The hybrid allure - my quest to learn about and acquire a Prius - Page 4 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

SVOboy · 07-03-2009, 10:17 AM

Out of all the nerds to buy a prius, I hope you will be the first nerd to put a full boattail on it

Matt Herring · 07-03-2009, 10:30 AM

Ha ha ha...that would be incredible! I'm going to guess Daox will see 70 mpg before winter sets in. 65+ mpg should be a piece of cake for him as I'm seeing around 60-61 mpg now in some ridiculous weather. Has been mid to low 60's for last 2 weeks and has rained 13 out of last 14 days!

basjoos · 07-03-2009, 10:32 AM

My brother is talking about buying a 2010 Prius and aeromodding it up to the level of my car. He can buy it without needing an auto loan so that he, rather than the bank, will own the car, and can mod it however he wants. We were looking at my Dad's Prius and discussing where the aero mods would be mounted when he got his new car. I told him that the higher mileage he sees while drafting another vehicle is the potential increased mileage he could get via aeromods, so he was planning to test this with my Dad's Prius the next time he drove it. It will be interesting to see if he follows through on this.

SVOboy · 07-03-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by basjoos

My brother is talking about buying a 2010 Prius and aeromodding it up to the level of my car. He can buy it without needing an auto loan so that he, rather than the bank, will own the car, and can mod it however he wants. We were looking at my Dad's Prius and discussing where the aero mods would be mounted when he got his new car. I told him that the higher mileage he sees while drafting another vehicle is the potential increased mileage he could get via aeromods, so he was planning to test this with my Dad's Prius the next time he drove it. It will be interesting to see if he follows through on this.

I assume if he plans to buy outright he has the money to do some pretty professional aeromods, right? Like, colour-matched sheet metal etc etc stuff? That would indeed be awesome. Instead of doing plug in, invest in aero?

Matt Herring · 07-03-2009, 11:10 AM

The plug-ins are pretty impressive but there's something to be said (and alot of money to be saved) if you are handy enough to approach 80, 90 or 100+ mpg in a modded vehicle.

A guy at priuschat.com (nickname THEFORCE from Wheelersburg, OH) is approaching 2000 miles on a single 11.9 gallon tank (it is a plug-in). He will be at Hybridfest so if you're there look him up. His name is Jay Groh at jaygroh.com if you want to check out his car. I know he has it modded up and has Can-View and EV button. He's won the People's Choice Award at Hybridfest the last two years.

Daox · 07-03-2009, 11:25 AM

Yeah, I've seen his car. Its quite impressive, but he has sunk a ton of money into it! What phev conversion is he running? I'll have to make sure to talk with him at hybridfest for sure.

In any case, we'll see what I can do with a slightly smaller budget haha.

Matt Herring · 07-03-2009, 11:34 AM

I'm not sure what system he is running but I'd guess Hymotion as I've seen him commenting on it alot at priuschat.com That's $10k...too rich for me. By the list on his website he also has another $5k in mods ranging from aero discs to car emblems. Dude has put some cash into it.

What's the first mod you have planned Daox? I'm not talented or bold enough to mod the physical apects of my car past a grill block but would be interested to see some sweet mods on your Prius.

Daox · 07-03-2009, 12:02 PM

First mod will be tire pressure to 50 psi when I go fill the gas tank up as soon as I leave the dealer's lot.

Next will likely be a grill block. I never got the automated one working on the Matrix (electronics worked great, my mechanical linkages didn't work so good though), so that work will transfer over to the Prius now.

Matt Herring · 07-03-2009, 12:12 PM

I've been slowly inching my psi up each time I fill up. Was at 44 front/42 rear and now up to 46/44. Going from a 4runner to the Prius I felt like I was driving a go-kart being so low to the ground so I didn't want to go too high on the pressure right away. Ride wasn't too rough but the big bumps are pretty rough at 46/44. Not that I care but I did notice it the more I've been driving the car.

MetroMPG · 07-03-2009, 12:53 PM

I think it's time for a hybrid specific subforum.

A home for you and Matt posting about your Priuses... and the DIY hybrid discussions as well, like Coyote X's Metro and Nikki's plug-in conversion on her Prius. And of course bestmapman's Dream Prius aeromods.