both of the above are true,
<snip>
If you really want information on how to achieve the best gas mileage I would be surfing the prius forums. The is a certain drive style, which most prius owners try do duplicate, and I can't remember what it is called of the top of my head. The gist of it is you accelerate up to whatever speed you are trying to maintain and float on and off the throttle when you get there. Never wide open, and plan as far in advance for any changes as conditions permit. The idea is you are on and off the throttle slightly and the fuel cut of being off the throttle ups the mileage. I've done it, not in the l/c, but in a prius and it works but it takes a little time to get the hang of it.
Hope this helps,
ben
Ah, a small essay follows. Couldn't resist. Pardon me.
A Prius is a hybrid, and the driving pattern to optimize fuel economy for a hybrid is different than that to optimize fuel economy for a conventional gasoline engine drivetrain.
For a conventional gasoline engine drivetrain vehicle like the 100, it's simple:
Assuming vehicle condition is correct (including tires/pressure), the ideal for max economy is constant, light loading, with constant speed about 50mph (depending on gearing and specific vehicle). If you could drive at a constant 50mph on an absolutely flat and straight road made of standard paving material like asphalt in excellent condition, with no ambient wind, you could get max mpg.
Anything that deviates from this - acceleration, deceleration, braking, stopping, turning, hills, headwinds/crosswinds, higher speeds, etc. - will reduce mileage.
So, what do most people do?
Accelerate strongly (inefficient region of engine combustion controls map, wastes fuel). Drive as fast as possible, exceeding speed limits and restrained by traffic (increased wind drag, dissipating an exponential increase in unit energy at speeds over 60mph). Repeatedly brake strongly for traffic, traffic signals, etc. - followed by strong acceleration again. And again. Again. Over and over. (Accelerating engine inefficiencies waste fuel, followed by wasting kinetic energy converted into brake wear and heat.)
The economical alternative?
Keep in mind that your trip time will not be significantly shorter if you drive aggressively. Any slight savings in trip time achieved from driving faster will be completely lost at the next red light.
Accelerate very gently. Try to maintain a constant moderate speed, in highest gear possible, at the speed limit or less, based on your anticipated slowdowns and stops ahead (rather than the speed limit and pushy impatient drivers.) Coast to slow down for planned slowdowns/stops at intersections, off ramps etc. (rather than cruising at speed until the last second and braking). Also, use gravity (instead of brakes) to help you slow down, if moving uphill and planning a slowdown/stop ahead. Watch way ahead for traffic slowdowns, impending red lights, etc. based on your experience with the lights patterns etc..coast to slow down for them, rather than use brakes. Try to avoid pumping extra energy into vehicle motion (kinetic energy) only to waste it in braking; stay off the brakes as much as possible, brake as gently as possible to avoid wasting kinetic energy in brake heat and wear.
(If you are careful, you will never need to brake strongly except for accident avoidance.)
ETC.
Driving this way will yield trip times within a few percent of the most aggressive driving style, but with fuel economy at least 10 to 20% better than "normal" driving style.
The red lights and other system constraints equalize net trip time of all same-route trips. Regardless of how you drive. Check it out, you will confirm it.
I've timed my trips so many times to compare driving methods, that the truth is 100% proven IMO: I can drive economically as described above and my trip times are about the same as the impatient folks who drive aggressively, wasting fuel and increasing wear & tear of their vehicles.
Of course, the impatient drivers behind you misinterpret the economical driving style as a sign that you are weak, and they react abusively - tailgating you, intentionally cutting too closely to you in passing, and honking at you, gesturing at you, etc. This is illuminating of the truth about people, IMO.
Again: I'm getting 16+ to 18+ mpg with my LX, in mixed city/hwy pattern. EPA rating is 13-16 mpg. (And my front brakes are still factory, at over 100k miles, and they have ~40k left in them. Rears went 86k. ) 'Nuff said.
.