Ok, we have only had it 4 days but have put 340 miles on it, and I just gotta know if this is because of a "breaking in" period or what... we drove around town-like we normally do (but applied the brake sooner, etc) and our avg is 27mpg, which is depressing. BUT we took it out onthe freeway to Portland (a two hour drive) with some stops and got 49 mpg!! Which is excellent and wonderful, etc... BUT I have to know how to improve the in town mileage.. does it get better over time, is there a "trick" we need to practice? Any ideas would GREATLY be appreicated!<br><br>Crystal

Crystal,<br>The usual "trick" for getting better mileage in town is to drive for more than 5 minutes. During the first 5 minutes, your Prius is busy warming the engine and catalytic converter up and doing some other tricks to avoid pollution. Unfortunately, this means it can't do the high city mileage trick (shutting off the engine) duing this time.<br><br>The best way to increase the length of trips without adding unnecessary miles is to combine short errands. If you don't shut it off for too long, the next time you start up, it will still be warm.<br><br>Ok, the really best way to deal with short trips is to walk or ride a bike (1/2 :-)<br><br>Most cars get lower mileage on short city trips, but they don't stick it in your face with a fancy display.<br><br>The EPA 52 MPG city rating can be somewhat misleading, since it's a 20 minute test done twice, once with the car started cold and once started warm.<br><br>I think you'll find that you're doing well overall with mileage though. Keep in mind that short trips don't have as much influence on the "lifetime" mileage as longer trips, so your "lifetime" mileage will tend to be closer to your 49 number than your 27 number.<br><br>Robert Snyder<br>NJ-PIKACHU

Thanks! We usually do multiple running around but unfortunately we are probably at one place too long and its around 40 degrees here so it must cause it not to warm up enough. My work communte is short and I take my bike in the summer but because I am required to wear professional attire it makes it difficult to commute that way. But I also take a back route which shortens my trip. We will definitely keep your tips in mind! Thanks!<br><br>Crystal

Hi,<br>I want to join the conversation...<br>As a new owner myself ( took delivery a week ago), I want to share my experience.<br>I have put on 400 miles already and ready for my first trip to gas station early next week (I have 2 bars left on my gauge), and I want to say the first 5 mins of the trip usually get me around 20mpg, so you are not the only one..<br>Afterwards, I can get around 50mpg either on freeway or city.<br>My trick in the city is that, after 5 mins of trip:<br>step on the accelerator until it reached the speed you wanted, let go of the peddle completely and gentally step on the peddle again. You should see the wheels are only driven by the battery/electric motor, but you are keeping your speed constant. That might help improve the mpg. So far I am loving this car, and so are my friends... I sometimes get 75mpg in a 5-min period. <br><br>Henry

I believe, as mentioned, short trips are the biggest cause for low mpg. Underinflated tires (I run 40psi all around) will also make a difference.<br><br>Craig

&gt; I sometimes get 75mpg in a 5-min period. <br><br>Once you've had your Prius for awhile, you'll be able to get 100 MPG in a 5-min segment.<br><br>Just watch what the Consumption-Screen teaches you and hunt out the flat roads and long gradual declines. Or just let yourself get trapped in heavy commuter traffic.<br><br>JOHN<br><a href=http://john1701a.com target=new>http://john1701a.com</a>

I still need to check the tires.. I heard the specs say 35/37, but more people find that 40 or 40/42 is better... We will have to check that out when we fill up.<br><br>Crystal

Another comment beyond Robert's: My Prius arrived on Oct 31. I cleared the MPG indicator as I drove out of the dealer's lot. I now have something like 1600 miles on it and 49.3MPG. The first few days I had it, I made several 30-mile trips to a town on the other side of a New England-type mountain (I'm not talking Pike's Peak) on primary, but not controlled-access roads (mostly 50MPH or so but lots of stops and starts). I have also done a daily commute which is 10-15 minutes. And recently, I made two longish trips.<br><br>I've noticed that on my 10-15 minute commute starting cold, the first 5 minutes I get 20-30 MPG, the second 5 minutes I get 40-50 MPG and the last 5 minutes I get over 50. That commute seems to average about 45ish (since fewer miles are travelled during the low MPG period).<br><br>The first trip essentially every bar was over 50MPG, frequently 60. The second trip (north through the mountains) only a few bars were over 50 but most were over (guessing) 35-40.<br><br>I have not noticed the MPG improving as it breaks in although some have said it does. I have distinctly noticed that the MPG is worse on cold days (below 50F, say), and very distinctly that the first 5 minutes is always poor. I've made some improvement there by taking a route which has higher speed and fewer stops during the first 5 minutes. That seems to warm the car up faster and get more out of the engine running.<br><br>Hope this helps. Remember that even if you get poor MPG in some circumstances, you are getting very low emissions (with the exception of carbon dioxide, which is pretty much proportional to the gas used).<br><br>Burns

Thank you! I appreciate all tips and will keep it in mind with our trips in the future.<br><br>Crystal

&gt; Remember that even if you get poor MPG in some <br>&gt; circumstances, you are getting very low emissions <br><br>And you're still getting good MPG anyway. Traditional vehicles also require a warm up period. In fact, during the winter I can see the RPM on the tachometer in my Taurus drop from high to normal once the engine is finally warm.<br><br>JOHN<br><a href=http://john1701a.com target=new>http://john1701a.com</a>

Just a note - my break-in mileage average for a 700+ mile trip from CA to AZ and back was 47.2MPG according to the consumption screen. I made it from Calimesa, CA (inland empire) to Phoenix (doing 62mph w/ a tail wind) plus alot of driving around on $9.61 of gas ($1.099) and made it back on $9.84 of gas (same price - had a heafty head wind doing 75). <br><br>All in all, I'm impressed. Had the car less than a week and already have over 900 miles on the car, but at least it's broken in already :-)