I have no problem getting around 55 mpg driving in the slow/truck lanes cruising around 61-63 mph. I don’t mind going home 10 to 15 minutes later if I can save some gas and drive more safely. My drive is 75 miles freeway and 5 miles City Street. The freeway usually has four lanes with the two slow/truck lanes being bumpy most of the time. However, I feel tired driving in these lanes with such a long drive. For the two smooth lanes, I have to drive around 70-75 mph the second fastest lane and the speed in the fastest lane is usually around 80-85 mph. I get about 49 mpg cruising 70 mph. Besides feeling tired with such a long drive, I wonder if these bumpy lanes will cause my car to rattle more and earlier than it should. There are a few miles on the road where the slow/truck lanes are not bumpy. I will use these whenever I can but I am leaning toward sacrificing some gas mileage to ride more smoothly and save my car from constant vibration. Has anyone have the same problem?
Which state or road? You do bring up an important aspect of the Prius suspension, how much it is tuned for softer tires. IMHO, the suspension should be tunable with a softer shock option that allows running a harder tire. Expensive, active shocks could really normalize the roads. Bob Wilson
California, 405 and 5 Freeways from Anaheim to Northern San Diego. I just bought a car seat cushion to help reduce the vibration on my body.
You must have a sensitive behind, because I've never found that stretch of road to be very rough and generally well maintained. Now, from Anaheim to Santa Anita on I5 is a whole 'nother story... If the bumps in the road are bothering you, you'll have to speed up with the flow of traffic in the "smoother" lanes.
I don't envy your commute. That's part of the problem we have in this country: It's hard to live close to where you work, and if you do, the company moves or closes. Somehow we have to find a way to get back to walking to work. Tom
