Prius overall MPG shows no improvement in the 3rd generation according to Consumer Reports tests

yes and no, and that is the reason that CR info cannot really be used. i think most of us agree that the Prius does take a certain "getting used to" simply because you have to learn to get the mileage.

so, the assumption that CR numbers can be compared against other cars is invalid. most cars drive like...well like most cars.

the Prius does not. even other hybrids dont drive like the Pri. so the "learning" curve for the Pri is much greater than any other car making any test by "multiple" drivers invalid simply because they dont get to learn the car.

they drive by trial and error IF they want better mileage. they have 31 miles to figure it out and that aint gonna happen.

the same issue appeared with the original CR report on the 2004. they initially got so-so mileage. then retested a year later and their mileage improved. what they really need to do is get a few of them. give them to their writers and let them drive the cars for a few months. then report back.

 

Yep.. there is a curve.. but thats not a bad thing.. I still get to work the same time as when I don't drive as good.
Sure I can make the drive "faster" and risk a ticket.. but its the sudden rushing startups and wasted slowdowns that make the most difference.

The bar on the GEN III is very nice to show exactly whats going on with the energy expended.

Especially on startups.. I notice something different the GenII didn't show me..... when I start, its my habit to go into the powerzone without realizing it.... I do prefer to get up to speed if traffic is coming from behind, but otherwise it makes a difference if I can be gradual in my increase in speed.

Its true, "some" of the good gas mileage the prius gets is due to the tools they give you to drive better rather than purely the electronics and mechanical engineering.. although one doesn't work well without the other.

many "Non-hybrid cars could do much better if they had a good feedback system to give to their drivers... "something to think about!"

 

You are missing the point of the argument. You and I both understand that on a cold engine the fuel economy is going to be lower. On the Prius the difference is significant.

The problem with the CR testing as being normative is that many (perhaps most) drivers with urban commutes will be in their cars for a longer time than the CR test provides. This means quite a bit. The marginal difference in fuel economy is pretty significant once you get to the warm engine state, and to cut off the test at that point (or soon thereafter) makes the City MPG test results skew to the low end. Just a couple of minutes more would dramatically increase fuel economy. Double the time and you'll very dramatically increase the overall test reading for urban (City) driving.

 

I didn't have it handy but would love to see all three CR numbers posted as bullets ... even if just edited in an earlier post.

Replicate? AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Wait a minute ... is there some bet riding on this? <GRINS>

All I'd have to do is:

• set tire pressure back to door jam level
• over fill engine oil by a quart
• drive the shortest and fastest route to and from work
• stop using cruise control and drive by booted foot
• run A/C or heater with the windows up all the time
• drive +5 mph over speed limit
• use cheapest gas available
• stop regular oil changes including transaxle
• go back to OEM Type T-IV transmission oil
• put gas saving magnets on the fuel line
• put a 'turbo' gas saving spinner in throttle area
• install a HHO gas saving electrolysis unit
• oil additives, right
• add acetone to the tank
• put on some really cool looking, wide tires with mud tread
• put the antenna back on the top and hang flags: USA, football and state flags
• roof rack with empty storage box
• lift kit on suspension
• straight pipe to glass-pak and O{2} spoofing box

I've probably left something out ... no problem, I'll carry it in the trunk or on the back seat.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob, I know you are just being sarcastic, but to ensure no one takes this seriously, please keep this in mind:

To those of you out there who didn't understand Bob was making a joke, NEVER, and I mean, NEVER overfill your engine oil by a quart--unless you like the risk of buying a new engine!

Engines are designed for the oil level to be below the level of the rotating crankshaft. If you overfill it significantly the crankshaft whips the oil into a foam, just like whipping cream. At that point the oil pump can't move the oil, and the critical components are at a very high risk of failure due to oil starvation and excess friction.

Joe

 

Sad to say, check your engine oil dipstick when you pickup your new Prius. Mine was above "F" and this from the Toyota dealer!

There is a lot of history of 1.5L engines being overfilled and I was disappointed to see it continue with the 1.8L as delivered from the dealer.

I agree with Joe and that list was meant as a joke of "DON'Ts"

Bob Wilson

 

I think I still remember the difference, they are used to quantify bias and the coeff of variation. Accuracy is the former, and precision the latter.

A measurement can be no more accurate than it's least significant digit.

Right ?

 

Since when is CR so great at rating cars???????????

I will not even open the cover it just trash and thats not just for cars.

If you can't believe the people who drive the Prius, who can you believe.

 

I love CR. But the magazine's panning of Macintosh through the years, and of the Prius initially, doesn't faze me. Within the constraints of their well documented biases they try their best to be objective. I cannot ask for more. Readers simply have to read the small print of the report cards.

 

there is not a lot of difference between the two companies really, at least not right now. ATT is catching up.

ATT suffered when they absorbed cingular. their network was not compatible, the two companies offering were not compatible and the merger agreement was complicated and confusing and many cingular customers got stuck in the middle. the same thing happened with sprint/ nextel and there is little doubt that the same thing will happen with verizon/alltel.

now to what level of confusion and frustration it will be, we shall see.

but one thing is certain, verizon does have a bigger network with a larger high speed network. with the alltel acquisition, they have filled in large weak or blank spots in their network. Sprint stacks up well as far as the broadband aspect in large urban areas and they have an aggressive time line for technology rollouts , but they have huge coverage holes and are still trying to recover their reputation. the nextel merger was one of the clumsiest in history. they lost millions of customers over it, forcing them to offer huge pricing concessions in key market areas in order to play catch up.

now, there are no hard and fast numbers. then again maybe there are. its just that the numbers i have seen vary widely, but some attribute the i-phone as generating anywhere from 3 to 7 million customers for ATT who would otherwise be with another provider.

so, without the i-phone OR when the i-phone opens up to other carriers, it will be interesting to see if ATT can stay at arm's length with verizon. with the alltel sale, ATT will gain about 2-4 million, verizon probably around 10 million. that will make verizon's lead even larger.

 

hah, everyone I know with an Iphone is just waiting to jump ship from AT&T once the Iphone makes it other carriers.

 

+1 - would never have renewed with them but for iphone. Don't really like Verizon's price gouging and crappy phone models either, but they do have strong service and much more competent sales people and methods.

 

By next year when my iPhone ATT subscription is over, I will take a long look at an Android phone. I miss the days when our cell bills were $USD 5 - 10/month per phone.

 

I love having the internet in my pocket, but I just do not need all the cell phone minutes they are making me pay for. Too bad I can't sell my 8,000 rollover minutes!

 

I've been pre-paid, T-Mobile for three years and two years of Cingular prepaid previously. My annual cell phone service bill is $100 or $8.50/month. I get 1,100 minutes and no problems. It is cheap enough that I can switch as needed when a better deal comes along.

I did have to pay retail this year for a new cell phone to get Bluetooth but that was OK. The Nokia I originally tried would not register with the Prius so I returned it for a Sony Ericsson. The previous Motorola phone gave us 5 years of service but is now destined for recycling.

Bob Wilson