Mileage on Touring, does it differ?

Hello - I am new at this chat room (or any for that matter) so please forgive any goofs I might make!

I have a 2008 Touring with 1100 miles on it. I wound up with the Touring somewhat inadvertently (the dealer was a nightmare). I am just wondering about mileage - I am averaging 42-44 for mixed driving. Much of that was during a cold and rainy spell in California, but I was getting that mileage while my friend with an '05 was getting 49-51 mpg.

So I am wondering how much can be attributed to it being a Touring vs. regular Prius? I am a pretty careful driver and follow many of the tips to get good mileage. I do notice mileage seems to better the first 50-100 miles after I rest the meter so maybe that is what folks are doing to get consistently high mileage??

Thank you
Elizabeth, Happy Newbie Prius Driver

 

Got it at Capitol Toyota in San Jose. They just about held me hostage, I had just gone in to look at 4 pm, I was going to return my leased van in April. At 9 pm I was still there - it was freezing out that night, I hadn't eaten, I kept saying "I'll come back tomorrow to finish". They did some pretty questionable things with the paperwork and how they worked the numbers in my van return (NOT to my advantage). Luckily I was able to nail them on it and get it fixed, but it was at the very best deceptive and more likely purposely evil. I won't buy from them again

I did get an aftermarket burl trim package out of them for free!

I have gotten up to 49 mpg if the driving I'm doing is really optimal for good mileage, but driving to work 15 minutes surface streets and hopping from errand to errand trashes the mileage. From the rest of the thread I've read, the difference in mileage shouldn't be that significant.

For a final irony, when I first went to the dealer I was interested in the touring but changed my mind. They ended up selling me the touring model and I didn't even notice until the next morning, the model and "touring" was not prominent in the paperwork, it was when I pulled the mfr sticker off I noticed it. Guess I was meant to have it

 

That is good to hear. I'll check the inflation. I only have 1200 miles but haven't been hoping for too much improvement from "breaking" it in more

I bet you feel EVERY bump in the road!

 

Thank you, I had noticed the mpg figures were the same. I am pretty good with a light foot, coasting, etc. I think it is the mixed "errand" driving a do a few times a week that kills the mileage. I just did a round trip on the freeway going 65 and got 49.5 mpg in the 100 miles, and I'm down a little bit since going back to city driving.

What do you think are the 2 most common things drivers who get lousier mileage do? I' have a light foot, I'm cognizant of getting to coasting speed and maximizing it, etc.

 

Do you have an idea how much of a "hit" would be expected? I sure wouldn't expect it to be 6-8 mpg! And a number of posters has said it should be almost insignificant...

 

I can see you thinking that but in my case totally not applicable. It was actually "accidental" that I got the touring package (they had shown me it because it had the color and leather package I wanted). I had told the salesman I wanted a regular Prius and thought that was what I was getting. I was so tired and rummy by the time they finished the deal at 9 pm I didn't realize they had sold me the Touring! The dealer was so horrible it wasn't worth trying to fix the next day.

I am actually a bit embarassed by the bigger spoiler, I'm not a sporty type gal and a very sedate driver.

Now I'll feel doubly judged - the truck drivers will think I'm a tree hugger, and the Prius folks will think I'm aggressive and racy. OUCH

 

Thank you for the kind help. I do live in Northern California where we think 45 degrees is ccccooold, so my Prius doesn't have to do harsh duty.

I'm not even on the radar with floor carpet protectors, is that for a functional reason? Just to keep carpets clean? I have a dog, and we doggie folks are a bit fatalistic about carpets and mud

Do most Priuses come without carpets? I didn't really look at that, I wanted leather (they gouge you for it but I am a 100% leather gal and didn't want to mess with after market leather) and got a lot of upgrades I could have lived without

I will pump up the tires and do my thread reading. Honestly I wish I'd gotten the good ole' regular Prius!! it was a mixup at the dealer (probably on purpose on their part) that they sold me the touring instead of regular. I was so tired and exhausted I didn't even notice - if you've read my threads you'll see I was held hostage there. They kept on saying "just a little while longer" and hours elapsed, it was a form of torture I'm sure and it worked...

 

What is your take on a standard vs touring Prius? Has the Touring made any difference to you? Are you a more aggressive and "racy" driver??

I have discovered the more popular they get the more bad drivers can be found in them, weaving in and out of traffic and being dorks!! Quite a disappointment.

Somebody who was being derisive about Prius said did I know what type of customer bought them? that they had postgraduate degrees, made X amount of money, etc. and I was trying to figure out why it was bad to be educated and concerned for the environment!

 

I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens in summer. At least we know they don't melt in hot weather, I could never take a Sac summer!

You are right, the touring wasn't so much more $$ that I was motivated to go back and fight with the dealer. I had leased a car from that dealer and was turning it that was over-miles, so I was using buying another car as a bargaining chip. It worked but it was an unpleasant experience and I will NEVER go back there. I would have walked out if I didn't feel between a rock and a hard place because of my lease return.

I bought this car so I don't have to go back and see a car salesman in 4 years whether I want to or not! Hopefully when my 16 year old grows up some and values gas mileage over looks, I'll be able to give him my Prius and buy a new plug in!