New daily...mpg is depressing (2006 3.3L V6 Toyota Highlander limited AWD)

[Shaneajanderson]

My kids were never bothered by ride quality. I hauled them around in a 95 Corolla quite a bit, and they still get put in my Metro sometimes, and they ride in my F150 which rides about as nice as a WW2 Lorry, and they've never complained (about the ride quality at least, they whine plenty about other stuff.)

If you must have a nice ride, get a Buick with the 3800 v6, they are capable of 30 mpg with regular, conservative driving, and probably quite a bit better with some basic mods/ecodriving.

[Ecky]

Ride quality isn't something I ever thought about as a child either. I don't think it was even a concept I had.

[ksa8907]

There might be a way of forcing converter lockup. I now there is a thread out there somewhere about it. The premise is that the transmission is electronically controlled so all you need to do is manually switch the converter to lockup.

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

But this needs to ride nice.

My daughter rides around in the back of my wife's Honda Fit or my 500 Abarth.

She falls asleep in either.

[Hersbird]

I was ferried around in the back seat of a 75 Eldorado with a 500 cubic inch big block. I don't think EPA had ratings then, but one webpage estimated 7 city, 12 highway. #bronxdaddy

[malibuguy]

Originally Posted by samwichse

My daughter rides around in the back of my wife's Honda Fit or my 500 Abarth.

She falls asleep in either.

My wifes daily is a 18 fit. Great little cars

[Frank Lee]

Good God, wait until she needs to ride on a school bus. She'll need a chauffeured limo instead.

[jcp123]

My wife has a Chrysler Town + Country. She gets worse than that. You’re in normal territory for a fairly heavy, high-profile vehicle. It’ll come down to more careful driving. My wife won’t pledge to that, so I am doomed to a 13mpg vehicle.

We realized that although we use its passenger capacity regularly, we should go smaller. Saying no to other family members isn’t a bad thing, and I think our next car is some form of Subaru wagon.

[malibuguy]

So far the indicates average is 20.3. On the first tank that got 16.86 i was showing an indicated 17.1.

Pulsing the AC is not as convenient as it was in my Yaris. Where my hand was naturally right there on the shifter and it was as simple as a tap of the finger. AC controls on this are higher up and bit of an unnatural move (in comparison). However Ill continue to use small tricks to help...coast to lights etc.

Not like my old commute where I had a spot of road where I could coast for 2.4miles with the motor off in my Yaris.

Im just spoiled by my 4banger cars where I didnt have to try to get 40+ lol

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by jcp123

My wife has a Chrysler Town + Country. She gets worse than that. You’re in normal territory for a fairly heavy, high-profile vehicle. It’ll come down to more careful driving. My wife won’t pledge to that, so I am doomed to a 13mpg vehicle.

We realized that although we use its passenger capacity regularly, we should go smaller. Saying no to other family members isn’t a bad thing, and I think our next car is some form of Subaru wagon.

My wife all city in a 2011 T&C gets 18.5-20mpg a tank and she doesn't even try, even using the remote start all the time to let it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I have hit 29.5mpg on a long trip once keeping the speeds around 60. Do you have that "eco" button on the dash that changes timing and shift points? May be worth a try.