Toyota Prius: 2007 Prius Owners: Please post your average city and highway gas useage figures.

In article <com>,
"Zeek" <net> wrote:


why?

--
Support the troops: Bring them home ASAP.

At various "Prius Club" events over the nearly four years since
I purchased my 2004, I've met perhaps 200 Prius owners. Another
100 or so became acquaintances because of our common technical
interest in the car. And, I've reviewed the comments of
thousands who post regularly in various discussion groups online...

A poll here cannot possibly generate a result that is more valid
than the aggregated experiences of Steiner, Brown, Macpete, et
al (and I'm part of et al).

Virtually 100% of the owners of the current edition are happy
with the car. Only the compulsive still keep mpg records. If you
throw out those who drive stupidly (for example, keeping it in
"B" thinking it will save brake wear), and others who drive OCD
(doing all those perfection techniques with Brown's data on a
Palmpilot hanging in front of them), what's left is more than
99% of owners who are all smiling. I suspect that a competent
poll of all current-edition Prius owners would generate the
highest consumer satisfaction numbers in the industry - and
perhaps in history.

The current edition averages about 45mpg. Ambient temperature,
highway/city, and terrain all matter, but not much. If the daily
transit to-from work is short, that matters a lot because the
car may never get into an efficient thermal operating range.

Shortly after buying my car, I did a careful calculation of the
total cost to drive the car from City A to City B and back on
business, in comparison to a train ticket. I think all pertinent
factors were included except for risk and depreciation, since at
that time the car was still worth more than I had paid for it.
The calculation favored the car, and it enabled stops enroute
for dining, shopping, etc.

I've owned some exotic and costly cars in my six decades of
driving (began in a Panhard!). The Prius was the best "bargain"
of all but one - a non-running Ferrari bought at auction that
was sold at 3x purchase price a month later. Of the practical
cars that I've owned - reliable cars that are suitable for trips
- the Prius is by far the winner.

My sole regret is that it is not a U.S. product.

Ike

"Ike" <com> wrote in message
news:fa9k1r$90i$motzarella.org... 

I haven't heard it put better, Ike. Because of wide variations in actual use
I've seen mileage between 33 and 61 mpg over periods of an hour or so, but
the real world average always sorts out to about 45 mpg after averaging over
thousands of miles.

An interesting data point: we just got back from a family vacation that
started in Flagstaff AZ and took us to Los Angeles. With four adults and a
large baby seat and the associated luggage we elected to take both 2002
Prius cars in the family. As you say I didn't bother keeping track of the
mileage, but on the way back we both filled up at a station in L.A. and then
refueled at the Pilot station just across the Arizona border. It was a full
dollar per gallon cheaper than the going rate in the first stations in
Needles CA, a dozen miles west, BTW. After something like 250 miles of
caravaning on the freeways of southern CA my car took $20 worth of gas and
hers took $19.50 (rounded to the nearest dime). That's about 2% to 3%
variation between them, including the vagaries of the pump shut-off. I was
surprised by the consistency.

Mike

In article <fa9k1r$90i$motzarella.org>,
Ike <com> wrote:
 

That is borne out by Consumer Reports' readers polls.

--
Support the troops: Bring them home ASAP.

Zeek <net> wrote:
 

http://www.greenhybrid.com/
http://priuschat.com/

Bob Wilson

52.5 mpg
101,000 miles
2003


"Zeek" <net> wrote in message
news:com... 

On Aug 19, 5:18 am, "Zeek" <net> wrote: 

Here's a link to my spreadsheet showing my fuel usage since purchase
on my 2006 package 8: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pddd-ELVS2pr_aG6WEewyaA&hl=en.
According to the computer readout, I have averaged about 50.7 mpg. My
calculations show a little less at 49.2. I am a little more OCD than
average, so my fuel economy is a little better than my wife gets on
her 2006 package 4.

Dave

On Aug 19, 7:18 am, "Zeek" <net> wrote: 

You can find out what other Prius owners report for their fuel economy
by going to:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Toyota&model=Prius
and
http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/toyota-priushsd.html

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Go through the "Build and Price your Prius" link on the left of
http://www.toyota.com/prius to find the option packages available in
your area. Do not pay more than this MSRP. Avoid any dealer-added
packages (like sound/rust proofing or fabric/paint protection
packages). Be aware that you have 3 years/36,000 miles to decide if
you want the Toyota Extra Care extended warranty, that you can haggle
for the price, and can buy it from any dealer... (current EW pricing
has the longest 7 year/100,000 mile/$0 deductibe plan for <$1000 -
http://www.vfaq.net/docs/extendedwarrant... )

If you are willing to expand your search, you are likely to find some
deals on the Prius, since the delivery #s are up and some dealers have
extra Prius on the lots now. Try at a few different dealers.

I'd suggest getting all of the safety features that you can afford,
but the current 2007 Prius, unless you are getting an optionless one,
already comes with the side/side curtain airbags and the VSC...

The Smart system is very nice. Navigation - some people prefer to have
a portable unit, as it is easier/cheaper to upgrade.

The hybrid battery pack is covered federally under the hybrid vehicle
system warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles. If you are in a CA-
emissions state, the hybrid battery pack is further covered under the
CA emissions warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. (and yes, that's a
full warranty, NOT pro-rated!) Battery problems are extremely rare, so
nothing to worry about. The 12v accessory battery will depend on how
you treat it - don't leave a map or head light on overnight, or not
start your car for several weeks, and you should be fine (like on any
other vehicle).


as for 12vDC outlets ("cigarette lighter") - on the current Prius,
there's one at the bottom front of the center console (moat between
the front seats). If you're in North America, you have a second one on
the dash by the passenger's left knee. For your laptop, if you don't
already have the cigarette lighter plug for your model, you'll need to
get a power inverter to give you the usual 120vAC house 3-pronged
outlet.


April 2007 issue of Consumer Reports shows the Prius' depreciation as
close to nil, and is rated high on reliability. See also:
http://www.intellichoice.com/press/hybri...
http://www.intellichoice.com/carbuying10...
http://www.kbb.com/kbb/advice/genericcon...


The hybrid battery pack is covered federally under the hybrid vehicle
system warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles. If you are in a CA-
emissions state, the hybrid battery pack is further covered under the
CA emissions warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. (and yes, that's a
full warranty, NOT pro-rated!) Battery problems are extremely rare, so
nothing to worry about. The 12v accessory battery will depend on how
you treat it - don't leave a map or head light on overnight, or not
start your car for several weeks, and you should be fine (like on any
other vehicle).


You can find out what other Prius owners report for their fuel economy
by going to:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/mpg.do?ac...
and
http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/milea...

If you know the fuel economy that you are getting on the highway in
your current vehicle, you can find the percentage difference that you
are getting compared to the EPA's highway test for your vehicle. Take
that same percentage and apply it against the EPA's highway test for
the Toyota Prius, and that is what you can expect in your driving.
(Since all cars are rated using the same tests, you can use the EPA's
figures to compare one car against another. However, since your idea
of highway driving (and your driving style) is likely different than
the EPA's (or even another person's), its not a direct comparison to
say what fuel economy you'll likely get...)

(My idea of city is probably different than your idea of city, which
is very likely different than what the EPA considers city driving!)