Confused By Dealer!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 05:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

I would say he is wrong, I drive both city and freeway 70mph and 35 mph combined mileage is 45-54 mpg
ask your salesman that you want to test drive it for a day or 2 you will see what average mpg you will get.

 

Welcome to PriusChat.

No, you will do better than 34 MPG, but probably not 55 unless the stars are aligned just so. I've heard that the Toyota salespeople don't make as much commission off the Prius as some of the other Toyotas because they don't make Toyota as big a profit... I have no way of knowing whether that's true or not. I get 45-50 MPG on the highway (60-70 MPH limits). My Prius seems to get the best mileage at about 40 MPH, flat road, no stoplights.

Do some more investigating, talk to a different salesperson, test drive them all and see what you like. They'll all outdo the Miata. Good Luck!

 

He may be lying or he may genuinely believe this, but in either case, he's wrong.

 

That has got to be one of the dumbest salesman comments so far. (The salesman, not the poster!) All things being equal, the Prius will always beat the Yaris or Corolla simply because Toyota was able to install such an efficient little engine. If it's not really hilly you should be able to do 50-55mpg at a straight 65mph. 40-45mpg for the Yaris or Corolla might be about right for a very careful driver. 34mpg for the Prius would involve some kind of trailer, perhaps engaging the parking brake or a 75mph headwind.

Keep in mind that your mileage will be a little on the low side while your car breaks in and you get used to driving it. But that period goes by pretty fast.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

Gee, let me think about this for a moment...when I want a good meal, I take an airplane flight, and when I want accurate and unbiased information about an automobile, I ask a car salesman...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

Dave, welcome to the site. First, the only way you will be able to determine how good of a match you and the car will be is to drive one for a few days. You may be able to rent one at the dealer and apply part of the rental toward the purchase of a car. Pay particular attention to how comfortable you feel in the car, but this advice is good for any car you are interested in.

Second, it sounds like this guy was told to push the Yaris' and Corollas that are sitting on the lot. If you are driving around the speed limit, say 65-70mph, I would think you should be able to get consistant high 40's--low 50's mpg in the Prius and you won't be as irritated stuck in traffic because you won't be wasting any gas.

Third, read through www.carbuyingtips.com and follow their advice. Many posters report good results from negotiating with the fleet or internet managers and soliciting offers from many dealers by fax or e-mail.

Hope you find exactly what you are looking for at a good price. Happy hunting.

 

Let me put it this way. I put around 100 miles on a day on LA freeways. I'm the jackass who drives way too fast and I'm getting around 44 to 46 mpg while averaging 75 to 85 mph.

When I drive slower (not likely) I do indeed get better mpg, but not much. I think my engine is used to me. Ironicly I ride my motorcycle slower than I drive my car. At 107 mph between Los Angeles and Lake Havasu I got around 35-40 mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 03:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

During warm weather, I would expect you to get about the same mileage I get here in California on my commute ... I average about 47 MPG on my 80 mile round trip commute that includes about 75% of it on freeways with hills, and 25% on relatively flat surface streets. That's when I drive like everyone else out here ... 75 - 80 on the freeway portion (when we aren't stopped for traffic). The lowest mileage I have had in a single tank of gas after the break in period was 44 MPG (actual, combined MPG).

I've been driving the speed limit the last three weeks (well, mostly), and I'm getting over 50 MPG ... from 52 to 54 MPG per tank. In winter, you will take a mileage hit ... heat for the cabin has to come from somewhere, so your mileage will drop when its cold. Some people here can tell you how much (I have no idea, its rarely cold here!)

What clinched the Prius for me was the test drive. I drove the Corolla, the Matrix, the Chevy HHR and the Nissan Sentra, and then the Prius. The Prius drives more like the Camry than the other "econo cars" ... much faster off the line, and it literally zooms up the Conejo Grade here in Ventura County without slowing down. And it was much quieter, and more comfortable (although, none of these cars have seats that I would call "comfortable" ... I use an Obus Forme high back seat back cushion because otherwise my back kills me after my commute.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 04:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

I just drove from Cheney, WA to Vancouver, WA (a distance of about 350 miles) most of the time I was traveling between 65 and 70 mph. Although I did get terrible mileage (44.0 mpg), I was in a cross wind or head wind nearly the entire way. I don't know the actual wind speed, but assume it was at least 30 mph most the way. The headwind part was on I90 from Cheney to Ritzville, and on I84 from Hermiston to Vancouver.

