Hybrid Gas Mileage Good? Bad? As Expected?

519 messages, Last post on Jan 16, 2007 at 6:14 AM

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What is this discussion about? Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

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#453 of 519 A/C on or off by fndlyfmrflyr Dec 11, 2005 (3:26 am)
I've been following the A/C on fuel cost comments. On the highway, if the A/C is off, one would tend to open the window(s). This causes additional drag, which means additional fuel used. With today's small efficient compressors one must wonder if it isn't more costly (in fuel) to drive on the highway with the windows open rather than use the A/C. More on topic: Our 05 Prius gets about what I expected given that we have not changed how we drive. The A/C is on nearly all the time and freeway speeds are 75 or so. We keep up with local and freeway traffic and don't go slow trying to save fuel. For the first 8000 miles, the mpg is 44.5. Replies to this message: warner (Dec 14, 2005 9:59 am) misterme (Dec 15, 2005 3:04 pm)
#454 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [xce by falconone Dec 11, 2005 (5:30 am)
Replying to: xcel (Dec 10, 2005 10:44 pm) Your arguments are quite compelling. When you look at percentages it appears that SUVs are off on their EPA claims than smaller vehicles. Funny how the media hasn't picked up on that. If/When I own a Prius I am quite certain I'll be happy with high 40's. As I mentioned numerous times, I can easily get low 40's driving a constant 80 MPH. Try doing that in a Suburban!! LOL
#455 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [xcel] by gagrice Dec 11, 2005 (6:14 am)
Replying to: xcel (Dec 10, 2005 10:44 pm) Would you care to tell me who you know that is receiving just 35 mpg in their Prius II? You should be directing your anger & frustration at the 50+ Prius II owners on GH that are getting 20-35% below EPA. I thought that was some kind of hypermiler club. Don't you take away their driving privelege when they drop 10% below EPA? If you think the Passat mileage stinks at less than 10% under EPA. How do you feel about the average Prius owner getting 13% below EPA? In fact I only see 6% of 393 Prius II owners getting EPA on GH. If that is not an indictment on the HSD technology, what would be in your opinion? PS I have the mileage info in the GMC glove box. Just have not put it on the spreadsheet. The Passat was bought to see if I liked diesel cars, and make a couple grand on someone that cannot wait until the price is right. To me handling and utility are way ahead of mileage on the list. The Passat fills that hand with aces. Maybe someday Honda & Toyota will build a car that handles on a par with their reliability. Until then I'll take handling.
#456 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [xcel] by gagrice Dec 11, 2005 (6:41 am)
Replying to: xcel (Dec 10, 2005 10:44 pm) CR’s says an 04 Suburban is worth just 9 around town in good temps! What's your point? That is 64% of the 14 MPG EPA city rating. CR also got 35 MPG on the Prius II in town. That is only 58% of the EPA city rating. I don't think people buy Suburbans to save on gas. They buy them to haul lots of people and stuff. I miss my Suburban, should have just kept it. Replies to this message: xcel (Dec 11, 2005 5:18 pm) falconone (Dec 12, 2005 6:10 am) gagrice (Dec 12, 2005 7:28 pm)
#457 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [gag by misterme Dec 11, 2005 (2:00 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 10, 2005 6:19 pm) "I know in Atlanta it is 75 degrees year round so that is not an issue with your driving" This goes along the same line as other things that are said "to be known". Atlanta summers near 100 degrees and near 100% humidity summer days, 80 degree nights. Atlanta winters around 50 degrees day and below freezing at night. Although this isn't as extreme as our Northern neighbors it's not Florida either. I still exceed 60MPG and +800 mile tanks in my '04 HCH this winter, well above what I expected. Half my commute is 5:00PM rush hour, other half is 3:00AM cold early morning. When I bought my car with its EPA estimate...coming from a Dodge that only averaged 16-17MPG I'd have been happy with just 40MPG. I really didn't expect the full EPA figures. (47/49 I think it was) Holy cow I had no idea what the car would do.
#458 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [gagrice] by xcel Dec 11, 2005 (5:18 pm)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 11, 2005 6:41 am) Hi Gagrice: You should be directing your anger & frustration at the 50+ Prius II owners on GH that are getting 20-35% below EPA. By your posts, it appears you are the one unhappy, not the hundreds averaging 48 mpg year round in their Prius II’s which is 87% of EPA combined. Your TDI is averaging just 87% of EPA combined. Are you angry and frustrated that you are only receiving 26.xx mpg in your TDI or would you rather receive 48 in a Prius II? I think everybody would rather receive 48 mpg instead of 26.x mpg, wouldn’t you? I thought that was some kind of hypermiler club. Why would you think that? The only thing I see here is your anti-hybrid whine? In fact I only see 6% of 393 Prius II owners getting EPA on GH. If that is not an indictment on the HSD technology, what would be in your opinion? Since all Prius II owners posting tanks over at GH are averaging 48 mpg overall, what does that say for anything you own? You just hit 87% of EPA combined in your TDI and that is your best showing … To me handling and utility are way ahead of mileage on the list. I can understand utility but handling? Did you ever take your Suburban into a fast sweeper at .75G’s? If