How To Drive A Prius

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You realize your going to get hammered with people saying you should have searched instead of thread these questions?

But, to answer your Q's...

Brake button? Never heard of that.
* Try to NEVER use your breaks, by gliding and coasting(yes, coasting is OK, but gliding is better), that means you must practice anticipatory driving.
* Briskly accelerate to your top driving speed then glide(if under 40mph) or put on your cruise control(if over 40mph).
* Drive the speed limit.

These practices will maximize your Prii driving, in respect to best MPG (imo)

Next time search more before threading. These Q's are addressed all over PC!!!
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Drive your new Prius as smooth as you can. No jackrabbit starts and don't jam on the brakes too much unless you really need it in an emergency. Maintain a constant speed on the highway and try to keep your speed below 70 mph to get great mpg #'s. Hope you get your Prius soon. Regards.

 

1) Tailgate semi trucks --Rarefied air does wonders for Prii MPGs. A couple of feet behind at freeway speeds should produce the best mileage.
2) Premium fuel only --Hey, if it's "premium," it must be better, right?!
3) No Fat Chicks! -- It's a proven fact that less weight in the car is better for MPGs . . .
and with only slender cute chicks, you will also save more gas by slowing down and enjoying the company.

(can of worms? Ooohh yeaahhh. :fear

 

:welcome:
I agree with everything Prius Envy said except the "Premium fuel only". Make sure you have a "clear shield" covering your front end or the rock chips from drafting will be severe.

 

I wouldn't use premium gas, it may cause the engine to over-heat, and it's a lot more expensive. Premium is for high performance engines. The Prius engine is designed for use with 87 octane. I also wouldn't tailgate a semi - my brother was a truck driver and said that is very dangerous.

If you are on the hi-way, in light to no traffic - use the cruise control. In the city I accelerate quickly to speed then keep my foot very lightly on the accelerator.

I use the brake mode in the winter time in icy conditions. It "applies" a light brake to the wheels as you approach an intersection. Of course you have to anticipate your approach and take your foot off the accelerator a little earlier so as to maximize the effect. With practice it will start to work for you.

All the other suggestions are good.

Buck

 

I think Evan may have overstated the tyre pressures too, never pump your tyres over 180PSI or the maximum pressure on the sidewalls which ever the lesser.

-I'm from the accelerate from a standstill like you are racing for the title camp. Never let another car beat you off the lights. I'm not joking.
-As soon as you get up to the speed limit start slowing for the next red light. I try to time my arrival at the light or the tail end of the stopped cars just after the light changes so I minimise my reduction in speed. If you have to stop use the frustration of having to stop to motivate a quick start. This is vital.
-Never follow anyone, maintain a clear space in front of you so you drive how you want not how some wally who has no idea wants to make you drive because you are too close.

I know you said 3 but I forget who it is has a very big magnet on their pre-2004 Prius to hitch rides on trucks, give that a go if you like.

PS, I like the no fat chicks idea but I know some very entertaining chicks who are carrying a little beef. I like to keep my wife and son out of the car, just dead weight really.

 

Hilarious!!! thanks for the LOL
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Evan, would it be cool, or what . . . if we had just one more sticky:
The templates:

Here, you could cut and paste the answers to all the ad nausium Q's ... better mpg's the 'B' position, how to answere the naysayers, pro's con's of leather, gas squirtin' out of that dang blader, dead battery etc etc.

A great meeting for all the rescuers and enablers

 

Three more 'helpful' hints . . .

1) Never brake for small animals -- Small animals, especially squirrel- or kitten-sized ones really can't do any damage to a Prius.
2) Only swerve for children in the road -- As long as you take some sort of evasive maneuver, if you hit the kid . . . not your fault.
3) Blow through stop signs and red lights -- Hey, everyone else does it, so why should we Prius drivers take the hit on our comparative MPGs.

 

it does mess up the aero though.

 

There are a bunch of jokesters on PC, huh? Just one tip: make sure you buy SuperWhite. They get better mpg's

 

< There are a bunch of jokesters on PC, huh? Just one tip: make sure you buy SuperWhite. They get better mpg's >

1. Dirt interferes with the aerodynamics.

2. White and black hold the most dirt, other colors hold less, Driftwood the least. Proof: I've rarely ever washed my Driftwood, and I never see any dirt on it. I've had almost every other color car, and every one of them has shown lots of dirt.

3. Therfore, Driftwood is the only color that dirt doesn't stick to, so with better aeordynamics, Driftwood gets the best MPGs.

 

Don't use "B" in ordinary driving! It reduces MPGs. It's only there as an alternative to riding the brakes on a long downgrade. There's no city in the US where you need to use "B".

Don't speed. As with any car MPGs fall off fast above 65 MPH or so.

Driving technique short-path zen:
- Accelerate briskly (this makes most efficient use of the engine)
- Gliding (no arrows on the "Energy" display) is better than coasting
- Coasting is better than braking
- Braking is better than stopping

Check tire pressures at least monthly. Also, many people inflate the original tires to 42/40 PSI front/rear because it noticeably improves MPGs, but it does make the ride and handling harsher.

 

San Francisco? I lost a clutch on one of those damn hills.

 

Consider turning off the display on your first drive off the lot, till you get home. For a noobie, there may be too much going on in the display, which will distract you from watching the road, which may cause you to hit my Prius.

 

Okay, how does one "glide"?

 

I think there's a sticky at the top of the fuel economy forum that answers your questions... but what an entertaining bunch of answers!! I'd probably get a lot better mpg if I hadn't gained those 15 pounds in the last year.

I've always said white cars get better gas mileage... they are cooler so the AC works less, not much, but I'm sure there is a quantifiable effect. And I don't mind long regen runs up to the stops in the summer, that electric AC compressor will suck your traction battery state of charge down pretty fast initially... don't be afraid to leave the AC on auto at 80 or 82 degrees, that keeps me cool enough, but make sure the AC does not start blowing heat if your solar sensor left-front inside windshield gets in the shade from a cloud or something, I've noticed that happen before.