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To LA and Back, a Prius Story.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by F8L, May 23, 2007.

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  1. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I took a trip from Fairfield, CA. to Glendale to visit my old friends and attend the annual Bug Show at the Natural History Museum.

    The trip there saw temps in the low-mid 80s and very little wind. I maintained a speed of 65mph when possible and never over 75mph to pass big trucks. I did no drafting other than when stuck behind a truck for a short time. I didn't attempt any real hypermiling but I did drive fairly smoothly.

    [​IMG]


    The trip back was less than flattering. There were high winds and the temps were about the same. No matter what I tried I couldn't bust anything better than 43mpg. I wasn't going to take a shot of that. lol

    So in essense even though the distance traveled and the road conditions were the same there and back the high winds caused a significant change in MPG.

    That is the story.....
     
    #1 F8L, May 23, 2007
  2. seasidetraveler

    seasidetraveler Member

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    You were in the neighborhood and didn't say hello?

    I have never gotten the greatest mileage on long freeway trips, but still better than any other non-hybrid car I have ever owned, much better.

    I just filled up today and averaged 50 mpg. That is good for my driving!
     
    #2 seasidetraveler, May 23, 2007
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ May 23 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]448704[/snapback]</div>
    LOL I almost made plans to go to the Prius meeting in Lake Forest but it was another hour further south and I just couldn't get up that early on Sat. after staying up so late. :)

    I hear ya though. 50mpg is about as good as I can get without resorting to ticking people off with my driving. :)
     
    #3 F8L, May 23, 2007
  4. seasidetraveler

    seasidetraveler Member

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    A Prius meeting? WHA?

    Also- I travel a lot up to Fresno, CA to visit family, and I can't go slower than 75 mph, my Prius wont let me :lol: Such an ugly, boring drive... I usually cruise at 80 mph so that is why I get in the mid 40mpg's
     
    #4 seasidetraveler, May 23, 2007
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasidetraveler @ May 23 2007, 08:29 PM) [snapback]448718[/snapback]</div>

    This one :)

    I hear ya on the speed. 65mph was just fine on the way down because I was listening to "Collapse" by Jared Diamond on cd. On the way back I was listening to "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris and he was going on about 14th century christians and modern muslims. I was so disgusted I couldn't help drive faster as if I could somehow speed through history. lol
     
    #5 F8L, May 23, 2007
  6. seasidetraveler

    seasidetraveler Member

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    Darn, I missed it! I was coaching a class all day Saturday! I will have to see if there are other clubs nearby- Lake Forest is only 30 minutes from me.
     
    #6 seasidetraveler, May 23, 2007
  7. OlsonBW

    OlsonBW New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ May 23 2007, 08:07 PM) [snapback]448697[/snapback]</div>
    A couple weekends ago my wife and I went from Federal Way, WA (between Tacoma and Seattle) to Portland OR. Our mileage in the morning going down was in the mid 50s. On the way back that evening it was in the low 40s and we ended up with just above 45 mpg for the trip. It felt like I was hitting headwinds all the way back.
     
    #7 OlsonBW, Jun 1, 2007
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OlsonBW @ Jun 1 2007, 11:41 AM) [snapback]453391[/snapback]</div>

    Well duh! You were going NORTH on the way back, everyone and their Ent knows going North is going uphill. :p Sorry for the Lord of the Rings reference. lol


    I noticed this effect nearly every day i commute from Fairfield to Sacramento on I-80. On the way to Sac I get 49-50mpg but on the way back I hover in the 39-43mpg range. My average to Sac last night was 54mpg (no real wind) . I drove around town then went back to Fairfield and the return trip dropped my average to 47mpg (lots of wind). Grrr I hate windy days!
     
    #8 F8L, Jun 1, 2007
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ May 23 2007, 11:18 PM) [snapback]448706[/snapback]</div>
    Only an hour away from Lake Forest, and you didn't stop by for a ride on our ALL electric boat? (see avatar, house w/ red roof)
     
    #9 hill, Jun 3, 2007
  10. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    My 2007 has just over 2300 miles on it now. From day 1, I have never gotten below 49 MPG and average 50-51 daily. On a few occassions I have hit 56+. On the highway, I set the CC at the max speed limit (or slightly higher) and always get 50+MPG. In all cases, I figure an average car or truck gets about 25MPG (some more, some less). At 50MPG, I feel good to get 2x the milage most folks. So, when gas hit $3, I tell people I pay the equivelent of $1.50. In those terms, most people see the benefit of the Prius. Now, to get about the same gas milage as a motorcycle, but with AC, premium sound, all weather driving, bluetooth, etc... is a REALLY great feeling.

