Don't want to make people behind me mad anymore

Thanks, Tom, I've looked at them before and just waiting for the fund to come in. I'll also get 17" after i used up the stock tires.

That's the reason I try not to travel during peak holiday driving hours. I do it a day before or after so that the traffic is light. People are just crazy trying to get to their destination or home trying to save 5/10min.

 

Another SoCal owner here and have been reading about the different modes. The PWR mode definitely gives the most normal feeling for my driving feel. On my current tank I'm only seeing around 41 MPG using a combo of different modes.

I drive on streets with some hills and short distances. Any suggested driving style?

 

The "just drive it" approach makes a lot of sense. Driving around my neighborhood (suburb of NYC) I have no problems driving in ECO, heading out to the highway or to major thorough fares, I go with PWR mode and drive pretty much like I did in my Rav4 (but with much better mpg!).

 

Bruno, honestly, I always drive on PWR mode everyday for 60 miles and my lifetime MPG is same as yours if not little better (would have been a lot better if temperature hadn't fallen down a lot lately). So, why do you have to drive slower and have all that hazzles when you can get same MPG and more fun, responsive and easier driving with PWR mode?

 

Second tankful of fuel and I set myself the goal of using ECO mode for the entire tank to compare with the first tank ( 4.8l/100km)

So far worse and thinking about an early refill just to get back to NORMAL.

David

 

Belt up to speed then use minimum throttle to maintain speed. Works a treat in my Gen II.
I'm most likely the guy behind you trying to get around.

 

If everyone was just a little more considerate, this wouldn't be a problem
There are so many people in NYC who think they have the right of way even when they have the freakin stop sign! You be careful and drive as safely as you like.

 

I drive my Prius with the idea of maximizing my mpg. I accelerate smoothly, but not to the point that I am starting to look like a Sunday driver. Majority of the time, ECO mode is my choice.

 

The fact that I use ECO mode doesn't mean that I drive slow. With my commute that involves freeway, city and hills, it would not be possible to achieve 50 MPG without taking care of speed and acceleration.

 

I believe this method is applicable for conventional ICE too.

Idea is to get to the desired cruising speed as efficiently as possible (note: not jack-rabbit starts nor snail pace), and then retaining the momentum gained (kenetic energy) for as long as possible with throttle feathering, provided traffic conditions allows that.

As for effective (smooth) energy recoverable deceleration, nothing beats the regenerative braking that we see in hybrid or electric drive trains.

 

Try removing your "I love Obama" bumper sticker. It worked for me. Now I'm just another car in a sea of traffic...

Keith

 

Got my 90 Camry wagon down to 7.5 to 8l/100km by accelerating at FULL THROTTLE in first and second gear up to 60km/h then upchange to 5TH gear and cruise. This was in Metropolitan traffic and included a hill about 150 metres high at my end of the commute.
Mt best tank was about 7.0L/100km but involved shutting off the engine when it wasn't needed, not recommended.

 

Yeah, I never stop going on about it. Why predictably?

 

The Prius is a sluggish car, even in PWR mode... my 2002 Civic was peppier... and it is true that slow driving have a negative impact on traffic despite of repining people who make obscene gestures when it happens. So, just drive it and get out of the way in a safe manner...

 

A friend of mine, who lives in San Fran, calls Prius drivers "cockblockers." haha She says we are too slow, blocking other cars to where they want to go, and since the actual phrase cockblock, means ...well you know what it means, hence the phrase. Thought that was funny.

 

My Prius is peppier than the 1986 Accord LXi that it replaces. And that Accord was peppy in its era.

What does this mean? Typical drivers have used their increasingly powerful engines to become increasingly aggressive.

 

Sure it varies with the driver attitude... but the Prius is indeed incredibly sluggish even in power mode. Every time I drive my V6 Odyssey, it feels like a Ferrari after I got my Prius... not the handling of course, but the power and torque...