Going on a long trip

I will be going from Austin, TX to Atlanta, GA to visit family. I have done this trip many times with my 2002 Camry but it will be the first with the Prius.

It is about 1,000 mile one way, top speed limit is 70MPH. It is about a 14 hour drive and I will be doing it in one shot. I am hoping to be able to make one stop for fuel and restroom only in Vicksburg, MS only, like with my Camry.

Will report back fuel economy metrics, seat comfort (I am 6-3, 165lbs), and the DRCC / LKA usefulness on a long drive.

 

Thanks Bro. I will be flying solo. Like I said, I have done this many times before, if anything, the Prius should be safer with its DRCC and LKA features, and no need to change CDs since I have my collection on an USB stick.

 

Car is all packed up and ready to roll. Full tank of Shell 87, tires at 40F/38R.

Probably going to leave early tomorrow morning.

 

Just got in. Met some traffic and lost an hour. Here are the 2 legs of the trip.


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Radar cruise on drafting 18 wheelers doing 65 on 1 bar or 100 feet. AC on 78 while its 88 outside. Riding on 17s.

Fillup at first pic totaled 603 miles and 10.486 gal, 57.5mpg calculated. I am pleased. Was expecting low 50s calculated.

2nd tank was showing 61.8mpg until I got stuck in stop and go traffics for an hour on 20. Dropping to 59.5 but recovered to 60 by the time I got in.

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Coming home tomorrow. Losing elevation on the way back. Lets see if I can hit 58mpg.

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Here are the two legs of the return trip. The first stop I refueled and the calculated MPG was 58.8 (62 indicated). This was from Atlanta to Monroe, LA, with quite a bit of elevation loss.

The 2nd leg was showing 62.6, until I hit Dallas and went south on I35. There was 15 -20 MPH head wind from the south, and the speed limit was 75, and I got tired and stopped drafting.

Overall, I find this car to be an effortless highway cruiser. My BKM is to find a 18 wheeler that is not speeding, and lock onto it with the DRCC set to 100 feet and cruise. I do not recommend doing this with a car without DRCC and your mind will drift on the long trip, and it might be dangerous.

Drafting with the DRCC probably made up for the handicap of the 17" wheels.

The DRCC functioned flawlessly. The LKA worked well for the most part when the lane markings were good. LKA worked better at night when the LED lights really bring out the contrast between the lane markers, and the road surface.

I went over 25K when I was in Atlanta so I had to deal with dismissing the Maintenance Required message the whole way back. It was a little annoying.