so, you must have spent a lot of time upside down on the roof? I would not call a Chevrolet Suburban or Silverado good handlers by any stretch … And about that Passat? It appears to me that both the Civic and Accord break loose a bit beyond the Passat. I can’t say that for the Prius II but it is averaging almost 2X’s the FE of your Passat so I do not think those that own them are taking them into a fast sweepers at anywhere near their limits of adhesion given they really do not care about such things … http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~kpfleger/auto/handling.html What's your point? What is yours? You are the one complaining about the Prius II when you used to own a Suburban that CR’s hit just 13 mpg overall or 74% of the EPA combined. Your Silverado is receiving ~ 77% of the EPA combined. This compares to CR’s Prius II receiving 80% of its EPA combined. Are you just as active in the Chevrolet Suburban and Silverado forums telling them there automobiles suck because they receive a smaller % of EPA then Prius II owners? I am sure Suburban and Silverado owners are not only always hauling lots of people and stuff but also love paying ~ $100.00 a week for gas vs. the Prius II’s ~ $30.00 over the same distance using CR’s FE figures! I sure am glad those that had a choice between the Prius II and the Suburban chose the Prius II for all our sakes Good Luck Wayne R. Gerdes Replies to this message: falconone (Dec 12, 2005 6:10 am) gagrice (Dec 12, 2005 7:28 pm)
#459 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [xcel] by falconone Dec 12, 2005 (6:10 am)
Replying to: xcel (Dec 11, 2005 5:18 pm) Wayne--- Your points are exactly my sentiments as well. As usual, your responses are spot on and accurate. It makes no sense to complain about a car that gets TWICE the mileage as the current car one is driving. Sour grapes?? If I had your driving techniques where you can achieve high 40's in an Accord, I may just have to rethink my purchase! I seem to be going around in circles now having my eye on the new RAV4. I appreciate your contributions to this forum.
#460 of 519 Re: Everyone says that, but I have yet to see the science to prove it. [xcel] by gagrice Dec 12, 2005 (7:28 pm)
Replying to: xcel (Dec 11, 2005 5:18 pm) Are you angry and frustrated that you are only receiving 26.xx mpg in your TDI Not even a little bit. would you rather receive 48 in a Prius II? No, I would rather receive 48 MPG in a VW Beetle TDI. Which I will probably buy when I sell the Passat. When the Beetle has 7500 miles and I sell it who knows what I will buy. Maybe by that time some company will build a plugin hybrid or a series hybrid. Maybe Honda will bring their diesel to America for me to try. I can understand utility but handling? You don't sound like you understand that the Suburban & Silverado are for utility. The Passat is for handling. I don't suppose you would want to take a 100 mile trip on the back roads of our mountains with your Accord against the Passat. If you think it handles so well. excerpts from Edmund's Honda Accord cons: Tepid handling, brakes should be more powerful Passat: Better handling dynamics than most sedans in its class, Good brakes and handling trump high mileage any day of the week for me.
#461 of 519 Was scared of the freeway, but the car did great ......... by larsb Dec 13, 2005 (7:50 am)
This past weekend, for the first time in almost 90 days, I took my 2004 HCH onto a FREEWAY !!! (drama !!!) My normal daily commute is all city streets, and I have learned all the "below 50 MPH" sweet spots and have used all the techniques I know and have managed to keep my last three tanks above 50 MPG. This latest tank was at 300 miles and sitting at 51.0 MPG when my two kiddos and I entered the freeway Saturday morning for a 20 mile trip to see Narnia on the biggest movie screen in the Southwest USA. I was very worried that highway speeds were going to deflate my MPG, and although the car is rated 51 MPG on the hwy, that is with the EPA test which never exceeds 60 MPH in that portion of the test. I was getting on a freeway which topped out at 65 MPH, and many people drive 75 on it. Lucky for me, this was 7:45 AM Saturday, so the freeways in Phoenix were pretty abandoned compared to later in the day. I was able to mostly stay out of people's way, keeping my speed fluctuating between 50 and 60 MPH most of the time. By the time I got to the movie theater, my tank had moved up to 51.8 MPG !! I had gained .8 MPG on a 20 mile highway jaunt !! The trip back was down a different freeway in a later part of the day, and I expected a lot more people and a lot more speeders, but it turned out there were a couple of minor delays and the same speeds as the first leg were possible, so I turned into my driveway still sitting at 51.8 MPG. I'm going to be a little less worried about freeway travel next time !!! Love my HCH !!
#462 of 519 Inname comparision by tahoey Dec 13, 2005 (11:53 am)
I don't quite understand why in the world a person would compare mileage on a suburban and a Toyota Speck. Of course the Suburban burns more gas, it's 5x the vehicle of the Toyota. Oh, and you won't care how much gas you've burn when you are driving your Toyota Speck down the freeway, get in a wreck, and all dead. Oh, and the guy in the Suburban in the same wreck it telling all of his friends about the poor guy in a Toyota Speck who died when then both rear-ended the car in front on them. Oh, and for the Eco-freaks, most half-ton Suburbans burn E85, while your Toyota still burns hated fossil fuels. Replies to this message: falconone (Dec 13, 2005 12:07 pm) rorr (Dec 13, 2005 12:27 pm) falconone (Dec 13, 2005 12:42 pm) rorr (Dec 13, 2005 1:07 pm) and 1 more...