Should I pick bad or stupid?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 18 2006, 11:59 PM) [snapback]364039[/snapback]</div>

LOL, Hey Stev0!

I was contemplating the very same thing today thinking what would I have to do to end the year above my average for 2005.

Turns out, in your words, I would have to pick stupid and supplement, , our normal in town driving with a 300 mile jaunt, assuming I would do my usual 6 gallon fill-up, that would yield a typical highway excursion to Sacramento for instance (we average about 57 F, so not a whole lot of bladder stretching going on). But I only have two weeks, man, but I'm oh so tempted!

Someone is going to post and tell you to ride a bike, LOL!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 18 2006, 08:59 PM) [snapback]364039[/snapback]</div>

Save gas, even if the mileage you get isn't enough to impress people here.

Given your driving pattern, the Prius is still probably the best car you could get in terms of emissions. And burning less gas is always preferable from an economic standpoint. You spend less money.

BTW - what is "lousy mileage" for you? Are you below 20 MPG?

 

Don't worry about it. I have the same issue -- my work is only a couple of miles from home. I also get mid-30's if I'm careful. But my other car (Audi A8) got 14 mpg over the same route!

 

A full electric would be ideal for your driving. Perhaps you should consider buying a, a, hmmm, let's see...who makes a good electric car? <_<

Tom

 

I don't have to pick. It is being done for me. Don't know yet but I will either be commuting farther and get better mpg or I will be commuting less and getting worse mpg but use less gas.

Should know by spring time.
Right now I go 10 miles and car barely has time to warm up.

If the change is to the shorter distance I'll have lots more incentive to add and electric plug in conversion kit.

 

Driving around for no good reason just to warm up the car more and see a higher MPG number, but for more miles driven seems like a waste of gas and money. Perhaps a block heater to preheat the car might be cost effective for you, it would seem to have the most payback for someone who spends the most time in the cold/warm up cycles.


Combining trips is preferrable, but not always possible. Try not to worry about the absolute number and take satisfaction that you are conserving more and polluting less than you would be otherwise.

 

<_< Seems like new Prius owners tend to forget the THERMOS under the left leadlight. You know... the one which saves ICE coolant, keeps it hot and pumps it back into the ICE to hasten warmup at startup. Especially, when you drive short daily commutes, this would make standstill ICE warmups completely unnecessary and wasteful.

In my 2007 Owner's Manual, page 324, there's a good illustration and explanation of the "Coolant heat storage system."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(berylrb @ Dec 19 2006, 01:20 AM) [snapback]364045[/snapback]</div>

um...yea.

But for such short distances, it's hardly worth changing into cycling gear. I'd just walk.

 

Oh hey, I didn't know you had that much stuff to carry. By all means, take the bike! :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 18 2006, 10:59 PM) [snapback]364066[/snapback]</div>

That's still more mileage than you would get in almost any other car. You'll see that increase when the White Witch dies and the place thaws out again. New England is beautiful, but way too cold for me.

Here in California, and with my 40-mile each way commute, I consistently get from 47.5 to 47.8 MPG. I'm not careful at all about trying to eke out better mileage anymore; I never broke 50 mpg when I was careful and nearly getting run over by the garbage trucks. So I'm back to driving in my "California style" (which means going from stop-and-go to 75 - 80, then stopping to stop-and-go again).

But I think the good mileage I'm getting is a function of the moderate temperature. In the summer, you'll probably see your mileage increase (I have a co-worker back there who laments his mileage every winter; he gets over 50 MPG in the summer though).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 19 2006, 10:26 PM) [snapback]364471[/snapback]</div>

But hey, the weather sure is nice when you're stuck in traffic!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 20 2006, 01:26 AM) [snapback]364471[/snapback]</div>

Hyo Silver, you're too funny!

Stev0, you're talking San Jose, here in the 'city' we only go 1/2 mile to the grocery store, killing our mpg all the way.

It's a decent 45 F today, although Yahoo says 52 F, that must be the marina.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stev0 @ Dec 20 2006, 01:26 AM) [snapback]364471[/snapback]</div>

At least you didn't live on the West Side of LA, where I'd have to remember to top off the tank before driving to the corner store...or risk running out of gas idling around the parking lot looking for a place to park.