Please give me some some driving tips

[johnjan]

I just purchased a 2008 Camry Hybrid from Philadelphia, USA and will be picking up the car from there to drive all the way upto the Queenston Lewiston Bridge (500 miles) and then to Mississauga, Ontario (a total of around 600 miles in one day).

Given that it will be winter, can someone give me driving tips since I have never driven a hybrid before?

Thanks so much.

[cdn_tch]

For highway driving, if you can keep a light foot and keep it at 65 or under you will get better mileage than if you go faster.

Considering the temps, you will not see the mileage that the car is capable of in warmer temps.

In city driving learn to feather the throttle to get the car to run in EV mode, coast to stop signs and red lights.

[Bill1974]

Congrats on your purchase. What dealer did you purchase it from?

[phantomiii]

Cruise control on the highway.

[Darko]

Originally Posted by cdn_tch

For highway driving, if you can keep a light foot and keep it at 65 or under you will get better mileage than if you go faster.

Considering the temps, you will not see the mileage that the car is capable of in warmer temps.

In city driving learn to feather the throttle to get the car to run in EV mode, coast to stop signs and red lights.

LOL every car/truck/suv gets better MPG at 65 or under on the highway

[honest_abe]

If you don't jam hard on the brake at a stop, the electric motor will try and give you the feel of a gas engine by pushing on the car. Stupid idea! This occurs only when ICE is shut off. It is just a waste of battery.

Buy an engine block heater - $40 - plus installation (any mechanic can do it in 15 minutes if you provide them with the pics found elsewhere) or do it yourself. Plugging the car in overnight will shorten warmup which probably uses more gas than the drive if you go short distances.

[johnjan]

Just drove the car into Canada after clearing the US and Canadian Customs.
Bought from an Ebay Dealer in Philadelphia.
My mileages on highway were as under:
70 mph - 33 mpg
65 mph - 35 to 36 mpg
60 mph - 36 to 38 mpg

Not bad, eh?

[arabianobsession]

^That's pretty good for cold, winter driving!
Expect that to rise in the warmer months

[ukrkoz]

cruise as much as you possibly can.
winter mileage is noticeably worse than summer one, due to continuous ICE start ups to warm up HSD.
i was getting 42.5 average summer time, it dropped to 37 winter.
some say pulse driving is the best, but i can't do it due to terrain.

[onthemove]

Originally Posted by honest_abe

If you don't jam hard on the brake at a stop, the electric motor will try and give you the feel of a gas engine by pushing on the car. Stupid idea! This occurs only when ICE is shut off. It is just a waste of battery.

Not to pick on your opinion but this stupid idea is to keep you from exiting the car when it's not in park and leaving the car on. Also without this, you could be waiting at a stop behind another car, in gear, without your foot on the brakes, what would happen if the ICE starts up and the car takes off? I'm guessing you'll be coughing up your insurance card. There are good reasons for the things they do. As for wasting the battery, as long as the brakes are applied there is no power being sent to the drive motor, the computer has to see the brakes released while in a drive gear before sending power out.

[ukrkoz]

TCH will start moving, if e-mode or ICE is on, when the brake pedal is released. TCH will not move, as far as brake pedal is depressed.
do not leave your car without shutting engine down. problem is, once started, anyone else can drive her. you can forget to shut down the engine, leave for a "quick few", and someone else get in and drive her away. she beeps few times when you exit, but say phone conversation can distrect enough. i know what i am talking about, as when you park, engine shuts down, and it is very easy to forget to press the power button, not hearing any noise. have done it few times.
when you touch the brakes, for the 1st maybe 1/4 range, it activates MG that starts slowing car down, regenerating electricity. when you press brake pedal harder, conventional brakes are activated. MG is also engaged when you put gear shifter into B slot.