Incidently, I got tired of someone who had passed me when I had been doing a steady 65 while in cruise control, then slowing down until I passed her, then starts creeping up on me again and probably would have passed me again. I don't mind being passed, but get tired of the lane hopping. One of my passengers said to take it up to 70 and she would probably stay beind. I did, and she did. But in the process, while watching in the rearview mirror, I got up to over 80 in what seemed a matter of seconds. That's with that head wind.

I wouldn't call the Prius a wimpy call by any means.

I'm hoping that I get better mileage on the return trip. Hopefully a tail wind then.

Dave M.


Dave M.

 

It's also important to remember that the Prius isn't an econobox, and shouldn't be compared to a Corolla or Yaris. A more fair comparison would be against the Camry, but really, the Prius is kind of by itself. If the bottom line is saving money, then Yaris is a good choice. The cost difference will pay for a lot of gas, and you can get handling mods to make it handle closer to the miata.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vagabond @ Apr 12 2007, 09:14 PM) [snapback]422389[/snapback]</div>

Me too. I'm a 90 mile r/t LA freeway flyer, over the mountains 210 thru Pasadena, and I get 48-51 without even trying. I don't baby the car, and it climbs the hills as good as anything, better than many other vehicles, and gets MPGs too! Not to worry. I don't see how any "normal" econocar, Corolla, Yaris, or whatever, could beat the performance and MPGs of the Prius. It doubled the 25 MPGs of my Subaru. I love my Subaru, but last year, I only drove it 1,000 miles, and the Prius 30,000. 'nuf said.

As for the dealer, he probably had several Corolla/Yaris laying around, and no Prius, or he could just be mis-informed, either situation is normal for car dealers.

 

Dave

Highway driving at 65+MPH I average over 54MPG using cruise. Around town in the high 40's. What dealer gave you that info, Krause? When we bought ours there the salesman said we would get in the 60's around town and the low 50's on the highway. I am sure you will get better MPG than what you were quoted. I was quoted on the high side, my MPG is more in line with the new EPA ratings. We are very pleased with the Prius and recommend it to everyone.

 

We have a new 07 base pkg and for the 1st 1800 miles we've averaged 56.5 in mixed driving: city/hwy, hills/flat.

We do drive differently than we did in other cars:
1 We pulse and glide
2 We anticipate
3 We drive the speed limit (or 5-7mph above)
4 We do try to keep up with the normal flow of traffic
5 Our tires are at 38fr/36r

I don't think we could do better with a Yaris or Corolla, even a 5 spd.

And the Prius is more fun to drive, anyway.

Just our experience, good luck with your choice, Dave.

Bob

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 11:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

This is on Toyota's UK Website. Follow the link below and you can compare UK Toyota models. Note UK Miles and gallons etc..

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/...853&sr=Mall

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave The Barbarian @ Apr 12 2007, 06:26 PM) [snapback]422233[/snapback]</div>

What I do not understand is how you only get 24 mpg with a Miata... I achieve 35 mpg with a 2000 Bonneville.... And my Camaro with a 383 is getting 26mpg.....

 

In two Prius {2004 for 2 years, traded for a 2007 T/E 6 months ago} I have *NEVER* experienced that low MPG on the freeways. My freeway MPG has ranged from 48-55 MPG and I usually cruise at 65-75 MPH depending on traffic.

Not sure where that 'salesman' got his information, but in my experience he's dead wrong.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Vagabond @ Apr 12 2007, 09:14 PM) [snapback]422389[/snapback]</div>

I must be your long lost Brother in the SF Bay Area. What you say mirrors my experience almost exactly, except I drive between 120 and 130 miles each way, depending on traffic and the route I choose to avoid it.

I drive the car like any other car, and since it's low on power, it sees plenty of full throttle starts and accelleration runs. I average 41 - 45mpg depending on the weather and my tire pressure.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Apr 12 2007, 07:49 PM) [snapback]422259[/snapback]</div>

From a Car Salesman's perspective, all I can say is we are not all the same. It's better to excuse oneself away from an un-answerable question to take a lirttle time to research and acccurately answer the question truthfully. Honesty, is still the best policy and yes, this is coming right from the mouth or in this case, keyboard of a Car Salesman.