Disappointing Road Trip
USAF Retired
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74
From: San Antonio
Re: Disappointing Road Trip
The first thing I did on our HCH, was to raise the front of the front seats. Got a piece of steel, drilled a couple of holes in it, attached it to the seat frame with a new bolt, and fastened it at the bottom with the regular seat bolt. Raised driver's side 1-1/2 inch, and the passenger side 1-3/8 inch. Made all the difference in the world--now we have proper thigh supports. I would have done the same on a Prius.
Yes, Ford advertises 35 MPG on some of their (non-hybrid) cars, but this is the same EPA test where the HCH gets 45. Take the Ford on a similar road trip as described above, and you would have gotten a lot less than the EPA number also. I'll bet the Ford would have struggled to get a third of the mileage I got when I babied the HCH around town and got 60+ MPG!
Yes, Ford advertises 35 MPG on some of their (non-hybrid) cars, but this is the same EPA test where the HCH gets 45. Take the Ford on a similar road trip as described above, and you would have gotten a lot less than the EPA number also. I'll bet the Ford would have struggled to get a third of the mileage I got when I babied the HCH around town and got 60+ MPG!
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 61
From: Leon, Gto., Mexico
Re: Disappointing Road Trip
I'm so glad someone else mentioned it. I don't know why, but Honda and Toyota really need to rethink their seat foam selection. I recently drove to Terryville, CT from Alexandria VA and took my truck because it was more comfortable (even though it get 14mpg). Japanese automakers really should start using the same foam American cars do. And it's not just our civic, we have a CRV as well, same issue: uncomfortable foam in the seats. My bum is always soar if i spend more than 1 hour in the seat of a Honda or Toyota.
These cars were not made for road tripping. Sad but true.
These cars were not made for road tripping. Sad but true.
i don't have these problems on the HCH 1 but i realized on test drives the foam on the HCH 2 is worst, as well as the seating position in the prius II.
however i don't have problems, though i usually don't spend more than 2,5 hours currently driving and my weight is 70 kilograms/155 pounds.
best wishes
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 61
From: Leon, Gto., Mexico
Re: Disappointing Road Trip
Very good points Kristian. MPG is more a mental attitude toward driving than the vehicle's capabilities. My wife drives the 08 FEH AWD, and I drive a 2002 Ford Ranger with 3.0L V6, 5sp Manual. I don't know what the EPA ratings are for the Ranger V6, but I get 26-28mpg (in town) when the temperatures average 50F or higher (yes, cold effects regular cars a lot too). I use hypermiling techniques on my gas Ranger, just like I do on the FEH.
I used to get 46+ mpg on the road with my old 99 Saturn SL1 with a 1.9L engine. I've gotten 24.x mpg on a 500+ mile trip with my old 1996 Ford Explorer, 4WD, 4.0L engine.
Any day of the week, I can easily beat EPA mileage, and I'm much more relaxed getting there, stay in the right hand lane, there's an egg between my foot and the gas pedal, and I Look ahead to anticipate every coasting opportunity. Plus there are many more.
I used to get 46+ mpg on the road with my old 99 Saturn SL1 with a 1.9L engine. I've gotten 24.x mpg on a 500+ mile trip with my old 1996 Ford Explorer, 4WD, 4.0L engine.
Any day of the week, I can easily beat EPA mileage, and I'm much more relaxed getting there, stay in the right hand lane, there's an egg between my foot and the gas pedal, and I Look ahead to anticipate every coasting opportunity. Plus there are many more.
recently i took a 1993 lincoln town car (the floating boat...) on a 2,5 hour trip, straight 60 miles, 0 stress, little a/c.
7,8 liters/100 km or 30 mpg. big surprise here
best wishes
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