reedmother Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm sick of driving and constantly looking at my gauges. I'm giving it up!! Cold turkey! My little information screen now just has miles to go before fill-up (boring, I know) 47 average mpg can't be achieved, so it's fruitless to keep obsessing about it. I've got 4K on the car. Had it 6 months. I was up to 44 average mpg, then the dealer did an oil change, and I haven't been able to average more than 42 mpg. Same driver, same roads and I haven't been using AC yet. So I surrender! I'm just going to enjoy the car.......and not think about when it's in EV mode anymore. It drives nicely and I don't put gas in it very often, so this should free up some space in my brain for other things. Kind of liberating. ScubaDadMiami and Jus-A-CMax 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus-A-CMax Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 FE driving is not for everyone and as u found out, may detract from enjoying the car. As well, gauge watching is extremely dangerous, like learning to drum with both hands..takes practice. Anyway, keep posting and driving as there is so much good things to talk about :shift: & :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedmother Posted June 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I used to drive a Camry hybrid, that my husband now drives, and I did the same thing. Had one eye on the EV mode gauge most of the time - and would creep into the driveway or post office just to get it to an even 45 mpg before I stopped or some damn thing like that. I just wish the EPA mpg was 44, then we could all relax :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I haven't really obsessed on the mileage since we bought the car, and that suits me. Yes we do take a boo at the mileage when we turn it off for fun. But I think it is too crazy making to get too into it, and we just enjoy the car. I salute you reedmother! reedmother 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtb9153 Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 What are you using to block the MPG on the right side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtb9153 Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtb9153 Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm with you reed mother I can't get a consistent AvMPg to go past 44 driving the same roads everyday. It is so exhausting that I'm ready to just say the hell with it and just enjoy the ride for what it is at 38-44Avmpg reedmother and Laurel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 Well said mtb9153. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtshinn Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I'm with you reed mother I can't get a consistent AvMPg to go past 44 driving the same roads everyday. It is so exhausting that I'm ready to just say the hell with it and just enjoy the ride for what it is at 38-44Avmpg I had a Camry Hybrid and watched for a few years. It does become exhaustingI don't watch that close anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recumpence Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I am a hyper-miler by my very nature. That being said, I do enjoy ignoring the MPG at times and just driving the car with the windows down and hitting the gas from time to time. Honestly, with Jus blowing me away on his latest tank, I am not too concerned with staying in the lead in the MPG race. So, though I am still paying attention to my mpg, I am beginning to have more fun with the car too. I love throwing the car through a hard corner to show off to whoever is in the car with me that this "Fat hybrid" really does handle exceptionally well. :) I love nearly everything about this car. Matt reedmother 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus-A-CMax Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 What Matt and I do is pushing the limits of this car in a real world driving. No loops around a test circuit. It ain't easy to clock up these miles and MPG but it really has thought me so much more about roads/terrain, traffic and driver behavior which when I was driving a gas car, I was one of Mr Oblivious. However what I find is that my hypermiling is now "normal" driving and I reap the rewards of passing gas stations and waiting in line & saving beer/food money. I think we all forget we have choices with this Cmax, no push buttons.... jus your right feet. No right way to drive nor wrong and whatever expectations you have, it's all you to keep or change. Blue pill or the red pill? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zalusky Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I get 54-57 MPG going to work every day and about 40-45 going home. My overall average is 48 right now. Of course Its not warm and I dont really drive much over 60. I drive 20 miles each way to work. Half of it is a busy freeway. My wife drives 1.5 miles to work and she can't get over 38MPG. Clearly there is a warm up penalty. I reset my lifetime once I got past breakin and a few hiccups where I forgot to turn the car off (Its so quiet). I do notice big drops if I go back to my old behavior and play race games with other cars or I run the AC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedmother Posted June 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 What are you using to block the MPG on the right side?I've always just had the leaves on the right side. I don't pay attention to them, but they look nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 I've always just had the leaves on the right side. I don't pay attention to them, but they look nice.Sorry, I meant the