    I was surprised yesterday to have the wife and one of the kids in my Prius for about 100 miles with AC running all the time and STILL get 51MPG! It makes using the AC a no brainer. No more trying to minimize it's use.
     
    #10 GadgetMan2, Jun 3, 2007
  11. OlsonBW

    OlsonBW New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GadgetMan2 @ Jun 3 2007, 04:00 AM) [snapback]454308[/snapback]</div>
    Our 2007 Touring Prius has about 6700 miles on it and I'm averaging between 49 and 51 mpg as I drive around Seattle. I think the display currently shows 50.3 mpg. Our roads are like a roller coaster. There are very few places in our area where the road is flat. I just wish the ICE didn't turn on so easily. Oh well.
     
    #11 OlsonBW, Jun 3, 2007
  12. GadgetMan2

    GadgetMan2 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OlsonBW @ Jun 3 2007, 11:30 AM) [snapback]454372[/snapback]</div>

    Our roads are about the same. Up and down hill all the time. I am surprised I average 50MPG. I figured I woudl get less, but once again, the Prius is really quite advanced and well rounded.
     
    #12 GadgetMan2, Jun 3, 2007
  13. bgdrewsif

    bgdrewsif New Member

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    wow, i've never really seen what the pre-2006 MFD interface screens looked like... i must say toyota improved the look of them drastically after the 2005 model year... they look like MS dos from 1994 or something...
     
    #13 bgdrewsif, Jun 3, 2007
  14. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Hey f8l, get a TACH in that thing -- it'll probably help.
    .
    _H*
     
    #14 hobbit, Jun 3, 2007
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 3 2007, 02:14 PM) [snapback]454554[/snapback]</div>
    If I have to baby it any more than I already do to get better milage then it is not worth it to me.

    It is all great news that some of you NEVER see less than 49mpg but I would attribute that to your car being stock, a year or two newer and your driving conditions. I just live in a windy area :(
     
    #15 F8L, Jun 3, 2007
  16. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bgdrewsif @ Jun 3 2007, 01:38 PM) [snapback]454538[/snapback]</div>
    Actually, that's what my MFD screen looks like. It's a base model MFD... no Navigation, no Bluetooth.
     
    #16 Rae Vynn, Jun 3, 2007
  17. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Well, no, maybe the problem is you're babying it *too* much. If
    you make sure to get north of 1500 RPM every time that engine is
    on, it might make a difference...
    .
    _H*
     
    #17 hobbit, Jun 3, 2007
  18. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 3 2007, 07:37 PM) [snapback]454722[/snapback]</div>
    True. I read the rpm based findings and I'm trying to go by the sound of the engine as well as the MFD. When possible I try to keep it between 33mpg and 75mpg instant but that is rediculously hard and not even doable when accelerating from a stop. lol

    When I have some extra cash I'll look into adding a mutlifunction tach though. :)
     
    #18 F8L, Jun 4, 2007
  19. EricGo

    EricGo New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Jun 4 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]455029[/snapback]</div>
    I don't have a tach either, but I think I am pretty tuned to engine. If in doubt when the engine is running, I try to convince myself that the gas pedal is depressed at least 1/4 or so.
     
    #19 EricGo, Jun 9, 2007
  20. micheal

    micheal I feel pretty, oh so pretty.

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bgdrewsif @ Jun 3 2007, 05:38 PM) [snapback]454538[/snapback]</div>
    It sure doesn't look as nice, but I have heard that the NAV override doesn't work after 2005 models. So passengers can input addresses and whatnot on the 2004 and 2005 NAV while moving without having to buy a Coastal mod :D . There are a few background colors to choose from, for a little bit of variety.
     
    #20 micheal, Jun 10, 2007
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