to a best of 58 mpg. Mind you, I tend do do short trips. I think an average of 56 mpg is impressive.


I do variable trips, but mostly involving lots of motorways - I'd only had her a few days and drove to Aberdeen and back (averaged 59mpg (imp)) on that trip.
I hear a lot of talk from non-prius owners about how its designed to get better mileage in town than on motorways (freeways) - the official mpg figures show town driving as much lower than out of town, and this is my experience. The battery helps to improve in town mpg figures, but what you really want is a good long steady motorway to really get the figures up.

Richard.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jun 30 2006, 01:22 PM) [snapback]279227[/snapback]</div>

Why DO you have a hybrid? Why don't you just get a second EV?(Not from GM but from whomever still makes them).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Jul 1 2006, 11:27 AM) [snapback]279747[/snapback]</div>

I have a hybrid for two reasons: To make the few long trips a year that the EV isn't practical for... and because there ARE NO PRODUCTION EVS AVAILABLE TO BUY today. And this is the entire reason that I'm as annoying about this subject as I am. Were you under the impression that full-feature battery electric vehicles were still on the market?

The Rav4EV in 2002 (and barely into 2003) was the last production EV that a consumer could buy or lease. And it was only available for eight months total. It all ended 3.5 years ago.