Hybrid owner sues Honda over mileage claims

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hill @ Jul 7 2007, 09:42 AM) [snapback]474594[/snapback]</div>

I don't think the EPA is a federal government department. If it was then you couldn't sue them, since you can't sue the national government.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuck_k @ Jul 6 2007, 09:57 AM) [snapback]474023[/snapback]</div>

Silly me then, I guess I phrased that wrong......Dont drive that Hybrid like it is your gas guzzling Benz, or thats all it will do is guzzle. end of story.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alexstarfire @ Jul 7 2007, 07:59 AM) [snapback]474618[/snapback]</div>

Of course the EPA is a governmental agency.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Also, the United States government can be sued and is sued by citizens on a regular basis.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TomorrowMatters @ Jul 7 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]474649[/snapback]</div>

Not at all.

You're saying the Prius, driven like the standard Benz, will get no more miles per gallon than the Benz?

That's not true.

For any given driving style, the Prius will get significantly higher mileage than most other cars, and statistically significant better mileage than virtually all other cars (except for the small diesels).

No need to drive it in any special way. It won't guzzle gas. Drive it like the Benz, get performance like the Benz, but use 1/3 the gas while doing so.

The benefit of the Prius is that you can drive it differently than the Benz and use 1/5 the gas. But if you drive the Benz differently, you don't realize the same savings by any means.

There's no need to drive the Prius in any special way. Drive it like the Benz, and see 40mpg where the Benz would get 18mpg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jul 6 2007, 02:32 AM) [snapback]473879[/snapback]</div>

Honda should sue plaintiff and the schmuck lawyer for filing a frivolous law suit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jul 7 2007, 10:27 PM) [snapback]474906[/snapback]</div>

I owned a HCH I for almost 5 years before getting my Prius. During the time I owned it, I kept accurate records and posted them on my little "free" site. I drove it in a normal manner and averaged about 38 or 39 actual mpg. With the 07 Prius my actual lifetime mpg is 45. Much better than the HCH. If anyone is interested in seeing my write-up for the HCH, you can find it at http://members.cox.net/wdcox

 

There is a lot of misinformation in this thread.

1. Manufactureres may post EPA *or lower*.

2. Some 90% of cars get lower than average EPA by CR or AAA testing -- it has nothing to do with hybrids per se. The disgruntled driver simply had the misfortune to buy a car with a fuel comsumption gauge.

3. The so oft quoted EPA is actually a RANGE, that is meant to encompass the middle majority. By its nature, there will be outliers. Moreover, the EPA results as absolute numbers are only really useful for comparison purposes between models, unless the driver knows they are driving in conditions like the simulated environment: 70F, flat terrian, light city traffic and non-aggresive driving patterns for the city test; light traffic at around 55 - 60 mph highway testing.

It is not the car. It is not the EPA. It is simply driver ignorance, and a desire to blame someone else.

Ever since I made a poor choice in tyres, my mpg has plummeted from 65 - 70 mpg to 55 - 65 mpg. Should I sue ?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuck_k @ Jul 7 2007, 12:13 PM) [snapback]474688[/snapback]</div>

Where did I say that the Prius won't get better mileage than the Benz? It will just 'guzzle' compared to what it would if you drove the car THE WAY YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DRIVE 'ANY' CAR. just like any car you can expect the best mileage if you accelerate nice and easy.(not speeding up to a red light then slamming on the brakes and not jack rabbiting out of a green light).

You can't expect the prius to perform like the Benz. ie.. its not gonna sprint up the on ramp to get you on the highway/interstate as quickly as the Benz, and it will not have the same power to pass as the Benz so you need to plan it a little better by not just flooring the petal and waiting for the car to build up speed to pass.

they also might be leaving the car in the 'on' position while lets say at a Drive-in movie or maybe a fast food restaurant, these will significantly kill your gas mileage by draining the traction battery and running the engine on and off for however long they are there. then once they leave they have no juice left in the traction battery to assist the electric motor, again lowering their mileage.

no matter how you look at it the botom line is the Hybrid engine is special compared to other only gas engines. You need to know that it is special and that it will respond differently and more dramatically.
There is a special way to drive it; calmly. thats why they added the MFD energy flow screen. so that we know whats going on with the engine and how it affects the mileage.