Toyota Prius: Question to those in this group who actually own a Prius:

"Ill Eagle" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
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I have a few questions.

Do you warm up the engine or do you begin driving almost immediately?
Where do you do most of your driving?
Do you use cruise control?
Do you maintain speeds in excess of 65 mph?

Are you using A/C?
The defroster?
The heater?

Do you anticipate traffic light changes or do you make sudden stops?
Do you allow enough space between you and the driver up ahead so you aren't
tapping the brakes or accelerating to his or her every move?

And lastly, how often do you use your car for short durations lasting less
than 15 minutes?

TIA
mark_

"mark_digital©" <com> wrote in message
news:com... 
Warm up engine, then reset mileage computer. 
Streets & highways. 
Yes. 
Never. 
Only when hot. 
Only when windows fogged or frosted. 
Only when cold. 
Always anticipate. 
Invariably. 
Never. 
46.5 is pretty decent mileage. You can break-in a car in just a couple of
days, but it takes longer to break-in a Prius driver. EPA answers posted in
context above. :-)

In article <com>,
mark_digital© <com> wrote:

Lifetime (14,000 miles) fuel economy on mine in Dallas TX is 47 MPG.
 
Drive immediately, though gently for the first couple minutes. Burning
gas without moving is pointless.
 
About 3/4 of the miles are on city streets.
 
On highways, yes.
 
Rarely.
 
Constantly.
 
Almost never.
 
Almost never.
 
Anticipate as much as possible.
 
Yes.
 
My commute is just under 15 minutes, which works out as about half the
total miles on the car.

>>> Is it a comfortable car?
Better with "really thick" (1 inch) sheepskin covers than the stock seat if
you have to travel long distances as I do.
 
Mileage varies depending on geographic areas with slow traffic being the
best as well as moderate 70-80 degree temps.
 
Just drive immediately. It has a hot water Thermos so coolant is mostly
warm to begin with.
 
City and the central I-5 autbaun in CA.
 
Almost always.
 
More like 85 to 94 mph (from what I've heard - even when new!). The thing
will "Pass" when called upon. Some initial hesitation, but then it seems
to rocket. The dealer along I-5 where I bought it in So Cal. made the "Keep
it under 55 mph for 600 mile break-in" spew (like that ever occurs on I-5!
Yeah. Right.).
 
Yes.
 
No to almost never.
 
I just let the Auto-Air Cond. mode figure it out.
 
Anticipate, to the best of my ability.
 
I avoid the brakes and seem to hit the "B" button if I need it. I wish "B"
had more dynamic braking though, imho, as I gain speed downhill with it
engaged.
 
Almost never.

Fwiw, I just did another "boring" I-5 round-trip day in CA (So. Cal to San
Fran. and back). Temps were hot along the Valley stretch with the AC set at
74 degrees. Mileage was approx. 34 mpg running the thing at 81 mph. Still
better than what I had done in the past with the other car though.

Of course, ymmv.

B~

mark_digital© <com> wrote:
 
Drive immediately to the point of backing in the night before so the
first trip the next day is a drive away, no backout.
 
Five days a week I work and there are various errands and the occasional
trip to Kansas, 700+ miles each way.
 
All the time.
 
No but I have an NHW11. The NHW20 may do better at higher speeds.
 
As needed.
 
As needed.
 
As needed.
 
I coast to red lights and avoid heavy braking so most is regenerative.
 
I changed my route to use access streets and city streets which are
"less traveled."
 
Yes. After the first warm-up, the car is quite usable the rest of the
day for short trips. Try to make the first trip longer to allow full
warm up but "don't sweat it."

Bob Wilson

"B. Peg" <att.net> wrote in message
news:8vqgg.129193$ops.worldnet.att.net... 
Note - for models with side air bags, the seat covers must be compatible.

Mike

> "Michael Pardee" wote: 

True. I had to pay extra for the Velcro stitch thing that opens on the side
for the airbags.

I believe I paid around $450 for the entire setup: front seatcovers with
their separate air-bag compatible back covers, the center console cover
(which is really nice!), and the separate headrest covers. They have many
various colors and they do not shed as synthetic covers do. Should last the
life of the car compared to the other Pep Boy's cheapy stuff that I changed
out yearly and constantly shed.

They did all the stuff at the local Sheepskin seatcover store in my area's
phonebook. Took about 3 weeks once they measured everything up.

B~

> >> Is it a comfortable car? Notice any quirks? What did you notice?
Comfortable, but less so than our '98 Camry - front seats could use
some adjusters. Stock stereo (not JBL) is OK, but has trouble handling
deep bass. Stock tires (GY Integrity) are terrible - these were also
stock equipment in the Camry. Almost anything else is better. 
 
Drive immediately, but leisurely for the first 10 minutes or so.
 
SoCal freeways and city streets.
 
Occasionally on the freeway. Not possible in rush hour traffic.
 
Yes. This is SoCal - you want to blend in and be anonymous, live
longer.
 
Yes, when it's hot.
 
Very rarely.
 
Haven't yet.
 
Anticipate as much as possible.
 
Yes - I try to keep away from others and hope they do the same for me.
 
About twice a week.