"You Know You're a Real Hybrid Owner When . . . • 49.9 is not the same as 50.1 when it comes to miles per gallon. • You lean forward going up hills instead of hitting the gas. • You're not out of gas until the low-fuel light has been on for about 80 miles. • You memorize topographical maps of your daily drive. • You won't run errands unless they are more than 50 miles away so you don't hurt your average. • While you don't mind showing friends your hybrid, you'd rather not drive them around because the extra weight might lower your gas mileage. • You have a perfectly good air conditioner but refuse to use it unless you're going downhill. • You gleefully buy the cheap gas. • You post your gas mileage online." "(Excerpted from the original posting on a discussion forum at http://www.greenhybrid.com. The writer gave the make, model and color of hybrid car and acknowledged a normal commute of 53 miles each way.)"
You pump your tires to near maximum capacities just to get that extra 1-2mpg. You love non-fast lanes (3rd or so). You might glide more than accelerate. You become increasingly weight conscious. You do everything from waxing to filters at any cost to perhaps increase MPG. ...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HBO6 @ Nov 15 2006, 05:56 PM) [snapback]349813[/snapback]</div> Your first words, when coming in from a drive, are not "Hi honey, I'm home", but "54.3".
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(livelychick @ Nov 16 2006, 09:17 AM) [snapback]350081[/snapback]</div> You get a smile on your face when you look at the mileage you're getting in stop-and-go traffic.
You park next to the biggest, most gas guzzling vehicles in the parking lot, just to make a statement. You start braking so long before any light that you can do your whole commute without coming to a complete stop.
• To save weight, before driving, you wear flip flops, and other light clothes as well as one last bathroom break before heading off to work • If you misjudge that last glide (under or overshoot) on route to your destination, you walk the misjudged distance so as not to waste the energy • You NEVER misjudge that last glide on route to your destination. • You LOVE the sight of a semi coming up on your tail, at nearly the same speed, so you can employ drafting. • You drop your oil viscosity by 10w to avoid the wasted friction • Rain angers you, not for the added danger in driving but because it adds to your friction • You switch your work schedule to swing shift to take advantage of prevailing winds • You have all signal lights perfectly timed on your usual routs so as to never have to hit the brakes • Your family hates your compulsive / anal driving habits and refuse to drive with you, and that’s WAY OK with you !! :^) • You realize that even though your car seats 4 / 5 people comfortably, you consider removing the “wasted seating weight†as you avoid the extra passengers anyway. • You look forward to the day when you can make Evan feel ashamed of his life time mpg.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VinceDee @ Nov 16 2006, 01:40 PM) [snapback]350214[/snapback]</div> hey! I already said that. But I forgot one ... you have THOUSANDS of posts, at priuschat.com
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Nov 16 2006, 12:47 PM) [snapback]350218[/snapback]</div> Not if they're all in Fred's.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Nov 16 2006, 09:47 AM) [snapback]350218[/snapback]</div> I read that, but I considered these different forms of drafting. I've never heard of drafting from in front of another vehicle, so I don't even know what that does, how to do it, or what it's like. Vince
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jtmhog @ Nov 16 2006, 06:32 AM) [snapback]350092[/snapback]</div> Every time lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dr. Jingles @ Nov 16 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]350226[/snapback]</div> I go 40 on the interstae because it's the "legal minimal Speedlimit"
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Nov 16 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]350205[/snapback]</div> I realize this is meant as humor, but does the extra weight really matter that much? I know things like a roof rack can decrease your mileage, maybe 10-20%, has anybody quantified what extra weight will do? Obviously it's better to carpool than drive extra cars (figure the mpg per passenger mile), or to not drive a comparatively gas-guzzling car just to avoid lowering the mileage on your Prius, so I've never fallen into this category. I'm all about concentrating on CO2 emissions and depleting gas reserves in total. The rest of this I can relate to, it's pretty good. I think another sign is if somebody asks what your mileage is and gets a ten-minute lecture on differences between last tank, lifetime average, summer gas/winter gas and effect of temperature changes.