Tips and Tricks for a first time Prius owner?

[time_on_fire]

Hello. Today, I brought home The Druid, a black 2005 Prius.

This is the first hybrid I have owned, and the first car I've had that was manufactured this century.

I often drive 55 miles at a time, mostly highway.

Know any tips or tricks for a new owner?

Comments

[captain_planet8]

Congrats!!! Umm as far as tips, here's one- keep your tire pressure good and you'll get the best mileage. Also speeding too much on the highway reduces your mileage.

[bnllovesme]

I have an '05 that I've had since '07 that I drive 70 miles, roundtrip weekdays, on the Interstate. Watch for the coolant pump to go, mine went around 90k and you could see the pink coolant leaking and hear the "wooshing" sound working overtime.

Try to go near 60 mph when possible, found that to be the difference between 52 mpg and upper 40's for an average tankful. Be prepared to be a little bullied on the highway, I get cut off by aggressive drivers a lot or those that will do anything not to be stuck behind a Prius. ;)

[morgi]

Go above 80 or so and your mileage will drop drastically. (Hope you don't live in Michigan.) I'm a big fan of the get-up-to-speed-and-then-ease-off-the-gas method.

I live 35 miles from work and still get pretty good mileage even with all my highway driving at 75 mph.

[thechaim42]

I have a 2005 and agree with the getting-up-to-speed, and then place slight pressure on the gas to maintain it.

Stopping at all is your enemy. Most of your fuel is expended accelerating from a dead stop. If you're approaching a stop (say, a red light), start slowing down in an attempt to have the light chage to green before you have to stop.

[la_veuve_chibi]

Wha...? The Prius doesn't use a drop of gas when accelerating from a dead stop. That's the whole point. As long as you start by creeping forward without the gas, you're good to go, and you want to slow down--preferably coasting--to recharge the battery.

[firecat]

Congrats! I have a 2005 Prius (Salsa Red).

Use the display that shows you how much fuel the car is consuming at any given moment, and experiment until you find out how to minimize fuel consumption (without pissing off other drivers or driving unsafely) in each of the various driving conditions you encounter.

[la_veuve_chibi]

Ooh, nice name.

Stretch out your stops and starts--start coasting a block or two away from red lights, creep forward without the gas for a few seconds when you start. Not a very macho way to drive, but as we here all know, macho driving is overrated.

And keep in mind that when you're creeping in stealth mode, especially when backing out in parking lots, clueless pedestrians can't hear you coming and are shocked when they see your car move. Amusing except when you almost hit them after they waltz in front of a car they assume is off.