Toyota Prius

[Bird]

Too bad Isuzu does not still make their little truck with a diesel. I would guess it could handle the payload and sure got good mileage.

Yep, a friend of mine had the Isuzu diesel pickup and my dad had the Chevy Luv diesel (same thing). Fine economical little trucks.

my '95 dakota 4x4 3.9L V6 extended cab that would get 20 mpg on the freeway, but 12 mpg on my daily commute. Replaced the truck with a '99 GMC Sierra 5.3L V8 full size 4x4 extended cab and got 17 on the freeway with 16 mpg on the same daily commute.

Yep, gearing, weight, driving habits, traffic condtions, type of terrain, whether the engine is straining, even aerodynamics make a difference. I guess everyone knows the EPA came up with new/different criteria for their mileage estimates in 2006 and started using the new method in 2008.

My 2001 Ford Ranger with a 4.0L V-6 was rated in 2001 as 18 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. The new method would be 16 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 18 combined. Most of my driving is city, stop and go, pretty heavy traffic and my actual mileage has averaged 18.451 mpg.

My 2002 Ford Crown Victoria with a 4.6L V-8 was rated in 2002 as 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. The new method would be 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 18 combined. Most of my driving is city, stop and go, pretty heavy traffic, although last summer we made a 2,400 mile round trip to West Virginia, and my actual mileage has averaged 21.665 mpg. On the trip to WV, it got over 26 mpg running the speed limit to 5 over.

The EPA ratings are useful for comparing vehicles, but your actual mileage may vary considerably.

 

[jinman]

Another issue to consider when comparing to a pickup is whether the cargo area is air conditioned. If I wanted higher mileage around 30 mpg or more and a large cargo area that could be coverted easily to seating, Toyota has a better vehicle than the Prius and much less expensive. The Toyota Matrix is a good car to look at while in the dealership looking at the Prius.

 

[RichZ]

I really appreciate all of the responses.

The only reason I am interested in the Prius is gas mileage. My milk delivery is a 100 mile round trip. Dairy farmers are always responsible for transport, and the gas used in 100 miles eats into the little profit I make. My Explorer averages 23 mpg on my milk delivery runs, so I'm trying to find something considerably better than that.

As for loading, the tanks are put in the back of the vehicle empty. They are food grade plastic with stainless steel fittings, so they are light. The milk is then pumped into the tanks, and when we get to the destination, the milk is pumped out of the tanks. No loading or unloading heavy tanks, so that is not a consideration. The tanks are usually only half full. Most of my runs are only with about 50 gallons, which would weigh only about 400 lbs. It seems to me that having 2 adults in the back seat could equal or surpass that. On milk runs there will only be a driver, usually my wife, sometimes me.

So, maybe I will just keep using my Explorer when the tanks are more than half full, but I would think it would be OK with half full tanks.

 

[aczlan]

I really appreciate all of the responses.

The only reason I am interested in the Prius is gas mileage. My milk delivery is a 100 mile round trip. Dairy farmers are always responsible for transport, and the gas used in 100 miles eats into the little profit I make. My Explorer averages 23 mpg on my milk delivery runs, so I'm trying to find something considerably better than that

Is this trip mostly highway driving, or stop and go? If it is highway, you would be better served getting a TDI powered Jetta, it will get 50 MPG (+/- 5 MPG) on the highway and will be much better suited to highway driving than a prius. A prius however, will do better in stop and go driving than a Jetta.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

On the Jetta, Dad's 2003 has foldable rear seats which could be laid down to fit your tanks in front of the rear axle (for better weight distribution).

Aaron Z

 

[Egon]

Ah-ha the loading scenario! Changes a whole lot of the arguments for and against.

If 400 pounds will be the average and there is an alternative available for the really big loads you have just moved into Prius territory again.:thumbsup:

Me, I'd look at a Hyundai Tuscon!

 

[bdeboer]

Another thing to look at would be the Toyota forums and find out what the real world mileage is with 4 full size adults.

 

[dmccarty]

Ah Ha!

Now that the loading mystery is solved I think you should strap the tanks into the rear seats using the seat belts. Then you need to fix up cute stuffed cow heads and cow arms that can be attached to the tanks. Have the cow heads looking out the windows!

Then affix the name of our dairy on those magnetic signs applied to the side and rear of the vehicle.

Then you will have a MOOtor Vehicle. :laughing:

Modify the horn in the MOOtor Vehicle to go MOO! instead of honk.

A nice black and white cow inspired paint job would be nice too.

Seems like you need an affordable econo car that is cheap to run and reliable. The weight does not seem to be an issue but will likely effect the MPG. My understanding that at highway speeds the hybrids did not provide a savings since the car has to run the engine. Years back I read up on the Prius on an owner website. I can't remember the site but I am sure it is easily found. It was interesting reading.

They were reporting that the battery cost $3,000. Some paid more! :confused2: Some paid a bit less. Some got 30-50K on the battery and some over 150K. I assume the difference in the battery lifetime was their type of driving. At the time the Prius was going for about $3,000 more than the gas only car. $3,000 buys ALOT of gas.

Later,
Dan

 

[Duffster]

Ah Ha!

Now that the loading mystery is solved I think you should strap the tanks into the rear seats using the seat belts. Then you need to fix up cute stuffed cow heads and cow arms that can be attached to the tanks. Have the cow heads looking out the windows!

Then affix the name of our dairy on those magnetic signs applied to the side and rear of the vehicle.

Then you will have a MOOtor Vehicle. :laughing:

Modify the horn in the MOOtor Vehicle to go MOO! instead of honk.

A nice black and white cow inspired paint job would be nice too.

Seems like you need an affordable econo car that is cheap to run and reliable. The weight does not seem to be an issue but will likely effect the MPG. My understanding that at highway speeds the hybrids did not provide a savings since the car has to run the engine. Years back I read up on the Prius on an owner website. I can't remember the site but I am sure it is easily found. It was interesting reading.

They were reporting that the battery cost $3,000. Some paid more! :confused2: Some paid a bit less. Some got 30-50K on the battery and some over 150K. I assume the difference in the battery lifetime was their type of driving. At the time the Prius was going for about $3,000 more than the gas only car. $3,000 buys ALOT of gas.

Later,
Dan

That would be awfully cute but the OP milks GOATS.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I would be concerned about ground clearance. All of that extra weight in the back of an already heavy vehicle ... drive up a farm lane with a high crown or rutted two-track, and you may "high-center" it which could damage the casing on the main bus cable which runs up the center of the underside of the car. That will set you back about 5 grand. :confused2: