2009 Prius Base - $19k

[Matt Herring]

Originally Posted by Daox

Pretty cool Matt. I'd just stick with some of the basics and dispelling myths about hybrids. You get too nitty gritty and you start loosing people I think. Good luck!

I think, in general, I'll stick to the topic of hypermiling in terms of her discussion and experience with me (focusing on the benefits of it and our lesson experience). I'm not an expert on hybrid environmental issues so offering any advice/opinion on it would detract from my goal of promoting hypermiling and my business.

I'd rather not get into that aspect of the hybrid and just focus on hypermiling with some easy to do techniques and mods that any car and driver can do:

1. Max psi
2. P&G (will mention that I do neutral coast but don't want to alert any ears for illegal coasting in terms of teaching people to do it)
3. Driving efficiently (moderate acceleration, timing lights and traffic, low use of brakes, etc.)
4. Grill block (using my $2 Home Depot solution)
5. EBH (will mention it because we're in the cold climate)
6. Fuel logs (will give ecomodder a good mention and tell her how "awesome, great, exciting and amazing the site is!!!")

[Matt Herring]

So I got a little more info on the writers car that I'll doing my Super Commuter driving instruction with for the article she is working on...

It's a 2007 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl...she says she gets about 30 city and 36 highway which isn't too bad for her given it's rated at 21 city/30 highway (but I'm not sure yet "how" she knows she's getting those numbers). I'm not sure if it's a manual or automatic yet...hope it's auto since I can't drive stick!!!

[MetroMPG]

I would strongly suggest making up a list of your main 10 points or so, and printing them. Give the reporter something to take back to the office - make her work easier and you're more likely to get your points mentioned (and not butchered/misunderstood).

Good luck!

[Matt Herring]

Tremendous idea Metro...can't be misquoted if I give her a "quote sheet." And because hypermiling is probably foreign to her (especially the terms) an info. sheet on "psi, P&G, etc." is a great idea...thanks bro!

[hyperyaris]

I have a big problem with Prius prices, because I paid $11,000 for my Yaris, and I average BETTER mpg than the Prius, and I have a fully gasoline engine.

[MetroMPG]

Hyperyaris, that statement is in no way productive.

I could just as easily say: "I have a big problem with Yaris prices because I paid $4500 for my Metro, and I average BETTER mpg than the Yaris".

And in the spirit of this not-very-useful exchange, I'd expect another EM member (who paid a few hundred bucks for his Metro) to chime in and tell me about their big problem with the $4500 price of an old Firefly!

What does that prove or gain us? Not a lot.

You'll also note that Matt, who's still developing his Prius driving techniques, has gotten over 60 mpg on his last 2 fill ups. So he too is averaging much better than the Prius rating (and 60+ mpg is well above what anyone except the most skilled ecodrivers can wring from a Yaris).

[Matt Herring]

Thanks for the cover Metro. The only rebuttal to hyperyaris I will mention is "keep a fuel log on this site and go toe to toe with the big boys." Please save the "I keep a fuel log on another site" or "I keep a fuel log on paper" comments...it doesn't fly on here if you want to be fully vested in ecomodder.

While we're on the topic of fuel logs...I fell just short of my best all-time tank with my fillup yesterday. I think the tinkering with a new route for 125+ miles got me as I fell just 0.4 mpg short of besting my all-time tank.

And, if anyone needs further proof the inflatable bladder gas tank in the Prius is highly unpredictable...I had 1 pip left on my fuel guage when I filled up and I only filled just over 8.2 gallons into the car at the first click (it was 55 degrees at the time of fillup...I am guessing a 75 degree day would have allowed more gas to enter the bladder...the Prius bladder is an 11.9 gallon max).

I'm still running my grill block as the temps in MA have not crested 75 degrees on a regular basis. Avg. temp of the 15 days of my tank was only 67.4 degrees with only 4 days over 75 degrees. I'll keep it installed until I see a good stretch of warm days.

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by Matt Herring

Thanks for the cover Metro. The only rebuttal to hyperyaris I will mention is "keep a fuel log on this site and go toe to toe with the big boys." Please save the "I keep a fuel log on another site" or "I keep a fuel log on paper" comments...it doesn't fly on here if you want to be fully vested in ecomodder.

While we're on the topic of fuel logs...I fell just short of my best all-time tank with my fillup yesterday. I think the tinkering with a new route for 125+ miles got me as I fell just 0.4 mpg short of besting my all-time tank.

And, if anyone needs further proof the inflatable bladder gas tank in the Prius is highly unpredictable...I had 1 pip left on my fuel guage when I filled up and I only filled just over 8.2 gallons into the car at the first click (it was 55 degrees at the time of fillup...I am guessing a 75 degree day would have allowed more gas to enter the bladder...the Prius bladder is an 11.9 gallon max).

I'm still running my grill block as the temps in MA have not crested 75 degrees on a regular basis. Avg. temp of the 15 days of my tank was only 67.4 degrees with only 4 days over 75 degrees. I'll keep it installed until I see a good stretch of warm days.

You have a very nice avatar these days.

I wanted to mention that I picked up a magazine on the "new shape prius" and will post some stuff from it soon!

[Daox]

Any worries about overheating your inverters with your grill block?

[Matt Herring]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

You have a very nice avatar these days.

I wanted to mention that I picked up a magazine on the "new shape prius" and will post some stuff from it soon!

Nice pick-up SVO...can't wait to see what you can offer on the Prius...looking forward to it!

I like my new avatar...not too far off from my daily driving experience! FYI - I vultured the pic from a guy at priuschat.com so it's not my original work or a pic out my rear window!