right side of the left screen. It shows your instantaneous MPG and if you are in EV mode or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowStorm Posted June 26, 2013 Report Share Posted June 26, 2013 Cold turkey? Go for it! Have an enjoyable and safe ride and hey - you're still going to get twice (yes, 2x) what we got in the "sixties". My MPG interest comes the old fashioned way, "inherited" from my dad. 60 years ago he was thrilled to break 20 mpg in a Rambler Classic sedan with a good ol' OHV straight six, three speed on the column and, oh yes, overdrive! And that would have been on 55 mph roads. Plus you don't have to change oil every 3000 miles, change spark plugs, points and condenser over and over, adjust the "dwell" and the "timing", get new tires 4 times as often, fiddle with all the carburetor adjustments, get a "grease job", hope the "choke" worked properly in cold weather, remember the different starting techniques for cold weather, hot weather, cold engine, hot engine, flooded engine - good grief - I better stop. So yeah, just relax and enjoy your C-Max! :) JAZ and reedmother 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG ROCCO Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 I get 54-57 MPG going to work every day and about 40-45 going home. My overall average is 48 right now. Of course Its not warm and I dont really drive much over 60. I drive 20 miles each way to work. Half of it is a busy freeway. My wife drives 1.5 miles to work and she can't get over 38MPG. Clearly there is a warm up penalty. I reset my lifetime once I got past breakin and a few hiccups where I forgot to turn the car off (Its so quiet). I do notice big drops if I go back to my old behavior and play race games with other cars or I run the AC.Yeah - that happened to my wife one time - the car was in the garage when I came home, with the lights on (since it is otherwise dark in there), and the avg mileage had gone down some, so all I can figure is she left the car "on", and as soon as the battery level went down, the engine would start and charge the batter for the next cycle. Now, she makes sure she see "Thanks for driving a hybrid" before she leaves the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhackwyatt Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Yeah - that happened to my wife one time - the car was in the garage when I came home, with the lights on (since it is otherwise dark in there), and the avg mileage had gone down some, so all I can figure is she left the car "on", and as soon as the battery level went down, the engine would start and charge the batter for the next cycle. Now, she makes sure she see "Thanks for driving a hybrid" before she leaves the carThat could have been dangerous because of carbon monoxide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus-A-CMax Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 That could have been dangerous because of carbon monoxide.Reason why in California its mandatory to have a carbon monoxide detector per level for any house purchase (some refi as well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
METROMAN Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Excellent idea!Reason why in California its mandatory to have a carbon monoxide detector per level for any house purchase (some refi as well). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomoto Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Yeah - that happened to my wife one time - the car was in the garage when I came home, with the lights on (since it is otherwise dark in there), and the avg mileage had gone down some, so all I can figure is she left the car "on", and as soon as the battery level went down, the engine would start and charge the batter for the next cycle. Now, she makes sure she see "Thanks for driving a hybrid" before she leaves the car The CMax will emit two very loud horn honks if you leave the car powered on and shut the door completely. I guess she didn't. Also if you don't shut the doors completely, the marker and puddle lights will stay on (30secs ?) which is a visual cue I use often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zalusky Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 The CMax will emit two very loud horn honks if you leave the car powered on and shut the door completely. I guess she didn't. Also if you don't shut the doors completely, the marker and puddle lights will stay on (30secs ?) which is a visual cue I use often.The problem is my previous car did that to indicate the doors were locked. They really should change the tune on the horn honks to be more in your face when this happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salsaguy Posted June 27, 2013 Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 (edited) reedmother, nothing wrong with leaving the instantaneous mpg number displayed on the screen and check it every so often.but it's good to just enjoy the car for all it offers. Edited June 27, 2013 by salsaguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedmother Posted June 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 Sorry, I meant the right side of the left screen. It shows your instantaneous MPG and if you are in EV mode or not.I found a read-out that doesn't say that. Keep fiddling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reedmother Posted June 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2013 reedmother, nothing wrong with leaving the instantaneous mpg number displayed on the screen and check it every so often.but it's good to just enjoy the car for all it offers.easier said than done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.