In a few threads, I have read that the ECO mode is more or less a "trick" that changes the behavior of the pedal. That way, if you push the pedal the same amount as in a non-hybrid car, the Prius will not accelerate as much, and by doing so you save fuel. Good trick. But for how long will it last? My first car was a Cavalier. I drove it for 9 years, and I got used to it. The pedal was not very responsive, so in situations that required it (e.g. getting to speed with highway traffic), I was used to push it a lot in order to get a decent acceleration. It was roughly the only car I drove, so that is the way I learned to drive. But once or twice a year I drove my stepmother's Accord. And then I had to re-learn how to press the pedal, because it was so much more responsive... 4 years ago I bought a Civic. Same reaction: every time I started from a red light, I was doing a jackrabbit start. I had to re-learn how to press the pedal. It took me 2-3 days. When I test drove the Prius III yesterday (yes, again...), it was an opposite feeling: if I press the pedal the same way I am driving my Civic, the car is barely accelerating. I kind of like it - that is a good way to save fuel, and it is not easy to acheive on a Civic because the pedal is so sensitive. But if I drove the Prius every day, wouldn't I "learn" that behavior pretty quickly, and start pressing the pedal much more at every start, to compensate? Would'nt that be kind of cancelling the benefits of the ECO mode? Could anyone who replaced their non hybrid with a Prius share their experience? Did you "get used" to the ECO mode?
First, the Prius in normal mode has a very unresponsive acceleration compared to non-hybrids--and yes, the ECO mode further dampens the accelerator responsiveness mapping, plus adjusts the A/C setting to conserve energy. It's my first hybrid, and I drove it in normal mode for the first few weeks, then switched to ECO mode. My mileage has improved ~5 MPG. It's definitely less responsive in ECO mode, but I am not expecting a Porsche when I drive this car. For times when you need some more pep (like entering a busy highway), the power mode works fine. Do you get used to it? Yes--I have gotten used to gradual acceleration. If you're going to buy a hybrid and then decided to mash the pedal to compensated for the sluggish acceleration, you probably should think about another car.
Hi Stream, thanks for you reply. It is possible you misinterpreted what I meant though. I do like the idea if the ECO mode, and that is one of the reasons why I am interested in the Prius III. I am no fan of big accelerations. What I thought is that perhaps after a while of driving a Prius, I would kind of compensate for the kind of acceleration the Prius provides, and in the end that would somewhat cancel the benefits of that mode. My hypothesis is based only on my own experience. But I am no expert - that is why I am asking... I interpret from your answer that it should not be the case, though.
It all depends on what your mindset is. I bought a Prius to reduce my fuel consumption--along with all the associated benefits. The only negative so far is you have to put up with people who think it's cool to ride your tail--although I've found that a quick tap on the brake pedal with your left foot gets them off it pretty quickly. Sounds like you'd be a good candidate for a Prius, and using ECO mode. Even if you find it too extreme, normal mode is plenty eco friendly.
The responsive nature of non-hybrids is really annoying. Their pedal is just a crude instrument. Even Prius in PWR mode doesn't jerk forward like that. You'd amazed how your perspective changes once you've got a powerful electric motor attached to a planetary-cvt. That pedal becomes the slide on trombone, which you compose music with to the pitch of the road. .
Huh? ECO mode still provides power, you just have to push the pedal further to get it. True, dropping isn't something you normally do in a non-hybrid. But if you don't want someone riding your tail and you don't want to switch modes, that choice is available. .
That's a pretty jack-nice person approach. Intentionally antagonizing a driver that is apparently already annoyed at you isn't smart. He could SHOOT you. Just get out of the way/let him pass/whatever. Don't be the cause of road rage. It doesn't matter if you're "right". The other driver has potential aggression that you really don't want to experience. That's how I approach those situations anyhow. I'm more interested in breathing tomorrow than proving a nonsensical "point" to someone. I'm not the police. It's not my job, privilege, or responsibility to enforce the traffic code.
My screen name denotes the attitude I take behind the wheel of the Prius. I traded in a BMW 330i I had driven for seven years. I was usually very quick off the stop light and constantly in the highway's fast lane with the BMW. In the Prius I am virtually always in ECO mode. I drive around the congested DC area, including the Capital Beltway. I haven't had any issues. I am comfortable with the way I staying up with traffic. With the Prius I keep the attitude in mind that I am not in a rush. The gas mileage is great (56+ 2/3 into my current tank), and it makes driving much less stressful.
I've grown used to ECO mode and just push harder unfortunately. The nice thing is though, I have the option to be more granular. Think of it as "mouse acceleration" on a PC - you get alot of control in the beginning and alot more "oomph" toward the end. As for tapping the brakes - just a light enough tap to flash the lights rhythmically to get them to back off is enough. Some drivers are entirely unaware. If they're truly in a hurry - I'll pull over and let them by. It's not my job to make them slow down, however they really should attempt to be courteous enough to maintain a safe distance.
Lighten up. Not antagonizing anybody--actually I was the one being antagonized. I've had people get right on my tail--clearly trying to...antagonize...me to go faster--when I'm already in the right (i.e. slow) lane. Again, a quick tap of the brake pedal does the trick.
Although there are meaningful physical differences between the various modes, I've found that you can get great fuel efficiency even if you stay in Power mode the whole time. When I first got the car, I held it on Eco exclusively, but now I've switched to Power exclusively...and I don't think I'm going back. Being on Power all the time has actually forced me to drive the car better because it makes me more mindful of how strongly I press the pedal. Just watch your eco-meter....no matter what mode you're in. If you're in the "EV" zone, it doesn't matter whether you're in Eco or Power mode: you'll still get the same mpg.
All I know is since switching to ECO mode (from normal) my fuel consumption has improved ~5 MPG--so it made a difference for me.
My fuel consumption improved by more than 10 mpg when I switched from Eco to Power mode (going from around 48 to 60), but it didn't happen because I switched to Power mode. It happened because I learned how to drive the car better (I'm a first-time Prius owner). As I said, there are great physical differences between the modes, but careful driving can give you superb fuel efficiency regardless of the mode, so this whole affair seems more like a cheap promotional trick by Toyota. Forget about the mode: just drive your car well.
