The Long Distance Prius

I agree wholeheartedly. It's extremely comfortable and not at all noisy, it's large, and it's very fuel efficient.

I do reserve final judgment for the winter, though.

 

The Prius is as fit for everyday driving as any other similar car. It's a good all around performer, with the added conveniences of climate control, smart entry, top fuel economy and a shiftless transmission.

 

I get about what you get on the highway. At 105 to 110 around 4.9 l/100 km. Around 5.5 to 6 at 117 km/hr. Best speed for fuel economy so far is around 70-80 km/hr. I see 4.2 l/100 km tanks at those speeds. Car still new (just under 5000 km on it).

Have taken two longish trips. One was 600 km return, the other 2500 km return. Both just fine on the trip.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grumpy Old Man @ Jul 7 2007, 05:24 PM) [snapback]474785[/snapback]</div>

Grumpy Old Man

You sure don't sound grumpy to me.

Anyway, my PRIUS is my primary highway vehicle. I live in a area where there are a lot of big hills so it hurts my fuel efficiency. Also the winters are long and cold so that also hurts.

Basically, runnng at 80 - 85 MPH at a daily distance of 120 MILES, my annual average so far is 49 MPG. This is not great, but I am also somewhat of an aggressive driver. If I really try, I can get 50+ MPG combined city and highway.

Glad to see you enjoy your car.

The ride is smooth and quiet for the size of car.

Happy trails!

 

I just got back from a trip that was 435 miles for the round trip. I had my wife and 2 kids in the car along with luggage. I ended up with 64.9 calculated mpg and the FCD showed 65.0. I kept the speed between 50 and 60 mph. I have just over 3K miles on the car(2007) and I see no problems with room, comfort, or fuel economy.

 

I drive 80 miles a day on the highway doing 60-75 MPH and get millage around 51-53 MPG (or atleast i did until I changed tires last week).

 

Congrats on your new Prius! Glad you are enjoying it. Happy gliding!

 

Grumpy, welcome to the site. One day you may realize that the Prius has changed your driving style and outlook and you won't be grumpy anymore. If you haven't, inflate the tires to at least 42/40psi for another couple mpg. Enjoy the car.

 

While the prius still gets great economy on long trips I've found I get FAR better economy in the city. Driving around anchorage stop and go below 45 MPH I get around 75 MPG while on the highway for long trips at almost twice the speed I get around 42-43 MPG. Don't get me wrong, it's still a killer road tripper but the city is where it truly shines.

I agree that it doesn't bog down on hills at all and is a joy to drive from a noise standpoint.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grumpy Old Man @ Jul 7 2007, 06:24 PM) [snapback]474785[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grumpy Old Man @ Jul 7 2007, 06:24 PM) [snapback]474785[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Jul 8 2007, 09:23 AM) [snapback]475010[/snapback]</div>

Just bought a new 2007 Prius a few months ago, trying to "learn" how drive it. I use it to go everywhere. Been getting better and better mileage at every fill-up. I think I have finally succeeded. My last long trip, mostly highway, of 370 miles, I average 67.78mpg. Even though it does use the gas to go uphill, I get it all back going downhill. You have to know/get the feel of when to take your foot off the pedal, even when just cruising around town. My best mpg is going at 40, instead of the town street speed limits of 45. Can't say that the drivers (mostly in their SUV's) behind me are quite happy to be following me, I think I cramp their style. Leaving for Florida in a few weeks, not sure what kind of mileage I will get, there are no hilly terrains to conquer.
KeepSmiling

 

I find the Prius to be a wonderful highway car - quiet, smooth, and comfortable.

 

We do the same. Traffic is fairly light where we live (population 622), so city driving isn't a big worry. Almost all of our trips are 60 miles or more round trip. One of the main reasons we bought a Prius was for highway driving to visit our kids down state and for the nine hour trips to our favorite climbing crag. The Prius is a great vehicle for highway cruising.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Jul 8 2007, 06:39 AM) [snapback]475014[/snapback]</div>

If I understand what you are saying, you are blocking traffic? Seriously, if you are doing this your license should be taken away from you.

As well as the least environmental impact. We should also impact our fellow drivers the least possible. Don't be a boulder in the stream or river. It only causes turmoil.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(OlsonBW @ Jul 8 2007, 01:09 PM) [snapback]475090[/snapback]</div>

It is a speed limit not a minimum.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(diamondlarry @ Jul 8 2007, 10:31 AM) [snapback]475097[/snapback]</div>

You were the one that pointed out that you were blocking traffic. I only commented on it. Obviously you are aware of what you are doing and are obviously (or appear to be) smug about blocking them.

Speed limits are set not based on vehicle or driver ability to go at a certain rate. They are set by competing bureaucrats ending up at a result that neither are probably happy with but have to compromise somewhere.

Do I speed? Weather and traffic permitting I drive at 5 mph over the speed limit. That's my unhappy compromise between going what I would to go but not going fast enough to get a speeding ticket.

If I'm a multi-lane road I get in the lane with the vehicles most closely traveling at the speed I'm comfortable going (with traffic and weather).

If I'm a single lane road (meaning in each direction) I do my best not to block even one vehicle for very long even if it means pulling partly onto the shoulder (where safe to do so) and waving them around. In doing so I reduce both my stress and the person's behind me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AOV @ Jul 8 2007, 08:39 AM) [snapback]475014[/snapback]</div>

If every new Prius owner realized what you did, nobody would be "bitching" about not getting the advertised mpg. Kudos to you. A Prius is not your average car. It's a different machine altogether. If you pay attention to it, you will get good mpg.

We recently got back from a 1400+ round trip drive. We ended up with a 49.8 mpg final.

 

Just finished a 4800 mile trip loaded with camping gear, foldup Friday bikes etc. 103 gallons of gas used. Wonderfull long distance car. Have 32,000 miles on the 2005 model.

 

I realise its nothing compared to the trip described by the poster above,
but this weekend I took a trip to clean out our beach house which we recently sold. Over the course of the 1000 km trip there and back I averaged 22.6 km per litre. This was over windy, hilly, two-lane roads, and coming back the car was packed to the top with books, clothes, etc.

I was on my way to achieving a 1000 km on a single tank of petrol (45 litres), but with all the previous postings regarding the accuracy of the "guess gauge" and how much the bladder actually holds, I Chickened Out, and filled up the tank with one bar remaining.