I've had my Prius for a little over a week now. As I have learned, the screen, and the information it provides, makes you drive differently. It's great, and I am getting a little over 45 MPG, which is twice what I got with my old car. I've read the "new owner: need MPG help" article, and I can see and feel it improving, but I wanted to know about first-hand driving experience in the Los Angeles area where someone has been getting at least 50 MPG, and what they were doing to get it. Thanks to everybody for replying to my last post. As always, everyone is friendly and very helpful.
I'm sure there are loads of folks there who easily exceed 50 MPG. It really comes down to your usage patterns and time. You've had the car for only a week. Your technique will improve loads. That alone will probably get you over the 50 MPG mark. Second, your tyres will break in and that'll bump up your MPG. Have you changed your tyre pressure? Try setting it at 42/40 psi (front/rear) if you haven't already done so. Tyre pressure can have a HUGE impact on your MPG. There's a supposed engine break in as well, they say around 5K mi. I didn't see anything in my experience to support it, but it seems logical.
Do bear in mind that "correcting" a low MPG without resetting can take a while, particularly if you're a few hundred miles into the tank. I'm in CT so can't offer local suggestions.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(drewllbrb @ Aug 18 2007, 11:43 AM) [snapback]498385[/snapback]</div> I have not had a tank that averaged less than 50 MPG in almost a year, and that one was on a drive from the S.F. Bay area south on I-5 at speeds averaging upward of 80-85 MPH. Before that trip, it was probably almost as long since I averaged less than 50 MPG. I generally average 51-54 MPG and drive ~550 miles on a tankful. No, I did not start out getting those numbers when the car was new. It took me almost a year to get to that level of efficiency. Both the car and the driver had to be broken in. As far as specific tips, take another look at the "New owner? Want MPG help? Read this first" thread. All the techniques and tricks you need to know are thoroughly discussed there. There is no one magic pill, anticipating traffic, coasting, minimizing the use of the brakes and getting fewer green cars/leaves on the Consumption screen are keys for me.
I gotten average of 52 MPG in Orange county. I try not to do trips less than 5 miles. Last three tanks 55+ MPG. This is both city and highway miles
As a fellow Angeleno, I am finally averaging 48 -49 mpg. There are two major changes I made to get here. One is to stay out of the fast lane on the freeway. It's easier to maintain a consistent speed without someone crawling up your bumper which tends to make you go a little faster. I also started using Chevron gas consistently which also makes a difference although I don't know why.
