I just got my used fully loaded 2005 Prius at a decent price and I love it so far. The only the thing is (and people have warned me about this before but i don't care cause I like the Prius itself either way and like i said I got a good deal on it) The gas millage seems to defenetaly be exaggerated on the sticker. I don't feel like I am getting the right amount of miles per gallon as I should be. I think the MPG is still good, but are there tips anyone can give me on optimizing the MPG? I've heard there are some techniques and ways make the battery take most of the power on the highway?
Welcome to PriusChat, Jktotheizo! First, what kind of milage are you getting? Twice as good as your previous car? 46 mpg? Look at and read the sticky threads in the forums that interest you. Many things affect mpg, including temperature, length of average trip, and driver experience. All those factors are discussed on PriusChat. Use the Search function (third from the right at the top of the page) to find something quickly. Congratulations!
If you are patient with your Prius and learn how to drive it efficiently it is reasonable to expect nothing but 55 MPG or better tanks most of the year for mixed Highway and City driving.
IF you have a longer commute (>15 minutes) and in warm weather. Otherwise subtract 10% or more. Here in Chicago you can expect a dip of 25% from the middle of summer (I get mid 50's) to the middle of winter (low 40's). 46-48 mpg is the real-world reported average (greenhybrid.com, etc.). Making sure your tire pressure is above the minimum of 35 front/33 rear helps as well (40/38 is commonly used, the tires are rated for 44 psi). In winter you can block the grill. Check out the sticky threads in the fuel efficiency forum.
Hi and welcome aboard Jktotheizo. Quite a few here get better than EPA numbers, are you refering to the old numbers or new numbers? Read the board and learn from those willing to teach.
Welcome jktotheizo. +1 on all the above replies. Drive it more often and keep track of your mpg long term. You will see that what you bought is worth it. Gas prices is steadily on the rise...
