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New Owner's Thoughts
The more I learn about this car, the more I’m blown away by it! (I totally agree with virtually all the great comments everyone’s making, so I’ll add some different insight).
I initially wanted a Prius – rented 3 different ones and could easily get 54-56 MPG in town. (Note: hot, flat Florida, with 5 minute red lights, is a Hybrid’s Heaven)! Hated to hit the freeway where the Prius’s MPG plummeted to 39-41 MPG at 75+ mph. But the Prius is narrow, the dash is black and bakes in the sun, and the side windows are “too high” and let in too much sun for me. (Still - the Prius is a marvel!). Our local dealer wanted a 6k premium for a new Prius.
I tried a used 07 TCH (24k miles, 27k price), and found it wider, quieter, smoother, and much more attractive looking. Since my local dealer also wanted 3k extra for a new TCH, I bought a new 09 at a dealer in the next town for no premium (Sticker Price) (After a 4 week wait). I absolutely love it!
I get from 37-41 mpg around town, and (I’ll bet) almost the same as a Prius on the highway (38-39 MPG at 75+ mph). You can get 50mpg on the highway or more if you’re willing to drive slowly enough. It’s got a many “sweet spots”, like at a steady 39 mph (or higher), it drops into a kind of super high gear, and even with the engine running does an astounding 55-60 mpg!
Such technology! Since it achieves it’s best mileage after the engine is warmed up, after you shut it down, it saves it’s hot coolant in a vacuum chamber. The next day you drive it, it automatically pumps it back into the engine, which is fully warmed up in about 2 minutes!
Last thoughts – I’d like it to display the percentage of the “free” mileage I’m getting. (My guess is out of every 100 miles I drive around town; maybe 20 miles are coasting or electric, with the gas engine off). And considering that my gas engine is not running during all of those 5 minute Red lights, it follows that when my odometer says 100,000 miles, my engine may really only have 75,000 actual miles on it!
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